Entry requirements

The student should be accepted to the M. Sc. programme in psychology.

Learning outcomes

After completed course, the student should be able to

� define and describe central areas of study within psychology

� reproduce essential main features of the most common theoretical methods within the above mentioned areas of study

� lead discussions around and make connections between theory and everyday situations,

� identify and suggest ways to prevent methodological problems in scientific studies of human behaviour in relation to choices of method and design

� account for basic theoretical principles of descriptive statistics and elementary statistical inference and apply these principles to methodological issues

� practically use a computer-based statistical program and by means of this describe some data,

� account for different areas within the psychologist profession

� apply professional ethical arguments on the basis of ethical principles for psychologists in Scandinavia.

Content

The course contains a general presentation of areas of study within psychology, research methods and applications thereof in society. Seminars with compulsory participation are given in cognitive psychology, emotion and motivation, social psychology and personality psychology. In addition to these subject areas, foundations in perception, developmental psychology and neuropsychology are also covered. The course also contains an introduction to methods and descriptive statistics and an introduction to the psychologist profession.

The course is divided into three parts.

1. Psychology as a science and subject area (6 credit points). The subject content at this level of is introductory in nature and should among other things give a conception of what the coming studies entail.

2. Basic methodology and statistics (1.5 credit points). This part contains basic methodology and descriptive statistics, e.g., different measures of central tendency and variance.

3. In addition to these two parts there is also a compulsory part called Psychology in practice (0 credit points). This is studied both through written material, and by the students in various ways coming into contact with practising psychologists. The starting point is primarily psychologists' traditional fields within school-, occupational-, and clinical psychology. The development of the psychologist profession and the psychologist education, respectively, as well as their mutual dependence, will be elucidated. The perspectives will be historical as well as prospective.

Instruction

Teaching consists of lessons and seminars. A two-day boarding school is included, as well as interviews with practising psychologists.

Assessment

Assessment of the student's knowledge is done via written and oral examinations and through requirement of compulsory attendance for some parts. Each part is examined separately. For examination, the grades used are pass and fail.

Other directives

Other requirements, prerequisites and conditions for participation in and fulfilment of the course, e.g., compulsory attendance, preparation of own work, etc., is specified in the information given at the start of the course. Students who do not meet the prescribed requirements for a passing grade are usually given the opportunity to make up remaining parts the following term and/or is prescribed complementary assignments by the course director.