Skip to main content Skip to navigation

PS220-15 Social Psychology

Department
Psychology
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Jesse Preston
Credit value
15
Module duration
12 weeks
Assessment
33% coursework, 67% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

The module discusses social psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour as influenced by other people and the social context in which this occurs.

Module web page

Module aims

It aims to provide an introduction to central concepts, theories and research in social psychology, and to discuss the contribution which social psychology makes to understanding the individual as a social being within a social context and the relationship between the two.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction to Social Psychology & methods
Social Cognition
Social Perception
The Self
Attraction
Behaviour and attribution
Attitudes
Persuasion
Prejudice
Stereotyping and discrimination
Revision
Revision

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • At the end of the module students should be able to: · understand and discuss and evaluate methods for studying social psychology, and the relation between phenomena, research methods, data and theories;
  • and be able critically to discuss theory and research on the following topics: · pro-social and anti-social motivation and behaviour;
  • social perception, attribution and inference
  • attitude structure, function and change
  • behaviour within and between groups
Indicative reading list

Gilovich, T., Keltner, D, Chen, S., & Nisbett, R. (2015). Social Psychology (4th ed.). New York: WW Norton & Company
Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Akert, R. M. (2015). Social Psychology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Hogg, M. A., & Vaughan , G. M.. (2008). Social psychology (5th ed.). Harlow: Prentice-Hall.
Hewstone, M., Stroebe, W. & Jonas, K. (2008). Introduction to social psychology (4th ed.). Oxford :
Blackwell.
Fiske, S.T. (2010). Social beings (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Eagly, A.H. & Chaiken, S. (1993). The psychology of attitudes. Fort Worth , TX: Harcourt Brace &
Co
Fiske, S.T. & Taylor, S.E. (1991). Social cognition (2nd ed.) New York : McGraw-Hill.
Brown, R.J. (2000). Group processes (2nd ed.). Oxford : Blackwell

Subject specific skills

evaluate methods for studying social psychology, understanding of the relationship between different areas of psychology as a discipline, understanding of the relationship between phenomena, research methods, data and theories

Transferable skills

critically discuss theory and research
effective personal planning skills

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 12 sessions of 2 hours (15%)
Seminars 4 sessions of 1 hour (2%)
Private study 122 hours (74%)
Assessment 14 hours (9%)
Total 164 hours
Private study description

guided student study and assessment preparation

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group D2
Weighting Study time
Test 1 11% 5 hours

Online MCQ test covering weeks 1-5, to be completed in week 5.

Test 2 22% 7 hours

Online MCQ test covering weeks 1-10

Online Examination 67% 2 hours
  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
Feedback on assessment

Tabula, exam performance via personal tutor or online.

Past exam papers for PS220

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 2 of UPSA-C800 Undergraduate Psychology
  • Year 2 of UPSA-C804 Undergraduate Psychology with Education Studies
  • Year 2 of UPSA-C802 Undergraduate Psychology with Linguistics

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 2 of UIPA-C8L8 Undergraduate Psychology and Global Sustainable Development

This module is Optional for:

  • UECA-3 Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants
    • Year 2 of L100 Economics
    • Year 2 of L100 Economics
    • Year 2 of L100 Economics
  • UECA-LM1D Undergraduate Economics, Politics and International Studies
    • Year 2 of LM1D Economics, Politics and International Studies
    • Year 2 of LM1D Economics, Politics and International Studies

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 2 of UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology