COURSE HANDBOOK 2016/17 Certificate of Higher Education in APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY SEPTEMBER 2016
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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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: [email protected] 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 [email protected].
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: [email protected] or you can
contact individual members of staff as follows:
Kevin St. Hill, Administrator
0207 631 6669
Alex Borden, Administrator
0203 073 8044
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:
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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.