PY3PPP-Project for Psychology & Philosophy Students

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites: PY2RMP Research methods in Psychology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Katie Barfoot
Email: katie.barfoot@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
PY3PPP: Project for Psychology & Philosophy students

Aims:
This module allows students to conduct an independent piece of research that includes the necessary components of good research (literature review, planning, ethical considerations, data collection, data analysis, writing of a final project report). The student may choose also to consider relevant philosophical aspects or implications of the topic.

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of the project, students should be able to demonstrate their ability to plan, execute and report an empirical study in a chosen area of Psychology. Where appropriate, the student will also report on relevant philosophical aspects or implications of the topic.

Additional outcomes:
Projects provide the opportunity to work in close collaboration with a supervisor, and where appropriate with other members of the supervisor's laboratory, and with a student co-worker.

Outline content:

The project will be supervised in the Department of Psychology and there may be additional supervision in the other department where appropriate. Students are required to produce a written project proposal by the start of Autumn Term in part 3, which can usefully be developed into a full project report by the end of Summer Term of Part 3. The proposal will summarise the background and justification for the project, and plans for the main project. The final project report will demonstrate that the project proposal has been implemented, updated where necessary in the light of supervisor's feedback and further reading, and should answer a particular hypothesis on the basis of the data collected. It may also cover philosophical aspects or implications of the topic.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

(a) Regular supervisory support is given at all stages of the project. (b) Written feedback is provided following submission of the Project proposal. This will help students produce an accomplished final report, whilst also allowing them to demonstrate their ability to work independently at the final report stage. (c) Statistics support workshops are available to support data analysis.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Tutorials			4
Project Supervision	20	20	2
Practicals classes and workshops	50	60
Guided independent study:	90	154
Total hours by term	160	234	6
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	10
Dissertation	90

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The project is assessed by coursework.



Students submit a Project Proposal (worth 10% of the marks for the module), and a final project report by the end of Spring Term of Part 3 (worth 90% of the marks for the module).

Formative assessment methods:
Students are provided the opportunity to submit a draft report (excluding the discussion) for feedback from the supervisor.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

If a project carries an original mark of less than 40%, an alternative, equivalent assignment can be submitted.  The assignment and date of submission will be by arrangement with the Module Convenor and/or Programme Director.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding:

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023