Psychology

Requirements

No prior knowledge of Psychology is required, although a Grade 6 or better in both GCSE Maths and GCSE English is required.

Students do not need to have any prior knowledge of Psychology or any specific qualifications. However, a good understanding of the scientific process, a good grasp of descriptive statistics and an ability to write in a non-fictional and informative way are key skills that the course will build upon. Therefore good GCSE grades in Science, Maths and English are required. The course is divided into three components that cover key aspects of psychology research, theory and application. Information from each component is interchangeable and learning from one can be used to support answers in another. All three components are examined at the end of Year 13.

An ability to work and research independently and to read around the subject are essential. Students will study a two year course in A Level Psychology from the OCR Board of examinations.

Year 12 – Components 1 and 2 Component 1 – Research Methods 30%

During the study for this module students will get the chance to learn about the scientific elements of psychological research, the extensive psychological vocabulary and to experience some of the empirical methods that make it a scientific process through designing and conducting their own psychology studies. Contents includes;

n Populations, samples and sampling techniques;

n Ethical issues, constraints and how to deal with them;

n Types of psychological study – Experiment, Self-Report, Observations and Correlation; n Validity and reliability of psychological study; n Data – Descriptive statistics, data graphs and distribution, inferential tests, mathematical skills.

Component 2 – Core studies and Areas, Perspectives and Debates in Psychology 35%

In this component students learn 25 key studies that have been conducted in psychology’s short history. They examine and analyse the context for the studies, the methods of conducting them, their validity and reliability and conclusions drawn from them. Areas of psychology studied are;

n Social; n Cognitive; n Developmental; n Biological; n Personal Differences.

Students will also cover key areas that have been debated in psychology and relate these perspectives to the studies they learn. Areas of debate and perspectives include;

n The behaviourist perspective; n The psychodynamic perspective; n Nature v nurture; n Individual v situational; n Free will v determinism; n Reductionism v holism; n Ethics; n Conducting socially sensitive research.

Year 13 – Component 3 and revision Component 3 – Applied Psychology 35%

During their second year of study students will focus on one set area of psychology and can choose (collectively as a class) two other areas of psychology with a mind to examining how it is applied in the world today. The set area of study is called issues in mental health and students will study; n The historical context of mental health;

n The medical model;

n Alternatives to the medical model.

Students can then choose two (by class consensus) of the following areas that we will study as a class; n Child psychology; n Criminal psychology;

n Environmental psychology; n Sport and exercise psychology.

The course will finish with extensive revision and exam technique so students are ready for the varying demands of the 3 exam papers.

Careers

Psychology is very highly regarded by universities and prospective employers alike. It opens up skills in report writing, experimentation, statistical analysis as well as communication and applied knowledge. These skills are transferable to a wide variety of subjects including medicine, law, accounting, veterinary science and economics as well as working hand in hand with purer scientific subjects or any of the social sciences and public services. It really is a diverse and well respected subject. In terms of careers the course will offer a good grounding for going on to university to study psychology which can then be applied in almost limitless areas of business and professions.