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Subject Summary: Part II Psychology

This course is offered through two options (A and B), as outlined below. For both options, teaching is provided on statistics and experimental design; these skills are examined by compulsory questions in Paper 1. Paper 1 also tests the candidate's ability to relate and integrate information from different branches of the subject, and includes questions on conceptual and historical issues in psychology.

Option A:

In additional to paper 1 teaching is provided in three broad sections:

A. Cognitive and Experimental Psychology (Paper 2)
B. Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (Paper 3)
C. Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Individual Differences (Paper 4).

Students study material across all three sections. The lecture courses on offer in each area may vary slightly from year to year. Students will have been introduced to some of these topics in the Natural Sciences Tripos courses: Part IA Evolution and Behaviour, Part IB Experimental Psychology or Part IB Neurobiology, or in the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos courses: Part IB Neurobiology and Human Behaviour. Papers 2-4 test the three sections (A-C) described above. There is ample scope for students to pick courses that match their interests. Students typically study about half the range of subjects on offer.

Option B:

In addition to Paper 1, students will be permitted to choose three modules from those offered by Psychology, PDN and Zoology, which will allow greater specialisation in psychology, neuroscience and behaviour. The modules offered may be subject to change each year, and there will be limits on places in the optional PDN and Zoology modules.

For both options:

There are no practical classes. Instead, each student conducts an experimental research project, under supervision, over two terms, and submits an independent written report. An optional dissertation - an extended critical review of an area of the psychological or cognitive neuroscience literature other than that of the project - may also be submitted. The Tripos mark is based on the project report (20%), and Papers 1 to 4 (20% each). For students taking Option A and submitting the optional dissertation, the dissertation may be used to replace the lowest second class (or above) mark from the written Papers 2, 3 or 4. Students taking Option B will be permitted to submit an optional dissertation but will not be permitted to submit this mark for that of their module exams.

Almost all those admitted to the course will have taken Part IB Experimental Psychology in the Natural Sciences Tripos, or Part IB of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos. Students may transfer from the Philosophy Tripos if they have taken Part IB Experimental Psychology in the Natural Sciences Tripos as an optional paper. Any other student may transfer, but would normally be required to devote two years to the Part II course.

Programme Specification: Part II Psychology

This course is taught by the Department of Psychology.

It allows two options: students taking Option A will study lecture courses that will cover the core domains in psychology identified by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as required for BPS accreditation of the degree programme; students taking Option B may study lecture courses that allow a specialisation in psychology, neuroscience and behaviour, including courses that are not identified by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as required for BPS accreditation of the degree programme.

BPS Accreditation:
For those who have met the examination requirements for NST IA Mathematical Biology, NST IB Experimental Psychology and NST Part II Psychology Option A, the degree awarded is recognised by the British Psychological Society as conferring 'graduate basis for registration', an essential prerequisite for postgraduate training and practice in certain professional branches of psychology. Option B is not accredited by BPS.

Aims

  1. to provide teaching to students via lecture courses from several areas of experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience;
  2. to provide students with freedom of choice to specialise in particular areas;
  3. to provide students with a training in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience which would enable them to subsequently pursue advanced education and/or training in psychology.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students should have:

  1. developed conceptual tools required for analysis of mind, brain and behaviour;
  2. extended their knowledge and understanding of selected topics to the frontiers of research;
  3. gained experience of psychological research and scientific reporting, through the conduct and writing up of a supervised research project;
  4. learnt and exercised techniques of statistical analysis commonly used in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience;
  5. had the opportunity to develop the skills of literature research, critical review and extended expository writing through preparing a dissertation.

Teaching and Learning Methods

These include lectures, project supervisions and supervisions on lecture material and a self-taught statistics course.

Assessment

Assessment for this course is through:

  • four unseen written examinations, based on the content of lecture courses (for aims 1, 2 and 3 and learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4);
  • submission of a research report of experimental work conducted with the guidance of a supervisor (for aim 3 and learning outcomes 3 and 4);
  • an optional dissertation (for aims 2 and 3 and learning outcomes 1, 2 and 5).

Courses of Preparation

Essential: None, although see above for requirements for British Psychological Society accreditation.

Recommended: NST Part IB Experimental Psychology and/or NST Part IB Neurobiology.

Additional Information

Further information is available on the Course Websites pages.