2010-11 Academic Year

Psychology (20441)

Degree: Bachelor's Degree in Human Biology

Year: 3

Term: 3

Number of  ECTS credits: 6

Number of study hours:  150

Course languages: Spanish and Catalan

 Lecturers: Jordi Pérez and Eva Baillès

  

  

Psychology (2010-11)

  

  

1. Course description

The subject of Psychology is an optional subject of the bachelor's degree course in Human Biology with a value of 6 ECTS credits and is taught in the third term of the first year of the course.

   

2. Coordinator and lecturers

The teaching activities are undertaken by the lecturers Jordi Pérez (the subject coordinator) and Eva Baillès.

 

3. Competences to be achieved

The objective of the course is for the student to acquire the skills defined by the educational authorities and indicated in the degree course syllabus. They are as follows:

 

a)     To study the fundamental bases of cognitive, emotional and psycho-social development in childhood and adolescence.

b)     To study the fundamental biological, psychological and social characteristics of personality and behaviour.

c)     To study the fundamental bases of psychotherapy.

d)     To develop cross-disciplinary skills in oral and written expression.

 

 

4. General objectives

The syllabus has the following aims:

 

a)    To provide students with an relevant knowledge of human behaviour, in terms of both basic patterns and individual differences.

b)    To give students an awareness of the importance of human relationships in relation to both health and illness.

c)    To familiarise students with the principal behavioural disorders and psychological therapies.

d)    To equip students to enable them to identify the various methods of gathering information about behaviour and to interpret certain relevant psychological tests.

e)    To assist students in the acquisition of basic cross-disciplinary skills. 

 

 

5. Specific objectives

During the course students will be assigned (in the Aula Global) specific objectives for each topic and each practical session. The completion of these objectives will provide assessment criteria for measuring students' academic performance.

 

6. Assessment

The subject will be assessed exclusively on the basis of the specific objectives.

 

a) Methods of assessment

Assessment will be carried out by means of multiple-choice tests (with five alternatives with one single correct answer, discounting accidental correct answers), "true or false" tests (discounting accidental correct answers) and essay exams, mainly requiring short replies with objective correction criteria.

 

b) Type and number of assessments

There will be two types of assessment: formative and summative.

 

0. During the course two formative assessment tests will be held (with a small augmentative effect on the final mark if they are passed). These assessment tests, which are obligatory, will consist of viewing a cinema film, the content of which refers to the subject of the course, and afterwards completing a test made up of short questions about the psychological processes dealt with in the film.  There will later be a feedback session on the results of the test.

 

0. During the course a regular weekly assessment test will be conducted consisting of a small number of "true or false", multiple-choice or short answer questions.  The results of these assessments will be cumulative and will have an augmentative effect on the final mark.

 

0. During the course the following teaching activities will be assessed: practical sessions, seminars and planned visits, and self-access learning activities.

 

0. At the end of the teaching process the final theoretical assessment test will be held, which will consist of a multiple-choice test with questions concerning all the modules dealt with, together with an essay exam comprising of short questions. There will also be a test concerning the objectives indicated in the practical sessions.

 

c) Effect of the different types of assessment test on the final

    summative mark

 

Final assessment:

Multiple-choice tests                    24%

Essay                                        23%

Practical test                              15%

 

Assessment during the course:

Continual assessment                     20%

Practical tests                               10%

Self-access learning                         8%

 

 

Passing the formative assessment tests during the course will result in an increase in the final accredited mark (maximum 0.6 points: 0.3 points for each assessment test).

 

 d) Pass criteria and qualitative grades

In order to pass the subject, the student must participate in the planned activities, including the formative assessment tests (viewing the film, written test and feedback session), and must obtain a minimum mark of 5. 

 

Passing of 70% of the objectives will result in a grade of "Good", and passing of 90% of the objectives the grade of "Excellent".

 

  7. Content: course syllabus

  

Topics to be taught during lectures

  

Introduction

1.    Psychology as a science

2.    Development

 

Basic processes

3.    Perception

4.    Memory

5.    Thought

6.    Learning (I)

7.    Learning (II)

8.    Learning (III)

9.    Motivation

10.  Emotion

 

Individual differences

11.  Intelligence

12.  Personality

 

Social psychology

13.  Social interaction and attitudes

14.  Aggression

15.  Altruism

16.  Interpersonal attraction

17.  Sexual behaviour

18.  Antisocial conduct and delinquency

 

Health psychology

19.  Stress

20.  Psychological disorders (I)

21.  Psychological disorders (II)

22.  Psychological treatments (I)

23.  Psychological treatments (II)

 

Seminar sessions

1. Pain

2. Behavioural medicine

 

 

Self-access learning sessions

1. Drug addiction

2. Measurement of behaviour: preparation of multiple-choice questions

  

Practical sessions

1. Measurement of behaviour

2. Perception: optical illusions and selective attention

3. Thought and problem solving

4. Biofeedback techniques

5. Measurement of intelligence

6. Measurement of personality

7. Persuasion: commercial and health advertising

8. Academic stress

 

 

Cinema films

1. The Miracle Worker (1962). Arthur Penn.

2. A Clockwork Orange (1971). Stanley Kubrick.  

 

 

 

 

8. Teaching methodology 

As an obligatory requirement in order to pass the subject, the student must participate in a range of teaching activities during the course. However, attendance at lecture activities will not be monitored.  Attendance at all other activities will be strictly monitored. 

 

The planned teaching activities are as follows:

 

a) Lectures

Although the subject content will be taught through lectures, student participation will be actively encouraged.

 

Immediately after each lecture session, students will have access through the Aula Global to written material relating to the subject matter and specific objectives of each topic.

 

The aim is for the objectives to be achieved mainly during programmed activities requiring attendance.  In addition to the material covered by the lecturer during lecture time, group discussions may take place, assessment tests will be conducted and their results will be commented upon.

 

b) Seminars

Two seminars will be held, for which students will have previously prepared the topics to be discussed.  The contents of the seminars are subject to assessment.

 

c) Self-access learning activities

Two self-access learning activities will be held.  During the first session students will be required to prepare the topic of drug addiction as a pattern of behaviour.  During the second session, students will prepare multiple-choice questions on the content of the subject used to conduct the summative assessment.  

 

d) Practical sessions

During the term seven practical sessions will be held. On finishing each practical session, students will be required to complete a control sheet which will be assessed. During the examination period each term, an assessment will also be conducted relating to the objectives of the above sessions. 

 

f) Assessment of progress

During the course, the relevant assessment tests will be conducted during the class and lecture periods (formative assessment tests, including film viewing sessions, continuing weekly assessment, in situ practical classes, and self-access learning activities).

 

 

  

9. Activities schedule

The schedule for the course activities can be collected during the official Faculty working hours.

 

Planned visits, field trips and submission dates for written work on these activities will be announced at appropriate intervals during the course.

  

  

  

10. Recommended bibliography

Students may obtain relevant information concerning the content of the subject in the following book: Myers, D. G. (2005) Psicología (7a. ed.). Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana (available in the Library).