Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology

Course unit fact file
Unit code	PSYC21151
Credits	10
Unit level	Level 5
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	Division of Psychology and Mental Health

Overview

The course unit focuses on the historical development of psychology as a science and the way in which earlier philosophical ideas were transformed within the context of psychology, leading to the different approaches to psychology that can be discerned throughout its history. It will also deal with the philosophy of science and consider how science develops over time, the extent to which one can define a scientific method, and the extent to which psychology exemplifies the characteristics of scientific method. Finally, it will deal with the development of philosophical ideas about the mind that later fed into psychology.

Aims

The unit aims to:

Provide a comprehensive introduction to the history of psychology.
Illustrate the way in which different approaches to psychology rest on different philosophical presuppositions.
Provide an introduction to the philosophy of science and show how it relates to psychology.

Teaching and learning methods

Online Q&A	6 hrs
Lecture	22 hrs
Independent Study	70 hrs

Knowledge and understanding

Relate different methods of investigation to general theories of scientific method
Describe the historical and conceptual development of psychology
Express the philosophical presuppositions that underlie different approaches to psychology
Distinguish the various schools of thought in the philosophy of science and the different ways in which they think about scientific method
Describe theories in their broad theoretical and historical frameworks

Intellectual skills

Appraise different approaches in psychology in relation to fundamental ideas about the nature of mind and science
Evaluate complex ideas and theories in relation to evidence and argument

Demonstrate their skills in:

Synthesising information
Summarising theories and evidence
Critical thinking
Presenting concise and persuasive arguments

Practical skills

Use the library and electronic sources to support academic reading

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Discuss empirical finding and historical, theoretical and philosophical underpinnings with others

Assessment methods

Assessment task	Length	How and when feedback is provided	Weighting within unit (if relevant)
Essay	Max 1500 words	Students will receive a grade and written feedback, 20 working days after the final submission deadline	100%

Feedback methods

Feedback will be provided via grades on Blackboard and individual/cohort level feedback

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	22
Work based learning	6

Independent study hours
Independent study	72

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Johan Hulleman	Unit coordinator

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