KS5 COURSE OVERVIEW

COURSE TUTOR: MS H WHITE

Course Content and Assessment

AS SYLLABUS

The AS course is divided into three units: two written papers and one coursework unit. Each written paper consists of three approaches to psychology, and each approach includes assumptions, methods of research, an in-depth area of study, two key research studies, an application, and a contemporary issue or debate. Each examination paper lasts for 90 minutes, and each unit is worth 33.3% of the total marks for the AS level grade.

Unit 1 Cognitive, social and development approach:

• memory and forgetting, the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

• Social approach: obedience, explanations of social prejudice and prejudice reduction

• Cognitive-developmental approach: theories of Piaget and Vygotsky, application to education

Unit 2 Individual difference, physiology and behavior:

• Classical and operant conditioning, social learning theory, the development and treatment of phobia, and behavior management

• Psychodynamic approach: theories of Freud and Erikson, mental health issues

• Physiological approach: sleep and dreaming, the damaging effects of shift working and jet lag

Unit 3:

• A report of one small-scale research study into a topic area from the syllabus specification, max 1500 words, the project designed and carried out by individuals or small groups.

A2 SYLLABUS

The A2 course is made up of three written units: Applications of Psychology, Research Methods, and the Synoptic paper. Each unit is tested by an examination paper of 90 minutes, and each unit (including units 1, 2 and 3) makes up 16.66% of the total A level grade.

Unit 4 Applications of psychology:

• 4A Clinical psychology, classification and diagnosis of psychological abnormality, specific disorders of schizophrenia and depression, treatments of mental disorder.

• 4B Criminological psychology, eyewitness testimony, offender profiling, jury decision making, social and media influences on criminal behaviour, anger management, effects of zero tolerance policing.

Unit 5 Applications of psychology:

• 5A Child psychology, attachment, deprivation and privation, play and play therapy, children’s friendships, peer relationships and popularity.

• 5B Research Methods: Research methods, inferential statistics and analysis of research data.

Unit 6 Issues:

• Perspectives and debates in psychology: Perspectives on psychology, social and moral issues in the application of psychology, the nature-nurture debate, the science debate, ethics of research with human and animal subjects.

Higher Education and Careers

Many students of A level psychology choose to study the subject at degree level. Although most psychology degree courses do not demand an A level in this subject, it provides an excellent basis for further study, and many vocational courses, such as social work, counselling, occupational therapy nursing and medicine, also include some psychology. Psychologists are in demand in many other areas of employment, including human resources management, marketing and advertising. A higher degree is necessary to become a practising psychologist in areas such as educational psychology, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, research psychology and teaching.

Entry Requirements

Prior knowledge or qualifications in psychology are not required, but students should normally have passes at Grade B and above in a range of GCSE subjects, including Science and Maths. (NB A pass at grade C in Maths GCSE is necessary for entry to most degree courses in this subject.)