Module Details

Module Code: PSYC C2402
Module Title: Psychology of Social Cognition
Title: Psychology of Social Cognition
Module Level:: 6
Credits:: 5
Module Coordinator: Eileen Doyle
Module Author:: Dean McDonnell
Domains:  
Module Description: The aim of this module to provide the learner with an overview of key theorists and theories in the fields of cognitive and social psychology and to apply these theories to social care practice contexts. Ethical concerns arising in a number of classic psychology experiments will be highlighted and linked to the CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Care Workers (2017). Criticisms of mainstream psychology will be included, both from critical psychologists and scholars from other disciplinary backgrounds, with the aim of encouraging integrated multi and interdisciplinary professional social care practice perspectives.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Examine the work of major competing theorists in the fields of cognitive and social psychology D1: P1,3,19,21,22; D2: P1,2,6,12; D3: P1,5,6; D4: P 3,4; D5: P1,4,5,6,7,8,18
LO2 Summarize psychological explanations for prejudice and discrimination and apply this knowledge to anti-discriminatory social care practice D1: P2,8,19,21,23; D2: P11,16; D3: P1,2,5 D5:P1,2,4,7,14.
LO3 Explain and reflect on the ways in which groups can influence the behavior of individuals D1: P2, 10, 11, 19, 21, 22; D2: P10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16; D3: 1; D5: P1, 2, 4,7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 19
LO4 Recognize all behaviours as forms of communication and identify appropriate social care practitioner response strategies D1: P3,9,16,19,23; D2: P2,11,14,15,16,17; D3: P1,2,3,5,6;D4: P3, 4; D5: P1,2,4,7,9,10,11,12
LO5 Critically review classic psychology experiments from an ethics perspective and apply this knowledge to contemporary professional social care contexts (CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Care Workers, 2017) D1: P1,3,7,9,10,12,15,16,19; D2: P1,6,12; D3: P6,9; D5: P1,4,5,6,9,10
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
9342 PSYC C1402 Introduction to Psychology
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Additional Requisite Information
No Co Requisites listed
 
Indicative Content
Cognitive psychology and cognitive development
Cognitive psychology (perception, thinking, memory and problem solving). Cognitive development (Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner, Information Processing approach). Criticisms of major theorists and theories from within and outside the discipline to foster integrated multi and interdisciplinary professional social care perspectives (D1: P8,9,16,19; D2: P12,17; D3 P1,6; D5: P1,4,6,7,12,18)
Social Cognition
Attributions, attitudes, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, racism and power. Professional practitioner strategies for challenging negative discrimination and unjust policies and practices; working towards social inclusion in professional social care settings (D1: P2,8,22,23; D2:10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17; D3: P1,6; D5: P2,5,6,8,9,11)
Pro-social and anti-social behaviours
Pro-social and anti-social behaviours, theories of aggression, general aggression model (GAM), contextualizing, understanding and responding to anti-social behaviours in social care contexts (D1: P1,3,9,12,21,22,23; D2: P10,11,15,17; D4: P4; D5: P1,2,4,5,7)
Social Influence
Compliance, conformity and obedience. Theories of group processes and group decision making and application to professional social care practice contexts (D1: P1,8: D2: P2,3,13,14,15; D4: P3,4; D5: P1,4,6,7,8,14,19)
Ethical codes and professional social care practice
Critical review of classic experiments using Psychological Society of Ireland Code of Ethics (2011) and CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Care Workers (2017) (D1: P1,3,7,9,10,12,15,16,19; D2: P1,6,12; D3:P3,6; D5: P1,4,5,6,9,10)
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment40.00%
End of Module Formal Examination60.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 25
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 5
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Critical review of a classic psychology experiment using the Psychology Society of Ireland Code of Ethics (2011) and CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Care Workers (2017) (D1: P1,3,7,9,10,11,16; D2: 6,12,16; D5: P1,4,5,6,10)
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 15
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 1
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Students will be required to propose series of amendments to the classical experiment, based on the CORU Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Care and PSI Code of Ethics OR students will be required to draft a professional letter to the lead researcher of the experiment outlining the issues with the research based on the CORU Code of Conduct and Ethics for Social Care and PSI Code of Ethics (D1: P7,9,10,11,16; D5: P2,5)
No Project
No Practical
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 60
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the range of topics covered on the module. Exam questions will require students to show that they have engaged in critical thinking and reflective practice by being able to apply theory to practice and offering relevant examples to illustrate and support their exam answers (D1: P3,7,9,22,23; D2: P16,17; D5: P1,2,5,6,7)

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Category Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact The topics and material covered in lectures will support the learning of the following proficiencies (D1: P1,2,3,7,8,9,10,11,12,15,16,19,21,22,23; D2: P1,2,6,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17; D3: P1,6,9; D4: P3,4; D5: P1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,18) 12 Weeks per Stage 3.00 36
Tutorial Contact Tutorials will allow in-depth examination of lecture material and encourage student-led critical discussions and reflections on theory to practice (D1: P1,2,3,7,8,9,10,11,12,15,16,19,21,22,23; D2: P1,2,6,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17; D3:P1,6,9; D4: P3,4; D5:P1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,18) 12 Weeks per Stage 1.00 12
Independent Learning Time Non Contact Self-directed independent learning activities including reading of books, peer-reviewed journal articles, critical reviews of classic psychology experiments, and online lectures from key international theorists and scholars D1: P1,2,3,7,8,9,10,11,12,15,16,19,21,22,23; D2: P1,2,6,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17; D3: P1,6,9; D4: P3,4; D5: P1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,18) 15 Weeks per Stage 5.13 77
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Aronson, E., Wilson, T.D., and Sommers, S.R.. (2017), Social Psychology, Global Edition, 9th. Pearson, Harlow.
  • Kowalski & Westen. (2011), Psychology, Wiley.
  • Misca, G. and Unwin, P.. (2017), Psychology and Social Work: Applied Perspectives, Polity Press, Cambridge.
  • O’Brien, E. (2011), Psychology for social care, Gill & Macmillan.
  • Santrock, John. (2016), Life-Span Development, 16th. McGraw Hill, New York.
  • Slater, A.M. and Quinn, P.C.. (2012), Developmental Psychology: Revisiting the Classic Studies, Sage, London.
  • Smith, J.R. and Haslam, S.A.. (2012), Social Psychology: Revisiting the Classic Studies, Sage, London.
  • Sternberg, R. and Sternberg, K.. (2016), Cognitive Psychology, 7th. Cengage Learning, Boston.
  • Sutton, R. and Douglas, K.. (2013), Social Psychology, Palgrave MacMillan, London.
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • British Journal of Social Psychology.
  • British Journal of Developmental Psychology.
  • Irish Journal of Psychology.
  • Journal of Applied Social Psychology.
  • Journal of Child Psychology.
  • Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology.
This module does not have any other resources
Discussion Note: