Psychology and Counselling - BSc (Hons)

Abertay University

This module introduces the core research skills needed to study psychology. You’ll learn how psychologists design and conduct research, analyse data, and interpret findings. The module covers the scientific process, key research designs, statistical analysis, and ethical practice. Through practical activities, you’ll see how psychological theories are tested and applied in real-world research. Indicative content: - The Role of Research in Psychology: Introduction to scientific enquiry and the role of research in psychology - The Experimental Method: Defining experimental variables. Experimental design. Bias and control - Descriptive Statistics: Measures of central tendency and dispersion. Graphical and tabular presentation of data. Properties of the normal distribution curve. Standard error of the mean and confidence intervals - Inferential Statistics: Introduction to hypothesis formation and testing. The role of probability in statistical inference. Test selection for parametric and non-parametric data. Data analysis using inferential statistical tests. Type I and Type II errors. Introduction to statistical software for data entry; to summarise data in tables and graphs; and to perform descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. - Ethics: Introduction to ethical considerations and implications with reference to the British Psychological Society Guidelines - Library Skills: Identify, locate and evaluate appropriate academic sources for a set academic task using key library and information skills, and acknowledge their use - Report Writing: Conveying information from investigations using the appropriate APA standard. Conduct and report a literature review using appropriate academic sources. - Open Science: Introduction to the Open Science movement in Psychology.

This module will provide the practical and theoretical skills training needed to effectively communicate within different contexts, to open and close helping conversations, and engage in embedded counselling and conversations in mental health settings Indicative Content - Key skills in helping conversations: To include listening, body language, reflection and empathy. - Models of embedded counselling and skilled helping: To include theoretical and practical aspects of embedded counselling, and Egan's Skilled Helper model. - Personal and professional development: You'll be required to reflect on your own perspectives and boundaries in helping situations, and your personal soundness to act as helpers. - Legal, professional and ethical issues: Aspects of professional conduct, ethical boundaries and policy associated with counselling and mental health contexts.

In this module, you’ll explore the key areas of cognitive psychology — the study of how we think, perceive, and make decisions. You’ll learn about both lower-level processes like perception and memory, and higher-level functions such as reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Alongside lectures, you’ll take part in practical sessions where you’ll experience classic cognitive experiments firsthand. Indicative content - Conceptual and historical perspectives in cognition: Origins of research in cognition, and cognitive neuropsychology. Understanding how cognitive processes operate in different brain areas. - Neural architectures: Neurones, receptive fields and vision. How does the brain connect the world outside with our thoughts and experiences? - Perception and recognition: The recognition of objects and faces. - Attention: Is cognition a limited resource to be allocated carefully or do we attend to everything? - Learning and memory: What circumstances determine how we learn new information? How is this information stored in our brains and how do we access this information while reasoning? - Decision making and problem solving: How do we choose responses; how do we solve problems?

Please note: If you are a Direct Entrant (new student) to this year of study and have not previously taken module ABE101, then you MUST take ABE201 as your Term 2 microcredential module. If you have previously taken ABE101, then you are NOT permitted to take ABE201 in Term 2. Starting university brings new opportunities and challenges, and every student’s journey is different. This microcredential helps you settle into life at Abertay and build the habits that lead to success. You’ll hear from current students sharing their own tips, and reflect on the areas you most want to develop. You’ll get to know Abertay’s systems, explore what makes a successful student and practise core skills such as time management, referencing, academic writing style and using support services. By the end, you’ll have the tools and strategies you need to thrive at university. Indicative content - Navigating Abertay Systems: Get to know the key systems you’ll use at Abertay—such as MyLearningSpace, MS Teams, OASIS and MyAbertay—and learn how to use them effectively. - Expectations of University and You: Explore what’s expected of you as a student and what you can expect from the university. Topics include the code of conduct, independent and blended learning, how courses are structured, health and safety, and the Abertay attributes. - Abertay Discovery Tool: Complete the Discovery Tool to identify your strengths and areas for development across five themes: studying at university, academic skills, digital skills, careers and employability, and wellbeing. - Fundamentals of University: Learn how modules work, how assessments are set, and how to use assignment briefs and feedback to improve your work. - Understanding, Searching and Evaluating Information: Develop strategies for finding and assessing reliable information, building your confidence in research and study skills. - Successful Student Behaviours: Practise the habits that help you succeed: managing time, avoiding procrastination, effective note-taking, preparing for classes, developing a growth mindset, and making use of student support services. - Referencing: Understand academic integrity and why referencing matters. Learn how to avoid plagiarism, create in-text citations and reference lists, and use digital tools to manage your sources. - Sounding Academic: Discover what lecturers mean by “academic style” and how to use the right language in your writing. Learn the rules of academic writing, how to paraphrase effectively, and how expectations differ between school/college and university. You’ll also explore how assessments, marking and feedback work.

