AS & A2 Level Psychology

AS & A2 Level Psychology

About the Course
Subject
A Levels
Study Mode
Full-time

Introduction 2 years full-time
Examination Board: OCR
This specification is suitable for candidates with no prior experience of the subject. The content is aimed at capturing natural interest and inspiring learning whilst developing understanding and knowledge at an advanced level in preparation for higher education.
Q. What is Psychology?
A. The scientific study of mind and behaviour
Q. What kinds of things will we study?
A. Well take a look to see if finding answers to the following might interest you:
Is someone aggressive because they were born that way or did they learn it from their environment?
Why do people turn to crime?
What might make people ignore a victim calling for help?
How can we find out about home advantage in football?
Can a study conducted under laboratory conditions actually inform us about real life situations?
If you put ordinary people into a simulated prison environment, what will happen?
Are we all capable of causing physical harm to someone and, if so, why?
Is psychological research devalued if a biased sample of people is used?
Options in Applied Psychology
Forensic Psychology introduces some of the influences that psychologists have used to explain criminal behaviour such as family and biology. It explores how psychology can inform the investigative process and behaviour in the courtroom through examination of methods of interviewing victims and witnesses and how criminal profiles can be created. Students will also look at psychological influences on the penal system; effects of imprisonment and alternatives in the form of various treatment programmes.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise investigates sport and the individual through examination of personality factors, aggression and motivation. We will also investigate sport and performance by looking at the key issues of arousal, anxiety and self-confidence within a sporting context. Furthermore, we find out about the social psychology of sport and exercise psychology in detail.

Course Units AS Level There will be two examinations at AS Level; Psychological Investigations in January worth 30% of the AS grade and the Core Studies in May (70%). Psychological Investigations require students to be familiar with four techniques for collecting and analysing data. There will be both a practical and theoretical element undertaken in class for this qualification. Core Studies Students will explore 15 studies which are either classics in the discipline or raise interesting debates/issues. These studies are taken from five approaches in psychology: cognitive, social, physiological, developmental and individual differences. A2 Level Now students have grasped the basic psychological theories, approaches, perspectives and methodology, the A2 modules will extend their knowledge and understanding into specific applied areas There are two mandatory units:

· Approaches and Research Methods
· Options in Applied Psychology (Forensic Psychology and the Psychology of Sport and Exercise)

Both units will be assessed in two 1 ½ hour examinations each worth 25% of the overall A Level. Approaches and Research Methods This unit bring together the approaches, perspectives, methods, issues and debates covered throughout the course. It will be assessed in two sections; the design of a practical project and structured synoptic questions. It provides students with the opportunity to think more widely about psychology and, in particular, how or why we 'do psychology'.