Examination Board: AQA
Psychologists have a “toolkit” that contains a set of explanations (tools) which they use to explain behaviour.
The growth of this discipline in recent years has been massive and we continue to be a popular AS and A2 choice with excellent retention. Psychology is a hugely assessable subject that appeals to a diversity of students including the ‘Arty’ types and those with a preference for Science. Psychology is a scientific discipline and rightly recognised so by OFSTED. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to place considerable emphasis on how research progresses through to empirical findings. Students will explore a range of explanations for human behaviour and be prepared for a really grown-up, academically challenging and tantalising subject.
Studying Psychology will help students develop skills of analysis, interpretation and evaluation. Students will study a variety of different approaches in Psychology. They have opportunities to design and report investigations and analyse and interpret primary data considering delicate ethical issues surrounding the use of human participants in psychology research. The critical issues component of the course enables students to apply psychological approaches and models to a practical setting. We have worked hard to encourage the practical elements of the course and students will enjoy the dynamic nature of this developing subject. Opportunities include lectures from practising psychiatric experts to deepen knowledge of psychopathology, visits to educational establishments including conferences and museums. There may be the possibility of a joint overseas trip in conjunction with one other Humanities subject.
Opportunities
Possible careers related to Psychology include childcare/nursery nursing, teaching, educational psychologist, social work, caring for the elderly or disabled, psychiatric nursing, marketing, public relations/personnel, criminology, forensic psychology, counselling, clinical psychologist or psychiatry pursued through medicine.
AS units
All modules in Psychology are assessed by public examination. Each unit is equally weighted. Students are assessed on their knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, studies, methods, principles, perspectives and applications. Students’ skills of analysis and evaluation are also assessed.
Unit 1: A compulsory paper comprising Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods.
Unit 2: A compulsory paper comprising Physiological Psychology, Social Psychology and Psychopathology.
Unit 3: Aggression, Eating Behaviour & Relationships assessed by 3 essay style examination questions completed in 1.5 hours.
Unit 4: Students are required to answer 2 essay questions from a choice of the following topics: Media Psychology, Addiction and Psychopathology. Research Methods paper (compulsory) including an understanding and handling of inferential statistics.