Module overview
This module covers key concepts and skills relevant to working in academic and other jobs that require academic skills such as generating and presenting own research ideas and critically analysing and discussing existing research. The module provides a great deal of key skills training and encourages students to take part in lively discussions and debates, enhancing their spoken presentation and debating skills.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Develop the ability to review, critically evaluate, and comment on advanced contributions to empirical psychology
- Demonstrate and develop the ability to produce high-quality spoken presentations
- Acquire a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues, debates, and new insights in scientific research and academia
- Develop key academic skills such as generating and communicating own research ideas
Syllabus
This module comprises of weekly 2-hour sessions. Some sessions will include a lecture component, others will include a workshop component. For most sessions, students will be asked to read a set of articles and papers which will be discussed during the sessions. Students will also have the opportunity to practice key academic skills such presenting own research ideas and critically evaluating other research. The module will likely cover topics such as: Working in academia, government, and industry in a research-focused role; CV building, time management, and work-life balance; Technical skills and software relevant to conducting and presenting research; PhD and grant funding; Publications and peer review; Presentations and teaching; Assessing the quality of scientific research; Critical thinking and evaluating evidence.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The teaching methods are varied, but all emphasise active learning and encourage students to apply their acquired skills to their own experience and research interests. The weekly sessions typically consist of small group lectures and/or staff-led seminars in which students develop their evaluation and presentation skills. Students are also expected to contribute to the formative evaluation and feedback of other students in the group.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessment tasks | 36 |
| Independent Study | 140 |
| Teaching | 24 |
| Total study time | 200 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
All resources will be via published research or online documents/guides/information. There will be no set textbook for this course..
Assessment
Assessment strategy
For the Presentation assignment, students will be asked to present a job talk for a job that they might apply for. This will be in line with job talks given for research-related jobs, such as PhD or Postdoc positions, or research-related jobs in industry or other workplaces. Students will submit a recording of their job talk presentation for assessment. For the Review assignment, a selection of empirical papers will be provided across a range of subject matters. Students will choose one of these papers and write a critical review of the article (treating it as if it were an unpublished manuscript that has been sent to them by a journal editor for peer review as part of the publication process).Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual Presentation | 40% |
| Empirical Article Review | 60% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual Presentation | 40% |
| Empirical Article Review | 60% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal