COURSE HANDBOOK 2016/17

Certificate of Higher Education in

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY

SEPTEMBER 2016

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WELCOME TO NEW STUDENTS

On behalf of all the staff of the Department of Psychological Sciences, may I

welcome you to your studies with us this year.

This booklet contains valuable information about:

the content of courses included within the applied psychology

programme;

the assessment procedures;

services offered by the department and University.

Please keep this booklet somewhere you can easily find it during your study with

us!

You may have come to our department to take a single course that is of interest

to you or to complete a Certificate of Higher Education or to begin your study

towards a degree in psychology. Whichever is the case, I’m confident you will

find the experience both rewarding and enjoyable. All our modules are taught by

psychologists who are committed to helping you learn about a wide range of

topics and theories within applied psychology.

It can be difficult to juggle the pressures of work and home with the demands of

studying at degree level. Birkbeck offers a wide range of support services which

we would strongly encourage you to use to your advantage. Do speak to your

course tutors or another member of staff if you have any problems which could

have an impact on your study.

To say just a little more about your responsibilities while studying with us, you

will already be aware that it is your responsibility to keep up with the course by

attending classes, studying outside class and taking part in the assessments. It

is also your responsibility to read this booklet to ensure that you are aware of

key information, for example about deadlines; about what to do if you can’t

complete an assessment on time; about what to do if you have a disability that

requires learning support; and how to progress from the Certificate onto the

degree. And so forth. Please remember that we are keen to help all students to

do as well as they possibly can - but we are dependent on you letting us know

when you need additional advice or support.

Most students find their studies intensive at times but we hope you find your

course/s stimulating and - most importantly - that you enjoy your time in the

Department of Psychological Sciences.

Mr Jonathan P Smith

Award Co-ordinator

Certificate of Higher Education in Applied Psychology

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CONTENTS

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

PROGRAMME OF STUDY

GENERAL INFORMATION

TEACHING AND LEARNING ASSESSMENT

COMPLETION OF AWARD

FEEDBACK

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

LEARNING RESOURCES FURTHER STUDY

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES

APPENDIX 1: MARKING CRITERIA 2016-17

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1. PROGRAMME OF STUDY

Who is the Certificate for?

This is an award for people who may not be planning to continue onto a full

undergraduate degree in psychology but who want to focus on the ways in which

psychology might be applied in day to day life, at home and at work.

Professionally, the modules could be expected to be useful to those working in

management, education, health care or mental health settings. However,

although the Certificate in Higher Education can be expected to enhance

understanding and skills, it should not be regarded as professional qualifications

in itself: the focus is on academic evaluation of psychological theories in terms

of how relevant they might be applied in a range of setting.

If you decide that your interest has been fired by your studies with us, you will

be considered for entrance into the first year of the BSc Psychology programme

at Birkbeck once you have successfully completed the three core modules.

Students working, or wishing to work, with children and young people in

education who complete relevant modules on this certificate programme may be

considered for direct entry into Year 2 of Birkbeck's Foundation Degree in

Psychology for Education Professionals. Please see Section 9, Further Study,

for more information.

Other universities may also accept you onto undergraduate programmes at the

beginning of the second year of study once you have a Certificate of Higher

Education.

Do I need any previous qualifications?

There are no formal entrance requirements and the Award is open to anyone

who feels they may benefit. However, you should note that modules are taught

and assessed at first year undergraduate level and an appropriate level of

spoken and written English is required. Although we do not require proof

that you are operating at this level, we will not be able to compensate for

inadequate English skills when marking assessments.

If you feel that you may need additional support to reach this standard, Birkbeck

offers a range of academic English and language development modules, and you

may be advised to focus on developing your English written and/or oral skills

before applying for psychology courses, or when you receive feedback on written

work.

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However, support with academic writing and study skills is provided throughout

the programme, both in-class and via our free Study Skills workshops.

What are the overall aims of the award?

Our overall aim is that on successful completion of the Certificate of Higher

Education you will:

Be able to compare, contrast and organise some of the core theories and

perspectives within psychology;

Understand the potential relevance of psychology in various settings such

as at home, in the community, at work etc;

Be aware of the principles that can be used to interpret and evaluate

research findings in applied psychology;

Recognise the ethical issues involved when conducting research and the

issues that arise when trying to generalise results (for example across

cultures);

Be able to propose simple research questions about the ways in which

psychology might be applied and be able to suggest in broad terms

appropriate ways of answering research questions;

Be able to present a coherent argument on a range of important topics in

applied psychology;

Be able to use a range of strategies to support your personal learning;

Be aware of possible routes of progression from this award onto further

study.

What modules are available?

The following are the full range of Modules which make up the Certificate of

Higher Education in Applied Psychology:

The 3 core modules that everybody takes are:

1. Problem Solving and Decision Making (Cognitive Psychology)

2. Psychology of Learning and Learning Styles

3. Research Methods [Part 1]

Applied psychologists are - in essence - professional problem solvers, often

facilitating others to find solutions in some aspect of their life. Being able to

solve problems effectively in the real world is dependent on their ability to

constantly learn from experience. Therefore learning, problem solving and

research methods provide a framework for thinking about all aspects of applied

psychology. Through the study of these subjects you will also be introduced to

some of the key ‘approaches’ within psychology, such as social psychology,

developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, behavioural psychology and so

forth.

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You may choose from the options entirely according to your personal interests

and needs. Modules do not have prerequisites unless indicated.

The options on offer each year will vary, but those available in 2016-17 are:

Critical Approaches to Attachment

Critical Approaches to Positive Psychology

Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Health Psychology

Psychological and Developmental Issues in Early Childhood1

Psychological and Developmental Issues in Adolescence

Psychology of Mental Health*

Research Methods [Part 2]2

Social Psychology*

The Developing Child: A Psychological Perspective*

Understanding Human Personality

Students may take a maximum of 30 credits from the following Psychoanalytic

Psychology modules:

Creativity and the Creative Process

Freud and Psychoanalysis: An Introduction

Narcissism, Depression and Authenticity

Psychoanalysis and Art

Further information, including indicative module syllabi, are available via our

online prospectus:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/2016/certificates/subject/psychology/

How many modules do I take?

To be eligible for the award you must complete 120 credits including the three

core modules (worth a total of 45 credits) and a further 75 credits from the list

of options above.

All modules are worth either 30 credits or 15 credits. 30 credit modules – usually

two term modules - are marked above with an asterisk (*). The remainder are

worth 15 credits and are usually one term courses.

1 Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Developing Child: A Psychological Perspective.

2 Prerequisite: Successful completion of Research Methods [Part 1].

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Each module you complete successfully will contribute towards the final grade of

your Certificate of Higher Education:

each 30 credit module contributes 25% of the final grade;

each 15 credit module contributes 12.5% of the final grade.

How long does it take to complete?

It’s very important that you don’t take on more than you can realistically

manage. Enrolling for too many courses is costly and dispiriting. Remember, you

may take up to 4 years to complete the Certificate of Higher Education – and the

majority of students in full-time work tend to spread their studies over 2 or 3

years. A student taking 120 credit modules in one year would be studying for

37.5 hours / week – in other words full-time. Clearly 60 credits / year is also a

substantial undertaking in terms of the time required. So, if you wish to take

more than 60 credits in one year please discuss this with the

Administrator before enrolling.

How long is each module?

A 30 credit module usually lasts for two terms. Each term is usually 11 weeks

long. You attend the module once a week, usually for two hours, so the total

amount of time you spend in class is 44 hours.

A 15 credit module lasts for one term. Again, you attend the module once a

week, usually for two hours, and the total amount of time you spend in class is

22 hours. The only exceptions are Research Methods [Part 1] and Research

Methods [Part 2] which have 33 hours in class.

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2. GENERAL INFORMATION

How will the department contact me?

The department will normally contact students by e-mail, using the e-mail

address that the College holds for you. It is therefore important that you provide

an e-mail address that you are able to check regularly, and that you ensure that

the contact details on your My Birkbeck profile are correct and up to date.

What if my class is cancelled?

If for any reason one of your classes is cancelled, you will be informed by

e-mail.

If a class is cancelled at very short notice, we will endeavour to contact students

by telephone, where possible. Again, we can only use the information that we

hold for you on our system, so please do ensure that you provide us with a

mobile telephone number.

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3. TEACHING AND LEARNING

Most modules are held in the evenings, but some are run during the day.

Modules may start in September, January or April. Classes are held in central

London.

Who teaches the modules and what type of teaching is used?

Modules are taught by lecturers with a wide range of psychological experience -

both practical and theoretical. Different lecturers have different teaching styles

but classes normally take the form of lectures and discussion, and usually a

variety of exercises and group work.

What are the attendance requirements?

In general, you are expected to attend as many of the sessions as possible. The

exceptions to this are the research methods modules, for which you are required

to attend at least 75% of all possible course contact hours to be eligible for

assessment.

Sitting timed assessments

Some courses include timed assessments: the syllabus for each course will tell

you whether or not it includes a timed assessment – and if it does, what form it

takes. In signing up for a course, you are agreeing to be available throughout

the term and to be available to attend timed assessments on the dates set by

the tutor.

Timed essays will usually be scheduled as follows:

Term 1:

• Research Methods [Part 1]: Week beginning 12 December 2016

• All other modules: Week beginning 14 November 2016

Term 2:

• Research Methods for Psychology [Parts 1 & 2]: Week beginning 20 March

2017

• All other modules: Week beginning 27 February 2017

Term 3:

• Research Methods for Psychology [Parts 1 & 2]: Week beginning 3 July

2017

• All other modules: Week beginning 12 June 2017

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What if I can’t attend a timed essay?!

If a student is unavailable to sit a timed essay - for example due to ill-health -

they will need to submit a mitigating circumstances form which will go to the

Sub-Board of Examiners for consideration (see page 18).

How much work is involved?

A module worth 15 credits normally requires up to 150 hours of study. This

includes time in class, time studying at home, time preparing assignments, time

spent thinking about what you’ve studied in class and what is needed for your

assignments – in fact any time you spend engaged in learning related to that

module. The time students will need to set aside each week will vary between

students. Most allow 6-12 hrs per week outside the classroom for each 30 credit

course they are taking. Although this is only offered as a guide, it highlights

the amount of time you need to plan for your studies, given that these courses

are taught and assessed at the same level as the first year of an undergraduate

degree.

What support is available to help me acquire the necessary skills to pass

this course?

Students on our modules come from a range of backgrounds. Although some

have recent experience of studying at college, some won’t have studied since

they were 16 years old. This range of experience and backgrounds is one of the

things our students find particularly stimulating and supportive when studying

with us.

We fully recognise that returning to study and completing coursework can be

anxiety provoking but it is possible to learn the skills required and we see it as a

key part of our job to support students to develop these skills.

All students are encouraged to discuss their study skills needs with the course

lecturer. Whilst study skills are incorporated into most courses, students who

need or want more support than the course lecturer can realistically provide,

may want to consider enrolling on one of the following one day study skills

courses run by the Psychology Team free of charge:

Study Skills for Psychology Students

Essay Writing for Psychology Students

Maths for the Terrified

Taking Timed Tasks for Research Methods

For further details, and to enrol, please visit our website:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/2016/certificates/programmes/UEHPSYCH/

or contact the Administrator for Psychology.

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More general learning and study skills support is also available: please see

Section 7 - Student Support Services for more information.

Please feel free to discuss your study skills needs with the course tutor.

When should I contact my course tutor?

Students may contact their course tutor in between classes by email, using the

tutor’s Birkbeck email address. However, email contact should be kept brief and

should be infrequent (not usually more than once a week at most). The

occasional question to check one’s understanding of some aspect of the course’s

assessment, to ask for pointers towards reading or other resources, or to let

them know you will not be able to attend class etc. is appropriate. Contacting a

tutor more than this would not usually be appropriate as questions and

discussion should usually be managed during face to face contact during class

time.

If you are at all unsure what is appropriate please ask – we are happy to guide

you.

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4. ASSESSMENT

COURSEWORK – GENERAL NOTES

The central aims of assessment are to:

give you a chance to:

o study particular areas of interest in more detail;

o spend time thinking about the real life applications of what you

have learnt;

Give you and us an indication as to whether you have learnt all it was

hoped you would learn on the course (the syllabus outlines under

‘learning outcomes’ what you should know / understand / be able to do

once you’ve successfully completed the course);

give you personal feedback on your progress in learning about the

subjects you are studying and developing the skills associated with

psychology (the ability to evaluate theory; to put across different ideas

and develop an argument; and to clearly indicate where the information

you are using is coming from through referencing etc.).

The amount you learn will increase if you are interested in the topic, so we

would encourage you to discuss with your tutor if there are particular subjects

that you would like to focus on in your assessments. Obviously the topic has to

be entirely relevant demonstrating you have achieved the learning outcomes for

the module but it may be possible to negotiate a topic of particular interest to

you.

In your discussions with the tutor it may be useful to let them know what grade

you are aiming for as some types of assessment increase the likelihood of a high

mark. This may be relevant to students aiming to progress onto other courses.

Please note, each piece of work you submit on a course – and each

piece you submit across all courses on the Certificate – must be written

on a different topic. For example you may only write one essay on

‘intelligence’ or one essay on ‘attachment theory’. It is your responsibility

not to write on the same topic more than once – if in doubt, discuss it with your

tutor. If you are later found to have written on the same subject more than once

you will be asked to complete an additional piece of work on a different topic

and will not be able to complete the course or the Certificate until the new work

has been completed successfully. The mark for the work you submit at that

point would be capped at 40%.

Coursework:

All courses include coursework completed at home. Coursework may include

essays, reports, reviews, oral presentations, case studies and exercises

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appropriate to the subject. You may be able to negotiate with your tutor the

type of work you complete, the topics included and even the wording of the

assignments. So, if there is some form of assessment that you would find

particularly useful or interesting (such as a case study, for example), please

discuss the possibilities with your tutor. We may not be able to accommodate

every request but we do try to be flexible. The course lecturer must agree

the question/task.

Tutors are permitted to give you feedback on essay plans but not on drafts of

essays.

Each piece of work completed at home should normally be 1,500 words* in

length each (or the equivalent). There will be no penalty for work that is 10%

too long or too short (150 words). However, for work that is between 150-500

words too long or too short, 5% will be deducted. For work that is more than

500 words too long or too short 10% will be deducted.

Sometimes it may also be possible to complete a ‘double piece of work’ so you

submit one piece of work that is 3,000* words long rather than two shorter

pieces. The course lecturer must agree that this is acceptable and they

must agree the question/task. Again, students will be penalised for

submitting work that is significantly over or under this word limit: there will be

no penalty for work that is 10% (that is 300 words) too long or too short.

However, for work that is between 300 - 1000 words too long or too short, 5

marks will be deducted. For work that is more than 1000 words too long or too

short 10 marks will be deducted.

*Not including references.

Uploading coursework via Turnitin:

You will be required to give a paper copy of your coursework to the tutor. You

will also be required to upload an electronic copy of your work via

‘Turnitin’ which you will find on Moodle. Your tutor will explain how to do this.

You must upload the electronic copy by the deadline for submission.

The reason we need you to upload your work is so we can see what percentage

of your coursework is written in exactly the same words as material found in

books, articles, other students’ coursework or on the web. If more than 5% is

found to be exactly the same as other such material, we may not be able to

accept the work. To avoid this problem you can upload your work into Turnitin

before the submission deadline and check for yourself what percentage appears

to be in the exactly the same words as material in books etc. You can then

rewrite the problematic sections before the final submission date. The section

below entitled ‘Plagiarism’ gives further advice on how to avoid this problem.

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Work completed in class under timed conditions:

Some courses also include essays or other assignments that you complete in

class under timed conditions without access to your books or notes.

Timed essays

Each time you have to complete a timed essay you will be given an hour during

class to write an essay without referring to your books or anyone else. The

reason for including timed essays as part of the assessment is that they are a

chance to see how well you can apply your knowledge to a problem that you

haven’t seen before within a limited amount of time. They also help you to

assess how much of the material you really understand and you can actually

remember. Furthermore, those students preparing to go on for further study, for

example, undergraduate degrees in psychology, will find them useful

preparation for taking formal exams in the future.

Although writing under timed conditions may seem daunting, some students

prefer timed essays as they find that they take less time to prepare than

coursework completed at home.

Students will not be penalised for the length of timed essays although pieces

that are too short may not be of sufficient quality to receive the higher grades.

As a rough guide students may aim to write approximately 700 -1000 words.

Students do not have to provide a reference list at the end of timed essays but

do need to include references in the body of their essay, if they refer to the work

or ideas or other people.

The number of assignments:

For a 15 credit module there are usually two pieces of work to complete:

On some of the modules both pieces of work are completed at home.

On some half modules one piece of work is completed at home, whilst the

other is written in the classroom under timed conditions (1 hour).

For a 30 credit module there are usually four pieces of work to complete:

On some modules all of the pieces of work are completed at home.

On some of the modules two of the pieces of work will be completed at

home and two will be undertaken under timed conditions in the classroom

on separate occasions (1 hour each).

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COURSEWORK – RESEARCH METHODS [PARTS 1 & 2]

Coursework requirements for these modules are slightly different and are

outlined below.

For each Research Methods module, students are required to complete two

pieces of coursework – a report of 1500 words based upon a laboratory

experiment carried out in class as a group and written up individually. There is

also a 2 hour timed test that will be carried out at the end of the course, which

has two sections, A and B. Section A has a specific focus on methodology and

ethics, and Section B assesses the practical use of SPSS.

COURSEWORK SUBMISSION DEADLINES

The regulations governing assessment conform to the Common Award Scheme,

details of which are available on the College website:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs

Key points to note are:

how you submit your coursework;

the range of difficulties that are acceptable as mitigating

circumstances; and

the number of attempts that you can have at any one module;

Submission of Coursework

Deadlines for submission of coursework are set by your tutor in the first

instance. It is important to adhere to these deadlines and undertake

assessment at the appropriate point in the course. You will be able to have your

work marked in good time and receive feedback that you can use to inform

future submissions. By using feedback from the tutors you should be able to

edge your marks up a couple of percentage points at a time, which can quickly

move your marks from one grade to the next.

The following guidance relates to the formal regulations regarding late

submission and the capping of marks. The key dates to note for the Applied

Psychology programme are:

1. Where you find it impossible to meet the deadline set by your tutor you must

negotiate with them a deadline that you can meet. The last date when it is

possible to submit work without penalty is the date of the last

meeting of your course.

Work submitted by this date will be accepted without penalty.

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Work submitted after the after the last session of your course will be

capped at the 40% pass mark unless mitigating circumstances apply

(please see the section on mitigating circumstances below). We call the last

session of your coursed the ‘first submission date’ or the ‘first deadline’.

2. Work submitted after the following dates will not be accepted and

will be returned:

Modules ending in term 1: Friday 14 January 2017

Modules ending in term 2: Friday 21 April 2017

Modules ending in term 3: Friday 14 July 2017

We call these dates the ‘second submission date’ or the ‘second deadline’.

Students should note the importance of these deadlines and the implications of

missing the first or second submission date. Please note:

That posting work to tutors does not constitute submission. It is your

responsibility to ensure work has been received and to keep proof of

postage and copies of your work. Work submitted after the first deadline

should be submitted to your tutor as an electronic attachment by email.

You should ensure that you request and have confirmation of receipt from

your tutor as proof.

That it is your responsibility to be clear about the internal

submission dates for your course, including the dates that the

timed essay(s)/task(s) are scheduled by your tutor, so that you can

ensure that you make necessary arrangements to meet the

deadlines and attend the timed essays/tasks.

MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES

If you are unable to submit one or more pieces of your coursework (or are

unable to attend a timed essay/task) due to mitigating circumstances you may

apply to complete this work at a later date. If you feel that you have mitigating

circumstances that affected your work and that you would like considered by the

Sub-Board of Examiners, you should complete the appropriate form and submit

it as soon as possible with documentary evidence before the second submission

deadline.

To download the form, and for further information on the kinds of mitigating

circumstances that will be considered and those that won’t, please visit our

website:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/administration/assessment/exams/

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mitigating-circumstances

Please note:

Not all circumstances will be considered valid. All valid mitigating

circumstances will need to be supported with appropriate documentary

evidence.

You should note that mitigating circumstances will only be considered where

there is clear evidence that the circumstances occurred in the short period

leading to or at the time of the assessment.

Please note that marks awarded are not normally changed. In exceptional

circumstances marks may be raised by up to 2% to secure a pass where a

student has marginally failed a piece of work if there is evidence that their

performance was adversely affected by the mitigating circumstances where

normally their performance is of a higher standard.

Where a Sub-Board of Examiners judges that a student’s performance was

affected by mitigating circumstances the student will be offered the option of

repeating that element of the assessment. This reassessment if taken up

does not count as one of the three attempts you are allowed to pass the

course. The dates for reassessment are as outlined below.

If you are unable to meet the first deadline and the second deadlines due to

mitigating circumstances relating to those periods you will have until 14 July

2017 to submit your mitigating circumstances form. If your mitigating

circumstances are accepted you will be given a new date by which you need

to complete the work.

MARKING CRITERIA

Your work will be marked according to the published criteria for Psychology

Certificate of Higher Education courses (please see Appendix 1). It’s really

important you read these and keep them to hand when getting ready to

complete your assessments.

The grades awarded by course lecturers for all modules are provisional

and subject to moderation.

FEEDBACK

Your tutor will also give you feedback that will both explain the mark awarded

and offer you advice on how to develop and improve your work next time. If

you are not clear about the feedback please ask your lecturer to explain it and

they will be happy to do so. The most important thing you can do to improve

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your grades is to make sure that after reading the feedback you are clear what

the priority is for you in your next piece of work. For some people it will be to

give their work a clear introduction or conclusion. For others it will be to work

out how to structure paragraphs and arrange them in the order that makes a

convincing argument. Others will need to work on including more references to

show where their ideas are coming from. Some people will need to work on

putting the references at the end of their essays in the standard format. Others

will need to work on evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the theories or

research studies they are discussing in their work.

It’s also worth noting that there is no point comparing your grade with that

given to other students in your class as our classes include students from such a

wide range of backgrounds that each person’s strengths and needs will be

specific to them.

MODERATION

All coursework is subject to the moderation procedures of the College to ensure

the equity and accuracy of marking across all modules.

You should be aware that all marks awarded by tutors are provisional until they

have been confirmed by the Sub-Board of Examiners, and therefore marks may

change during the moderation process.

If your class is selected for moderation you must submit all of your marked

assessments at the end of your module to your tutor. The work should be

submitted in a flat folder (either an A4 plastic folder or envelope folder) and

should include green coversheets. All coversheets must be appropriately

completed and signed to confirm the work is your own. A moderator will sample

the work from courses submitted for moderation to help ensure tutors are

setting appropriate assessments; are marking according to the marking criteria

for the programme; and are giving useful feedback.

If your class is NOT selected for moderation you must ensure you retain

your coursework carefully in case of query until online notification of results in

mid-August.

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS AND RETURN OF COURSEWORK

The Sub-Board of Examiners normally meets in the last week of July to ratify

results. However, a nominated committee of the Sub-Board of Examiners will

meet during the year to consider mitigating circumstances and identify

students eligible for reassessment in late Spring for courses ending in term 1,

late summer for courses ending in term 2 and early September for courses

ending in term 3.

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Online notification of results for all modules will take place in mid August. You

will be able to check your results via your My Birkbeck profile (see Student

Support Services for more information).

Coursework that has been submitted for moderation is normally returned to

students four-six weeks after the notification of results have been sent.

FAILURE AND RE-ASSESSMENT OF A MODULE

To satisfactorily complete a module, students must achieve an overall mark

of 40% or more.

For modules including assessment with one or more timed essays/task,

students have to pass at least one timed essay/task to pass the module.

Where a student fails to pass at least one timed essay/task, yet has an

average overall mark for the module of 40% or more, will not be changed but

it will be recorded as a fail.

For Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2], the lab

report and both sections of the timed task (A and B) must all be passed

with a mark of 40% or more in order to satisfactorily complete the module.

If you fail to pass a module at your first attempt then you may be “re-

assessed” or you may be required to “re-take”.

Re-assessment and re-takes

Re-assessment is where a student will re-attempt a failed element of a failed

module without attending any further classes.

A re-take requires a student to re-enrol for the module, re-attend the course

and re-take the full coursework requirements.

A decision on whether you will be permitted to be re-assessed in one or more

elements of a module that has not been passed is at the discretion of the

sub-board of examiners.

As a general guide, it is expected that students who fail a module with an

overall mark of between 30-39% are likely to be offered re-assessment.

Those with an overall mark of 29% or less are likely to be required to re-take

the module.

For Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2], a student who

fails the module with a mark for the timed task of 29% or less will almost

certainly be required to re-take the module.

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A nominated committee will meet at the end of each term to make decisions

regarding re-assessment and decisions will be communicated to students

shortly afterwards. Re-assessment will take place on the following dates:

Courses ending in term 1: Monday 6 March 2017

Courses ending in term 2: Monday 5 June 2017

Courses ending in term 3: Monday 4 September 2017

If you do not wish to take up the offer of re-assessment you must let us know in

writing by responding to the offer by the specified deadline. Failure to do so will

mean that you have to re-take the module.

Any reassessment awarded will be subject to a cap at the pass mark

(40%).

This change will apply to reassessment only, and not students who are required

to re-take a module.

Number of attempts

Students are permitted three attempts at passing a module (the original

attempt plus two further attempts, of which only one may be a reassessment).

An attempt constitutes:

A student who completes and submits all the coursework even if they fail the

module overall (such cases will be resulted with the actual mark obtained).

A student who fails a module with an overall mark of 30-39% and takes the

opportunity given by the Sub-Board of Examiners to be reassessed in the

failed element(s) of a module. (Students may only be reassessed once. If

they subsequently fail they must retake the module).

A student who chooses not to submit all pieces of coursework required

(including a timed essay/task) but has not formally withdrawn (in such cases

the item(s) in question will be awarded a zero to arrive at the overall

mark).

Implications for completion of a module are:

A student who does not complete the coursework requirements for a module

and has not formally withdrawn from assessment in writing before the first

submission date will be deemed to have attempted the module. Unless

mitigating circumstances are submitted and a deferral requested for the

outstanding item(s) the student will be resulted by averaging the marks

22

based on a mark of zero for the non-submitted items.

Students cannot retake a module to gain a higher mark.

A student failing to complete a module satisfactorily after three attempts will

not be permitted to re-enrol for the module. Where the module is a core

module such a student will be unable to meet the requirements for that

award.

APPEAL PROCEDURE

There is no provision for appeals against the academic judgement of Sub-Boards

of Examiners in assessing the merits of assessment. The grounds on which

appeals may be made are outlined here:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/registry/policies/documents/appeals-policy-and-

procedure-taught.pdf

STUDENT COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE (ACADEMIC ISSUES)

The aim of the College’s Student Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedure is to

ensure that complaints from students relating to courses of study, the

availability or quality of facilities and any issues relating to College staff are dealt

with fairly and promptly.

Further details of the full procedure can be found at:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/registry/policies/policies-1

APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION FROM INDIVIDUAL MODULES

If by virtue of your previous education experience, you feel that you have fully

covered the content of an individual module in this award at another institution,

you may apply for exemption from that module.

Applications must be made in writing (along with relevant documentation) to the

Award Coordinator for the Certificate of Higher Education in Applied Psychology

who, after assessing whether all of the learning outcomes for the module have

been met previously, will notify you of their decision.

If successful, you will accrue the credits for the given module which can be used

as part of the 120 credits required for the award. The maximum exemption

possible is 60 credits.

REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM

It is essential that coursework is properly ‘referenced’. Referencing your

written work means clearly identifying the source of your information.

Referencing involves giving the name and date of the people whose work you

23

are drawing upon within the body of your work and then including an organised

list of those references at the end.

What is plagiarism?

You must use other people’s work as the basis of your coursework in order to

demonstrate that you know about and understand theories within psychology.

The problem arises if you seem to be suggesting that someone else’s ideas are

your own. Using other people’s words or ideas in your work without naming the

person and indicating where you read about their work is called ‘plagiarism’. It

is regarded as a form of cheating or dishonesty.

According to College policy, plagiarism can take a variety of forms and can be

categorised as follows:

copying a whole or substantial parts of a paper from a source text (e.g. a

web site, journal article, book or encyclopaedia), without proper

acknowledgement;

paraphrasing someone else’s work closely, with minor changes but with

the essential meaning, form and/or progression of ideas maintained;

piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole;

procuring a paper from a company or essay bank (including Internet

sites);

submitting another student’s work, with or without that student’s

knowledge

submitting a paper written by someone else (e.g. a peer or relative), and

passing it off as one’s own

representing a piece of joint or group work as one’s own.

Both committing plagiarism – and helping someone else to – are potentially very

serious.

Academic declaration form

When submitting coursework (e.g. essay or other coursework or dissertation),

you will need to sign an academic declaration form, stating that you have read

the sections of plagiarism in your Handbook and confirming that the work is your

own, with the work of others fully acknowledged.

Consequences of Plagiarising

According to the College Policy on Assessment Offences (2008) there are two

types of offences:

Minor Offences - “inappropriate paraphrasing, a relatively small amount of

unattributed quotations, and up to several sentences of direct copying (without

acknowledging sources), where these are first offences”.

24

Major Offences – “copying of paragraphs (without acknowledging sources),

downloading essays from ‘cheat sites’ on the Internet, copying much/all of the

work of a fellow student, allegations of plagiarism in multiple pieces of

coursework submitted by a student and examination, collusion and other

offences”.

You need to be aware that both types of offences could lead to serious penalties.

Details of this policy can be found at:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/registry/policies/policies-1 but it is simply much better to

avoid plagiarism!

Avoiding Plagiarism

In essence, the most obvious way to avoid plagiarism is to close books and exit

the web etc. before starting to write. This is also the best way to learn as it

requires you to internalise and then ‘verbalise’ the concepts they are studying.

Obviously you can then rework what they have written and add references etc.

A similar strategy would be to imagine that your work is a letter to a friend: if

you were to explain what you have learnt to a friend you would inevitably use

your own words. Again, when you have finished you can add an appropriate

introduction and conclusion, and references.

More specific strategies include:

always include a reference to show whose work you are quoting or where

you got your information (in the body of the work and in the reference

list)

always use inverted commas (“…”) when using a direct quote from a

book, the web etc.

However, keep direct quotes to a minimum

always rewrite what is taken from books etc in your own words

always give the name/s and dates linked to the theories or studies under

discussion

Referencing your work

The general rule is that if the information came from a book, an article, a paper,

a web site and it is neither general knowledge nor your own original idea, then

you should provide a reference. This may mean that almost every paragraph in

your written work is likely to carry one or more references - this is perfectly

normal. Some sentences may even have more than one reference. In fact you

should be wary of paragraphs you write that do not contain a reference. It is

always safer to err on the side of caution and include a reference than not.

25

Please remember that although fully referencing your work is an important aim

in academic writing, it is also a skill that needs to be developed - don’t worry if it

takes several attempts before you feel confident in its use.

How to reference:

In the body of your essay (or other written assignments) include the

name of the person who wrote the book, article or paper you are drawing

upon for the ideas in that particular sentence or paragraph. You only need

to give their surname. You also need to include the year the book or

article etc. was published. E.g.

o Smith (2011) demonstrated that referencing in the body of the

essay significantly increased students marks.

or

o It has been demonstrated that referencing in the body of the essay

significantly increases students’ marks (Smith, 2011).

At the end of your essay give a ‘Reference List’. List in alphabetical order

all the names you have included in your essay. Then add the full details of

the books or articles etc. so that anyone who would like to read them can

find them:

o Smith, J. (2011). How to Reference Your Essay. Milton Keynes:

Open University Press.

o In other words:

Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of book. Where it was Published:

Name of Publisher.

Notice the punctuation – where to use full stops, where to use

commas, where to use italics etc. Copy this format exactly if possible.

That said, if you are new to writing essays, just concentrate on getting

these basics correct.

If you are comfortable with the basics practice using the APA (American

Psychological Association) or Harvard system of referencing (preferably

the APA system).

o You can find further details about how to give references using APA

at: http://bbk.libguides.com/psychologicalsciences

Referencing information you found on the web

For web pages you should aim to include (where available) the author of the

information (a person, group or organisation), date (most web pages have a

date at the bottom of the page), title, URL (the web address at the top of the

26

page) and the date you used the web page to find that material. It is important

to include the date when you last saw the information on the web as the

information may change or disappear altogether. For example, the reference for

a web page would appear in your Reference List as follows:

Germov, J. and Williams, L. (1998) Social Appetite Web (web page)

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/so/socialappetite.htm,

(date accessed: 1 January 2013).

If no author information is listed on the web page, you would simply write the

reference as follows:

Get Great Information Fast, (web page) (1998),

http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/so/socialappetite.htm,

(date accessed: 1 January 2013).

Reference list or bibliography - what's the difference?

A Reference List is a list of the references you have used in your essay or other

written work. A Bibliography is a broader list of information sources related

to the topic, but not specifically quoted in your work.

Further Information

Further information on referencing and plagiarism can be obtained from the

Birkbeck Library website (including a number of tutorials and more detailed

guides) at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/learn/citing.

Your tutor will also be able to provide you with additional advice and guidance.

27

5. COMPLETION OF AWARD

Requirements and Award Scheme

To complete the award of the Certificate of Higher Education in Applied

Psychology, you need to successfully complete eligible modules worth a total of

120 credits, including the three core modules – Problem Solving and Decision

Making (Cognitive Psychology), Psychology of Learning and Learning Styles, and

Research Methods [Part 1].

Overall marks for the award are calculated as outlined in Section 1 – Programme

of Study, under the heading “How many modules should I take?”

Students who achieve an overall mark of above 70% will receive a Distinction

classification. All other marks between 40% and 70% are classified as a Pass.

Further information is available at:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/registry/policies/regulations

Discretion

Although awards and classifications are determined by the weighted average

outlined above, the Sub-Board of Examiners has discretion to raise a

classification where a student falls within 2 percentage points of a grade

boundary.

A recommendation to raise a classification can be made on the following

grounds:

Preponderance: where a student has achieved a preponderance (greater

quantity) of credit in the higher classification.

Unrepresentative performance in one module, which has affected the

overall classification.

Decisions of the Sub-Board with regard to discretion will be fair and consistent

and made in accordance with the criteria specified above. However, there should

be no expectation that the Sub-Board will use discretion to raise any student

who falls within a boundary to a higher classification than that suggested by

their classification formula.

The Sub-Board can only use discretion to raise a classification, not to change

marks awarded. Where discretion has been applied, individual module marks,

and the overall award mark, remain the same.

Award Ceremony and Issuing of Certificate

28

Students who have successfully completed the Certificate of Higher Education

will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony in April 2017.

29

6. FEEDBACK

Providing feedback about your course

Students are invited to give informal, verbal feedback to the tutor at any point

during the course. Such feedback can be incredibly useful in helping the tutor to

tailor their methods and the contents of the course to the particular group.

Tutors may also ask for feedback at various points during the course.

Students complete course evaluation forms at the end of the course. These are

read by the tutor who will include a summary of the feedback in their end of

course report. The forms and the tutors report are read by the Award Co-

ordinator.

Should you wish to give feedback on a course directly, this can be done by

contacting the administrative team by phone, by email or by downloading a copy

of the course evaluation form and returning it to us directly.

Staff-Student Exchange

Staff-Student exchange meetings are held each year to enable students to

provide feedback about their experience of studying on our Certificate

programmes and at Birkbeck in general. Students enrolled on a specific module

each term are invited to come to a meeting before or after their normal class

time.

30

7. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

MY BIRKBECK HELPDESK

The My Birkbeck website (http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/) is your gateway

to accessing all student support services at Birkbeck.

It is also where you can access your student record, via your My Birkbeck profile

(http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeckprofile), including your timetable, contact

details, your financial records and your course results.

You may also find the following links particularly useful:-

Obtaining your library/ID card:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/you/cards

Accessing IT Services:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/computing/username

Contacting our disability office:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/disability/disability-

office

Financial support:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/studentfinance/

Study skills support:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/study-skills

You can also visit the Student Advice Centre on the ground floor of the main

Birkbeck building on Malet Street. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday from

12.00pm-7.00pm and 12.00pm-5.00pm on Friday and Saturday. You can also

call the helpdesk on 020 7631 6316. Helpdesk opening hours may vary outside

of term time.

ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT

To benefit fully from your studies, you should be able to read, write and speak

English fluently. If you feel that you need to improve your written or oral skills

in English, or if English is not your first language, we recommend that you enrol

on an English language or academic writing course.

If you would like the opportunity to reflect on your English language skills either

because you have been educated in a language other than English or because

you have not studied at HE level before, you may wish to consider this FREE

online course from the Open University:

“Am I ready to study in English” available on

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4503

31

At Birkbeck, our Study Skills Support team provides advice, one to one tuition

and support with grammar, maths and study techniques. A diagnostic English

Language test is available for those students who need guidance or advice on

their English Language skills.

For further information visit their website:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support or contact them by

email: learningskills@bbk.ac.uk or phone: 0207 631 6316.

Additional Resources – Study Guides

The following guides and websites may also be useful:

Cottrell, S. (2013), The Study Skills Handbook, Palgrave Macmillan

Heffernan, T.H. (2005), A Student's Guide to Studying Psychology, Psychology

Press

Northedge, A. (2005), The Good Study Guide, Open University Worldwide

Additional Resources – Websites

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of websites on study skills. Not all are

particularly good but the following are useful:

http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk/

The University of Southampton’s comprehensive website on a range of study

skills and study issues; some parts restricted to Southampton students but a lot

of useful tips and suggestions.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/learners-guide/learning-skills/index.htm

The Open University’s website with a range of detailed guidance on study skills

issues; some parts restricted to OU students but a lot of useful tips and

suggestions.

http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?content=web

_research&state=none

A very useful guide to doing research on the web.

https://connect.le.ac.uk/p50066682/ and press the ‘play’ button. For specific

guidance on how to avoid plagiarism in your course work.

DISABILITY SUPPORT

Birkbeck is committed to do everything it can to support you in your studies but

to do so most effectively we need to know your needs. Specific

recommendations can only be made once your needs have been assessed by our

disability office and communicated to the department.

32

Disability Statement

Disability & Dyslexia Service

At Birkbeck there are students with a wide range of disabilities, specific learning

difficulties, medical conditions and mental health conditions. Many of them have

benefited from the advice and support provided by the College’s Disability&

Dyslexia Service.