This module builds on CNS201, and develops your conceptual ability to recognise the therapeutic change process and the activities that may be undertaken at each stage. This module is largely practice-based and requires you to engage in reflection on your deployment of counselling and therapy skills in small groups. Indicative content: - Theoretical models of therapeutic change: Pluralistic framework, Cycle of change. - Collaboration for helping: Collaborative skills in engaging discussion around client needs, and therapeutic activities. - Counselling theories: Within the pluralistic framework, and understanding of PCC, CBT, Psychodynamic and TA approaches. - Alternative methods of delivery: Examining self-help, on-line and group contexts for therapy.

Develop the essential skills to design, conduct, analyse and report psychological research to a professional standard. You’ll learn how to carry out both quantitative and qualitative studies ethically, analyse data using statistical software, and present your findings in APA format. Through practical work and research projects, you’ll build confidence in planning and executing psychological investigations — from forming hypotheses and collecting data to interpreting results and writing reports. Indicative Content - Methods of Research: Main quantitative and qualitative research methods available to psychologists; Use in applied settings; advantages and disadvantages - The Experimental Method: Variables and levels; hypotheses; design - basic and advanced; control techniques; validity and reliability in experimentation; ethics in experimentation - Data Analysis - Descriptive Statistics: Data types; measures of central tendency; measures of dispersion; normal distribution; graphing data; confidence intervals. - Data Analysis - Inferential Statistics: Test selection; parametric and nonparametric 2-sample test of difference; Within and Between one-way ANOVA and Non-parametric ANOVA, effect size; power; correlation; Tests of both internal and external reliability; inter rater reliability - Qualitative Methods: Types of qualitative research techniques; questionnaire design, interviewing - types, advantages, disadvantages; analysing interview material. - Quantitative Methods: Experimental method, two variable tests of difference (parametric and non-parametric), tests of relationships (parametric and non-parametric); multilevel testing (parametric and non-parametric), follow up testing (parametric and non-parametric). Reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha, quantitative content analysis, item analysis - Ethics: Creating and conducting ethical research based on BPS Ethical Guidelines - Reporting Research: Sections and content of an APA formatted psychology lab report; APA referencing - Information Searching: Structured and unstructured search; Search using the Internet and locating electronic journals using the university library system and appropriate databases - I.T.Skills: Designing a lab report template using Word for Windows; using SPSS and JAMOVI for data analysis.

In this module, you’ll learn how to think about your counselling practice through a pluralistic lens—meaning you’ll explore a range of counselling and psychotherapy theories, and discover different ways of working with them. You’ll dive into how these approaches can be used flexibly and thoughtfully, always keeping the client’s perspective at the heart of your work. It’s about building a toolkit of ideas and responses, and learning how to tailor them to each individual you support. Indicative Content - The Pluralistic Framework for Counselling Skills: You’ll explore key counselling theories—like Person-Centred Counselling (PCC), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic approaches—and learn how to use collaborative conversations to build shared understanding with clients. It’s about developing a flexible mindset and learning how different approaches can support different people. - Conceptualising Case-Work and Client Distress Within Theory: You’ll learn how to connect real-life client situations to specific counselling theories, helping you make sense of client experiences and choose the most appropriate ways to support them. - Skills Practice: You’ll get hands-on experience by practising counselling skills in peer groups. This is your chance to build confidence, try out techniques, and learn from each other in a supportive environment. - Personal and Professional Development: You’ll reflect on your learning journey—both in group discussions and through personal journals—focusing on how your experiences throughout the course are shaping your growth as a future counsellor.

In this module, you’ll explore the fascinating connections between biology and psychology, following the core BPS curriculum. You’ll be introduced to the physiology that shapes human behaviour, including genetics, the central nervous system and the endocrine system. You’ll look at the processes that directly influence how we respond, as well as those that play a more subtle role in shaping our thoughts and actions. Alongside this, you’ll examine major topics in personality and individual differences, engaging with current research and considering how these ideas are applied in real-world settings. Indicative Content - Biological Control of Behaviour: You’ll explore how the central nervous system and the endocrine system work together to shape observable behaviours such as movement, eating and reproduction. - Psychopharmacology: You’ll look at the effects of recreational and therapeutic drugs on the body and mind, and examine the biological and psychological factors that contribute to drug use and addiction. - Hormones, Reproduction and Emotion: You’ll investigate how hormones and neural development influence areas such as mate choice, sexual behaviour, gender identity and sexual orientation, and how these processes connect to human emotion. - Behavioural Genetics, Evolutionary and Sociobiology: You’ll study how both genetics and the environment influence human behaviour. You’ll also be introduced to evolutionary processes that shape cognition and social interactions in humans and other animals. - Neuroimaging: You’ll be introduced to the main methods used to study the brain and investigate the neural processes that underpin cognition. - Introduction to Personality and Individual Differences: You’ll explore the main theories of personality and individual differences, including debates such as Trait vs. State and Personality vs. Situation, and consider how these ideas help explain human behaviour. - Intelligence: You’ll examine different definitions of intelligence and the psychometric approaches used to measure it. You’ll also consider the cognitive basis of intelligence, its impact on education and social policy, and debates around generational, racial and gender differences in IQ. - Personality and Culture: You’ll explore how personality connects with culture, looking at topics such as national character, social attitudes, evolutionary perspectives, learning styles, health and illness, social anxiety and shyness. - Individual Differences in Cognitive Style: You’ll investigate how people differ in the way they think, perceive and remember information. You’ll also explore different learning styles and theories of learning, and how these shape individual approaches to education and problem-solving.

In this module, you’ll explore how social cognition develops and changes across the lifespan, with a focus on evolutionary psychology. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how we connect with others and process information in social situations. Key topics include group behaviour, stereotyping and prejudice, and how we perceive ourselves and those around us. By the end, you’ll have a strong grasp of the psychological processes that shape our social world. Indicative Content - Historical and Conceptual Issues: You’ll be introduced to the socio-cognitive approach, exploring how research has examined the pressures that shape human behaviour and the ways our thinking and social processing change as we develop. - Lifespan: Relationships and the Irresistible Influence of First Impressions: You’ll look at evolutionary social psychology, considering both universal patterns and individual differences. You’ll explore how first impressions are formed, how surface characteristics affect memory and perception, and why we might respond differently to some people compared to others. - Social Cognition: Stereotype Formation and Application: You’ll investigate how stereotypes are formed, the models that explain them, and the situations where stereotypes influence how we perceive and judge other people. - Social Cognition: Prejudice and Effective Interventions: You’ll examine the causes of prejudice between groups and evaluate the strategies and interventions designed to reduce its negative effects in society. - Social Cognition: Self-Processing: You’ll explore how the way we process information about ourselves shapes our attention, perception and memory, and how this influences our behaviour in social contexts. - Lifespan: The Development of Bias: You’ll study how stereotypes and biases develop from childhood through to adulthood, and how these changes link to wider social and cognitive development. You’ll also explore how self-processing systems develop in childhood and shape the way we think. - Applications: You’ll see how social cognition research is applied in real-world contexts, from education to intergroup behaviour. You’ll also explore examples such as the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how psychological research can inform responses to social challenges.

In this module, you’ll dive into the psychology behind mental health disorders and discover how people experience and make sense of their illness. Indicative content - Models to Aid Diagnosis: You’ll be introduced to biopsychosocial models and learn how they’re used to support the diagnosis of mental ill health. - Understanding Causes: You’ll explore the biological, psychological and environmental factors that can contribute to mental health disorders, including psychoses, mood disorders, developmental conditions and learning difficulties. - Treatment and Outcomes: You’ll investigate the different treatment options available for people experiencing mental health difficulties, and evaluate research on how effective these treatments are across different groups of patients. - Lived Experience: You’ll consider the lived experience of patients — from the first signs of symptoms through diagnosis and treatment — as well as the perspectives of clinicians and health workers who support them. - Prognosis and Life After Treatment: You’ll evaluate how people with different types of mental health difficulties respond to treatment, how their biological and environmental circumstances shape their prognosis, and what it means to manage mental health conditions in the long term.

