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Psychological Perspectives on Education - EDU00013C

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  • Department: Education
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module aims to introduce key issues related to the field of psychology in education, with a focus on introducing theory and research in: biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and individual differences. The module will also introduce students to key contemporary debates in psychology (e.g., the reproducibility crisis, decolonisation of psychology) to support the development of their critical engagement with the discipline.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims to introduce key issues related to the field of psychology in education, with a focus on introducing theory and research in: biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and individual differences. The module will also introduce students to key contemporary debates in psychology (e.g., the reproducibility crisis, decolonisation of psychology) to support the development of their critical engagement with the discipline.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

By the end of this module students will be able to:

  • Describe different theoretical perspectives relevant to the study of psychology in education.

  • Evaluate the contribution of different theoretical perspectives relevant to the study of psychology in education.

  • Describe historical changes in the development of the discipline.

  • Understand contemporary debates relevant to the study of psychology in education.

Academic and graduate skills

Students will have learned how to:

  • Formulate academic arguments in written and oral form.

  • Analyse and critically evaluate research, policy and media literature on key issues within psychology in education.

  • Use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) website, and the Internet effectively

Module content

The following is indicative of the different topics that will be covered:

  • Introduction to the core domains in psychology

    • Biological psychology,

    • Cognitive,

    • Developmental,

    • Social psychology and

    • Individual differences.

  • History and Systems in Psychology.

  • Contemporary issues in educational psychology.

  • Working and researching in educational psychology.

  • What is good research in psychology?

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Individual written feedback reports, with follow-up tutor meeting, if necessary. The feedback is returned to students in line with university policy. Please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information.

Indicative reading

Cline, T., Guillford, A., Birch, S., Frederickson, N., & Miller, A. (2015). Educational Psychology (2nd Ed.). Routledge

Cottrell, S. (2019). The Study Skills Handbook. Bloomsbury.

Gross, R. (2020). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour (8th Ed.). Hodder Education.

Lord, J. (2022). Psychology of Education: Theory, Research and Evidence-Based Practice. Sage.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.