PN4060 The Impact of Science

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students in the second year of the Honours Programme and MSc students.

Planned timetable

Tuesday 2-3pm, Semester 1 Weeks 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 and Semester 2 Week 1

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M K Schweinfurth

Dr M K Schweinfurth
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Manon Schweinfurth

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

In this module, students will select a key psychological or neuroscience research finding to review (subject to approval by module controller). Students will engage with understanding the historical antecedents, as well as the theoretical and methodological context related to the area and the specific research finding. Students will also engage with how to develop evidence-based evaluation of the impact of research findings on psychological or neuroscience research and society. Throughout the module, students will receive extensive training in how to communicate effectively, culminating in the generation of a review essay on the chosen subject.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS PN2002 OR PASS PS2002 )

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE BL4200 OR TAKE PN4299

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

6 x 1-hour workshops in Semester 1 and 2 3 x 1-hour one-to-one supervision sessions in Semester 1 and 2

Intended learning outcomes

  • 1. Be familiar with the issues that arise when trying to judge the scientific and social impact of psychological or neuroscience research.
  • 2. Understand how good reviews differ from uncritical lists of summaries of scientific studies.
  • 3. Organise material obtained from multiple scientific studies so that patterns across studies can be observed.
  • 4. Be able to structure an evidence-based argument in a persuasive way.
  • 5. Be able to independently plan and write a review focused on a specific domain of research literature.