A2 Psychology

Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour. The course follows the OCR specification. This is a demanding course, best suited to students who are good "all-rounders" at GCSE or those hoping to pursue a science route.

You will be expected to read extensively and widely; express yourself clearly in writing; design investigations and statistically analyse data; interpret and critically evaluate research findings.

What Will I Learn On This Course?

The aim of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the world of Psychology by learning about prime psychological studies and some of the 'classics' in research studies as well as conducting research through a practical approach. The course also provides students with an awareness of the issues and debates in psychology. There are two units studied at AS level.

In the process of acquiring knowledge, you will master a new vocabulary of technical terms; learn to summarise research and theory concisely and accurately; develop critical thinking skills and a practical awareness of the ethical problems raised by research with human and non-human animals.

Course Content And Method Of Assessment

AS Unit 1: Psychological Investigations - students will become familiar with the theory and practice of four techniques used by psychologists for collecting/analysing data: self-report, experiment, observation, and correlation.

AS Unit 2: Core studies - Students build knowledge and understanding of 15 psychological studies, three from each of the five main approaches in psychology: social, cognitive, physiological, developmental and individual differences. Students will compare and evaluate the core studies and explore the broader context of general debates within psychology.

Unit 1 assessment - 1 hour written examination, short answer questions. 30% of AS course.

Unit 2 assessment - 2 hour written examination, short answer questions. 70% of total AS course.

In the A2 course students will study two of four applied psychology options. These cover: health and clinical psychology, sport psychology, forensic psychology and psychology of education. This is examined in a 1 hour 30 minute exam, based on essay questions. The module is worth 50% of the A2 course. The remaining module covers Approaches and Research methods and draws upon the information covered in both AS and A2 courses. This is examined in a 1 hour 30 minute exam based on short answer and essay style questions.

Please note: Coursework is not part of the assessment in either the AS or A2 course.

After The Course

Psychology is of direct relevance to a wide range of occupations, particularly any related to the care and management of people or animals. Psychology is accepted as a science qualification for many degree courses. Those considering a degree in Psychology will require high grades in a combination of Arts and Science subjects. Biological science is especially useful. Mathematics is important and IT skills are desirable.

Subject Combinations

Psychology combines the methods and terminology of a science with the high standard of verbal and written communication normally associated with Arts subjects. It can add breadth and interest to either mainly Arts or Science combinations.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement of 5 GCSE's grade A*-C must include: English Language, Mathematics and Double Science (Higher Level) or two single science subjects (Higher Level).