Psychology is the science of mind and behaviour. Psychologists study both how people act and the reasons behind their actions. It is an incredibly diverse subject with topics ranging from memory and neuroscience to child development and mental disorders.

Most students who study psychology find it interesting because it has relevance to the everyday decisions that we make. Through psychology you can explore questions such as; why do people lie? Why do some obey authority and others disobey? Why do people develop phobias? And how do companies influence us to buy their products?

Psychology is primarily a science, but it also develops your writing and mathematical skills. Studying psychology shows universities that you are a well-rounded student able to write essays, plan experiments and handle data competently. An important part of psychology is critical evaluation, a transferable skill which is valued by universities and employers alike.

Our Psychology course follows the OCR syllabus. It has been designed to provide you with an exciting opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of psychology through gaining hands on experience of a range of different research methods and an appreciation of how psychological knowledge and understanding develops over time.

You will explore application and gain an insight into how psychological theory can be applied to real world situations. In the first year topics covered will include:

• Research methods – including the four main techniques for collecting and analysing data and how to plan, conduct, record, analyse, present and report research
• Psychological themes – including responses to people in authority, memory, external influences on children’s behaviour, regions of the brain and understanding disorders

The second year will develop the ideas of the first year further and will include:

• Psychological themes – including responses to people in need, attention, moral development, brain plasticity, measuring differences
• Applied psychology – including issues in mental health and two out of child psychology, criminal psychology, environmental psychology and sports and exercise psychology

Assessment

This course is assessed by a mixture of written and multiple choice question papers.