The Disability & Dyslexia Service and Mental Health Service

The Disability & Dyslexia Service is located in the Wellbeing Centre G26, on the

ground floor of the Malet Street building.

All enquiries should come to the Wellbeing Centre, who will determine the

appropriate referral to specialist staff. They can provide advice and support on

travel and parking, physical access, the Disabled Students’ Allowance, specialist

equipment, personal support, examination arrangements, etc. If you have a

disability or dyslexia, we recommend you call us on 0207 631 6316 to book an

appointment.

The Disability & Dyslexia Service can help you to complete your Study Support

Plan, confirming your support requirements with your School and relevant

Departments at the College so they are informed of your needs.

Access at Birkbeck

Birkbeck's main buildings have wheelchair access, accessible lifts and toilets, our

reception desks and teaching venues have induction loops for people with

hearing impairments, and we have large print and tactile signage. Accessible

parking, lockers, specialist seating in lectures and seminars and portable

induction loops can all be arranged by the Disability & Dyslexia Service.

The Disabled Students’ Allowance

UK and EU (with migrant worker status) disabled and dyslexia students on

undergraduate and postgraduate courses are eligible to apply for the Disabled

Students' Allowance (DSA). The DSA provides specialist equipment including

computers with assistive technology and training, personal help e.g. note takers,

BSL interpreters, specialist tutors for students with dyslexia and mental health

mentors and additional travel costs for students who have to use taxis. It

provides thousands of pounds worth of support and all the evidence shows that

students who receive it are more likely to complete their courses successfully.

The Disability & Dyslexia Service can provide further information on the DSA and

can assist you in applying to Student Finance England for this support.

Support in your Department

Your Department will receive a copy of your Study Support Plan from the

33

Disability and Dyslexia Service. This will make specific recommendations about

the support you should receive from the Department.

Whilst we anticipate that this support will be provided by the Programme

Director, tutors and Programme Administrator in the Department, they will also

have a Disability Lead. If you experience any difficulties or require additional

support from the Department then they may also be able to assist you. They

may be contacted through the Programme Administrator.

Support in IT Services and Library Services

There is a comprehensive range of specialist equipment for students with

disabilities in IT Services. This includes an Assistive Technology Room, which

may be booked by disabled students. We have software packages for dyslexic

students (e.g. Claroread and Mind view), screen reading and character

enhancing software for students with visual impairments available in our

computer laboratories, specialist scanning software, large monitors, ergonomic

mice and keyboards, specialist orthopaedic chairs, etc. We have an Assistive

Technology Officer, who can be contacted via IT Services.

The Library has an Assistive Technology Centre, where there is also a range of

specialist equipment, including an electronic magnifier for visually impaired

students, as well as specialist orthopaedic chairs and writing slopes. The

Disability and Dyslexia Service Office refers all students with disabilities to the

Library Access Support service, who provide a comprehensive range of services

for students with disabilities and dyslexia.

Examinations and Assessments

Many disabled and dyslexia students can receive support in examination,

including additional time, use of a computer, etc. They are often also eligible for

extensions of up to two weeks on coursework, which should be requested in

writing.

Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia)

Mature students who experienced problems at school are often unaware that

these problems may result from their being dyslexic. Whilst dyslexia cannot be

cured, you can learn strategies to make studying significantly easier. If you think

you may be dyslexic you can take an online screening test in the computer

laboratories, the instructions for the screening test are available on the Disability

Office website. If appropriate, you will be referred to an Educational Psychologist

for a dyslexia assessment. Some students can receive assistance in meeting this

cost, either from their employer or from Birkbeck.

Further information

For further information or to make an appointment to see the Disability &

34

Dyslexia Service, please call the Wellbeing Administrators on 020 7631 6316 or

email disability@bbk.ac.uk.

Timed Assessments

Students with disabilities and dyslexia may be eligible for special arrangements

for timed assessments e.g. extra time, use of a word processor, amanuensis,

enlarged question papers etc. In order to receive special arrangements a

student must provide Medical Evidence of their disability (or an Educational

Psychologist’s Report if you are dyslexic) to the Disability Office. Students should

also attend an appointment with the Disability Office to discuss and formalise the

appropriate arrangements.

Special arrangements for timed assessments cannot normally be accommodated

within the class. Timed assessments for students with special arrangements will

be scheduled as follows:

Term 1

Research Methods [Part 1]: Friday 16 December 2016, 6-8.30pm

All other modules: Friday 18 November 2016, 6-7.15pm

Term 2:

Research Methods [Part 1] and [Part 2]: Friday 24 March 2017, 6-8.30pm

All other modules: All other modules: Friday 3 March 2017, 6-7.15pm

Term 3:

Research Methods [Part 1] and [Part 2]: Friday 7 July 2017, 6-8.30pm

All other modules: Friday 16 June 2017, 6-7.15pm

You should contact the department to confirm your intention to attend at least 2

weeks before the date of the test.

35

8. LEARNING RESOURCES

Birkbeck Library

All students enrolled on an award bearing module may join Birkbeck library free

of charge. To join the library you will need to obtain a Birkbeck ID card which

also acts as your student card.

Joining the library will also give you access to electronic resources such as

journals which can be accessed remotely. You may also be able to borrow

books from other libraries in the SCONUL scheme.

If you wish to buy books your tutor will be able to advise you on which books to

buy. Syllabi for individual modules can be downloaded from our web site, which

will include introductory reading lists if you would like to prepare for the

module.

Some modules identify preparatory reading which we recommend you undertake

prior to the start of the module.

Birkbeck IT Services

Upon enrolment you will receive your IT Services (ITS) username and password,

which you will need to access College PCs, electronic resources in the library,

your My Birkbeck profile and Moodle (see below).

More information about computing services provided by ITS is available at:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/computing

Moodle

Moodle is the name of Birkbeck’s Virtual Learning Environment and an essential

resource for your course. Every module will have a module shell with links to

course materials and other information posted by your tutor.

You will also be required to upload and submit an electronic copy of your home

essays to Moodle so that it can be scanned for plagiarism.

Moodle is accessed via: http://moodle.bbk.ac.uk. You will need your ITS

username and password.

36

9. FURTHER STUDY

One of the aims of this award is to prepare students for further study should

they wish to continue. There are various ways in which students can continue

with their studies following the completion of some or all of the Certificate of

Higher Education:

Entrance onto the part-time BSc Psychology

Students who have taken Psychology of Learning and Learning Styles, and

Problem Solving and Decision Making and Research Methods [Part 1] are

encouraged to apply for entry into the first year of the part-time BSc Psychology

degree programme at Birkbeck.

