Fast Track (1 Year) A Level Psychology Course

Unit 1: PSYA1 – Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods

Cognitive Psychology – Memory

1. Models of memory

The multi-store model, including the concepts of encoding, capacity and duration. Strengths and weaknesses of the model

The working memory model, including its strengths and weaknesses

2. Memory in everyday life

Eyewitness testimony (EWT) and factors affecting the accuracy of EWT, including anxiety, age of witness

Misleading information and the use of the cognitive interview

Strategies for memory improvement

3. Developmental Psychology - Early Social Development

Explanations of attachment, including learning theory, and evolutionary perspective, including Bowlby

Types of attachment, including insecure and secure attachment and studies by Ainsworth

Cultural variations in attachment

Disruption of attachment, failure to form attachment (privation) and the effects of institutionalisation

4. Attachment in everyday life

The impact of different forms of day care on children’s social development, including the effects on aggression and peer relations

Implications of research into attachment and day care for child care practices

5. Methods and techniques

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following research methods, their advantages and weaknesses:

Experimental method, including laboratory, field and natural experiments

Studies using a correlational analysis

Observational techniques

Self-report techniques including questionnaire and interview

Case studies

6. Investigation design

Candidates should be familiar with the following features of investigation design:
Aims

Hypotheses, including directional and non-directional
Experimental design (independent groups, repeated measures and matched pairs)
Design of questionnaires and interviews
Pilot studies
Control of extraneous variables
Reliability and validity
Ethical issues and ways in which psychologists deal with them
Demand characteristics and investigator effects

7. Data analysis and presentation

Candidates should be familiar with the following features of data analysis, presentation and interpretation:
Presentation and interpretation of quantitative data including graphs, scattergrams and tables

Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data. Measures of central tendency including median, mean, mode. Measures of dispersion including ranges and standard deviation

Analysis and interpretation of correlational data. Positive and negative correlations and the interpretation of correlation coefficients

Presentation of qualitative data

Processes involved in content analysis

Unit 2: PSYA2 – Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Biological Psychology  Stress

1. Stress as a bodily response

2. Stress in everyday life

Social Psychology - Social Influence

3. Social influence

4. Social influence in everyday life

Individual Differences Psychopathology (Abnormality)

5. Defining and explaining psychological abnormality

6. Treating abnormality

Unit 3: PSYA3 Topics in Psychology

Biological Rhythms and Sleep

1. Biological rhythms

2. Sleep states

3. Disorders of sleep

Aggression

1. Social psychological approaches to explaining aggression

2. Biological explanations of aggression

3. Aggression as an adaptive response

Cognition and Development

1. Development of thinking

2. Development of moral understanding

3. Development of social cognition

Unit 4: PSYA4 Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods

Psychopathology

You are required to study one disorder:

Schizophrenia

Psychology in Action

You are required to study one contemporary application:

Media Psychology

1. Media influences on social behaviour

2. Persuasion, attitude and change

3. The psychology of celebrity

 Psychological Research and Scientific Method

1. The application of scientific method in psychology

2. Designing psychological investigations

3. Data analysis and reporting on investigations