Module overview
The course covers the topics of personality and intelligence from the perspective of individual differences.
Some research psychologists explore the ways in which people are the same, and seek to draw general conclusions about human nature.
However, other research psychologists explore the ways in which people differ, and seek to describe the diversity inherent human nature.
That is the subject matter of this module.
Linked modules
Pre-requisite: PSYC1016
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- understand how to construct scales to assess personality traits and/or mental abilities
- understand yourself and others better, in terms of who are you, and what your skills are
- discuss and evaluate how empirical research can test theories about personality and intelligence
- understand several major theoretical perspectives on intelligence
- grasp the general nature of individual differences
- compare and critically evaluate major theories about personality and intelligence
- appreciate the assumptions underlying major theoretical perspectives on personality and intelligence
- grasp many issues and controversies that affect the topic individual differences
- understand several major theoretical perspectives on personality
- understand some basic issues in psychometrics (item quality, scale structure, scale, reliability, scale validity)
Syllabus
I: PERSONALITY TOPICS will include:
Introduction
Trait Theories
Psychoanalysis (Freud)
Psychoanalysis (After Freud )
Learning Theories
Social Learning Theory
Evolutionary Theory
Biological Theories I & II
Nature and Nurture
Humanistic Theories
Cognitive Theories
II: INTELLIGENCE TOPICS will include:
Theory and Measurement
Interpretations & Mechanisms
Heritability
Gender & Race
Emotional (EQ)
III: APPLIED TOPICS will include:
Scale Construction
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Lecturing:
Weekly 2-hour sessions
Tutorials:
Held in Weeks 5 and 6.*
The tutorials are designed to complement and support the two coursework essay topics.
Tutorial 1: The structure of personality/intelligence
Tutorial 2: The origin of personality/intelligence
The larger class is divided into subgroups of about 40 students each.
Activities involve more student participation and direct interaction with class instructors.
* Subject to timetable changes
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 126 |
| Teaching | 24 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Nettle, D. (2007). Personality: What makes you the way you are. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Maltby, J. ,Day, L. & Macaskill, A. (2017). Personality, Individual Differences and Intelligence. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Deary, I. J. (2001). Intelligence: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
(I) Midterm (19.5%)
25-item Multiple-Choice Quiz
(II) Final Exam (39%)
50-item Multiple-Choice Quiz
(III) Coursework ([a]26%+[b]13% = 39%)
[a] Essay (1 of 2 Discussion Questions)
[b] Correction Sheet
(IV) Research Participation (2.5%)
Lab or online studies as part of the Psychology Participation Pool.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research Participation | 2.5% |
| Multiple choice question | 19.5% |
| Essay | 13% |
| Multiple choice question | 39% |
| Essay | 26% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assessment | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External