Entrance onto the Foundation Degree in Psychology for Education

Professionals

Students working, or wishing to work, with children and young people in

education who complete relevant modules on this certificate programme may be

considered for direct entry into Year 2 of Birkbeck's Foundation Degree in

Psychology for Education Professionals.

To be considered for this, you should complete the following modules:

The Developing Child: A Psychological Perspective

Psychology of Learning and Learning Styles

Problem Solving and Decision Making (Cognitive Psychology)

Research Methods for Psychology [Part 1]

and either Critical Approaches to Attachment or Understanding Human

Personality or Critical Approaches to Positive Psychology.

Transferring Credit towards Degree Courses in the University of London

and elsewhere

Students who have completed Modules for this award may find that they are

able to claim exemptions from individual Modules and examinations for first

degrees at other Colleges of the University of London and other institutions of

higher education, including the Open University. There may be other tests for

entry. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis and students should

consult admissions officers of the institutions concerned.

37

10. DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Location

The departmental office is located in Room 501 of the main Birkbeck building on

Malet Street. Opening hours are 10am – 6pm, however please note that there

may be occasions when no staff are in the office.

If you need to see a particular member of staff then you are advised to call and

make an appointment.

Key contacts

If you have a query regarding your courses, please do contact the administrative

team. There is a team e-mail address: psychologycert@bbk.ac.uk or you can

contact individual members of staff as follows:

Kevin St. Hill, Administrator

0207 631 6669

k.st.hill@bbk.ac.uk

Alex Borden, Administrator

0203 073 8044

a.borden@bbk.ac.uk

38

APPENDIX 1

Birkbeck College, University of London

Department of Psychological Sciences

MARKING CRITERIA FOR APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY COURSEWORK -

Guidance for students

SEPTEMBER 2016

Please ensure that you:

have signed the green coursework coversheet (verifying that the work is

your own and not plagiarised);

have written the title of the work in full;

have indicated whether the work is a home or timed piece of work;

indicated the number of words you have used (not required for timed

essays/tasks).

Please note that:

All marks given are provisional until verified by the appropriate Board of

Assessors.

In marking coursework, lecturers will be looking for particular evidence of:

STRUCTURE

How far does the essay have a coherent argument running through it?

Is there some form of introduction, main body and a concluding paragraph?

How far do the points follow logically from each other both between and

within paragraphs?

CLARITY

How easy is the writing to read?

is it concise and economical but not dense?

is it straightforward but not simpleminded?

is there enough information but not lot of unnecessary detail?

is the reader left scratching their head wondering what is meant?

RELEVANCE

How far does the essay address its title throughout? Each paragraph should

make some point which helps build the case the writer is making, or the point of

view they wish to present.

USE OF THE LITERATURE

To what extent are books, theories, authors used in the essay?

Is the theory and evidence used primarily from psychology?

How wide has been the reading? Is it used well and appropriately?

Are references quote in the body of the essay?

39

Is a reference list given and is it in an appropriate format?

CRITICAL / EVALUATIVE PERSPECTIVE

For higher marks, the writer will show a clear awareness of a critical standpoint.

For example:

How far does the essay comment on weaknesses in theories, gaps in the

evidence, or methodological problems? Does the student offer a relevant

discussion of the development of ideas?

Can they compare and contrast different theories or viewpoints?

How far do they have a grasp of the pros and cons of different kinds of

method and evidence: (e.g., case history, survey; experiment) and can they

use that awareness to evaluate the claims they make?

ORIGINALITY

Some form of originality will increase the likelihood of very high marks. At this

level, this may be some original observations but it may also be sufficient for the

student to offer their own synthesis of the material.

---------------------------

MARKING CRITERIA AND MARK BANDS

0-29% Fail: Inadequate work which:

Does not address the question or fundamentally fails to complete the task.

Is very poorly presented or illegible.

Is very poorly organised.

Presents no argument or presents an argument that is confused or

contradictory.

Shows no relevant reading in the subject area.

Demonstrates no understanding of the relevant concepts, theories or

research findings (or demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of these).

Sources not cited.

30-39% Fail: A partial or superficial response to the task which:

Barely addresses the question or completes the task.

Is poorly presented.

May be overly repetitious or descriptive and may consist of a string of weak

assertions that may not relate to one another or may not be supported by

theory / evidence.

Demonstrates very little relevant reading in the subject area.

Shows very limited understanding of the key concepts and theoretical

perspectives (or demonstrates significant misunderstanding).

40

Sources inadequately cited or not cited

40 - 49% - An adequate piece of work that:

Shows a basic understanding of the question or task but major areas may not

have been addressed.

The planning, structuring and presentation are relatively weak and may

include a significant amount of irrelevant material.

Shows evidence of some reading and attempts to address the question but is

generally descriptive and/or not well supported by evidence or examples.

There is limited understanding of concepts or ideas and these may be poorly

or awkwardly expressed.

There is a barely adequate use of sources, often over-dependent on material

covered in class.

Sources may be inadequately cited.

50 - 59% - A satisfactory to good answer that:

Shows a clear understanding of the question or task.

Most of the essay is relevant to the question.

Has a clear if simple structure but may have some gaps in argument,

planning or use of evidence.

The approach and content gives some evidence of reading.

Demonstrates an awareness of relevant debates but may be too descriptive

or generalised or may need a clearer focus.

There is some evidence of engagement with and analysis of material

presented in the module.

Appropriate sources adequately cited and referenced.

60 - 69% - A very good piece of work and complete examination of the task

that:

Has a coherent and logical structure to the answer and is well written,

organised and presented.

Shows wide reading/learning of relevant facts/theories and research.

Has no irrelevant passages; the whole answer is fully focussed on the title.

Gives clear evidence of understanding of concepts or ideas.

Offers critical analysis and a clear argument backed by appropriate

examples/evidence.

Makes good use of sources with evidence correctly cited and referenced.

70 - 79% - An excellent or outstanding piece of work that includes all the

elements of the previous plus also:

41

Makes well structured arguments that are theoretically informed, with very

good use of relevant evidence.

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of concepts and debates and

an ability to think critically.

Gives clear evidence of awareness of current/relevant debates and study

well beyond the scope of class material.

Offers clear evidence of an understanding of any relevant ethical

considerations.

Offers a wide range of references, and is fully and correctly referenced

throughout.

80% and above - An exceptional piece of work that includes all the elements of

the previous plus also:

An excellent knowledge and understanding of concepts and debates and an

exceptional ability to think critically.

Makes well structured arguments that demonstrate exceptional mastery of

relevant theory and research evidence.

Includes some significant novel or original aspect, angle or perspective.

Demonstrates particularly insightful understanding.