This core BPS psychology module takes you on a journey through human development across the entire lifespan. You’ll explore key theories, research methods and real-world data that explain how people grow, change and adapt from birth through to older age. By the end, you’ll have a strong foundation in understanding the psychological processes that shape our lives, preparing you for further study and applied practice Indicative Content - Biological Basis of Development; Theories and Milestones : You’ll explore how the brain develops before and after birth, how it matures through childhood, and the biological processes that underpin ageing. You’ll also look at key theories and milestones that help explain human growth across the lifespan. - How to Study Development?: You’ll be introduced to the main research designs and approaches used to study development, giving you the tools to understand how psychologists investigate change over time. - Infancy: You’ll learn about the methods used to study infant development and explore how babies grow physically, think and remember, begin to develop language, and form early social and emotional bonds. - Early Childhood: You’ll examine how children develop physically and cognitively during the early years, including how language skills emerge. You’ll also explore social, emotional and moral development, and the methods researchers use to study this stage of life. - Middle Childhood : You’ll investigate the physical and cognitive changes that occur in middle childhood, as well as how children build friendships and navigate peer relationships. You’ll also explore emotional and moral development during this stage. - Adolescence: You’ll study the physical and cognitive changes that take place during adolescence, alongside the social and emotional challenges that shape this important stage of development. - Adulthood: You’ll explore the biological, cognitive and social changes that occur in middle adulthood. You’ll also look at theories and research on midlife transitions, including the idea of a ‘midlife crisis’. - Ageing: You’ll examine the biological, cognitive and social changes that take place in later life. Topics include models of cognitive decline, emotional and personality changes, dementia, death and longevity, helping you understand the complexities of ageing.

In this module, you’ll build on the research methods and analysis skills you developed in your first two years. You’ll deepen your understanding of experimental design, explore both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and start preparing for your own independent project. By the end, you’ll feel confident applying these techniques to real psychological research. Indicative Content - Analysis of Variance: You’ll start by revising variance and one-way ANOVA before moving on to more advanced designs, including factorial ANOVA (within, between and mixed designs). You’ll learn how to interpret main effects and interactions, and how to explore these further using multiple comparison techniques (both planned and post-hoc). In practical sessions, you’ll design and carry out a study, collect data, and use ANOVA to analyse your results—then write this up as part of your coursework. - Regression : You’ll explore how multiple predictors can be used to explain or predict outcomes through multiple linear regression. You’ll also be introduced to other regression models, giving you a broader understanding of how these techniques are applied in psychological research. - Qualitative Methods of Data Collection and Analysis: You’ll learn the theory behind qualitative methods and how to apply them in practice. This includes designing strong research questions, coding data from text and visual sources, and using techniques such as content and thematic analysis. You’ll work with real textual data (for example, interview transcripts) to carry out your own qualitative analysis, which will form part of your assessed report. - Experimental Design: You’ll examine the key issues involved in designing experiments, including how to identify limitations, define research questions, test hypotheses and operationalise variables. You’ll also learn about Type I and II errors, effect sizes and statistical power, helping you design studies that are both rigorous and reliable. - Laboratory Skills: You’ll receive hands-on training in advanced statistical software, building the skills you need to analyse data with confidence. Regular lab sessions will help you strengthen your research abilities and prepare you to work independently as a researcher. - Project Proposal Plan and Ethics Submission: You’ll create a project proposal plan to submit for feedback from your supervisor. With their guidance, you’ll then develop this into a full research proposal for ethical review, ready for your final-year project. Along the way, you’ll apply your research design and analysis skills, while also learning how to identify and address ethical issues in psychological research. - Research Skills: Writing and Work Management: You’ll develop your ability to communicate research clearly in both written and spoken form. This includes using academic literature effectively, reporting and interpreting findings, and writing in APA style. You’ll also build practical skills such as setting goals, managing your workload, preparing agendas, and working productively with your supervisor. Principles of Open Science will also be introduced here. - Principles of Open Science: You’ll explore the key principles of Open Science, including issues such as HARKing and p-hacking, and learn about pre-registration as a way of making research more transparent and trustworthy.

In this module, you’ll explore the key issues surrounding young people’s mental health and the different approaches used to support them. You’ll gain an understanding of the interventions and services available, and consider how these can make a real difference to the lives of young people and those around them. Indicative Content - Theoretical Perspectives: You’ll explore the key theories and models that explain human growth and development, alongside the principles of therapeutic intervention for young people. You’ll also look at the role of epidemiology in understanding patterns of mental health and well-being in this age group. - Socio-Political Context: You’ll examine how wider cultural movements, advances in technology, and ethical frameworks shape approaches to supporting young people’s mental health. You’ll also consider the importance of professional boundaries and how these ideas are applied in different settings, such as schools, youth groups, and private practice. - Key Issues in Working with Young People: You’ll investigate the unique emotional and relational challenges faced by young people, and the impact these can have on their mental health. You’ll also explore the specific challenges of providing support, including safeguarding and child protection responsibilities. - Therapeutic Interventions and Support: You’ll learn about a range of therapeutic methods, skills, and interventions used when working with young people. Through case examples, you’ll see how therapeutic tasks are developed in practice. You’ll also explore the role of agencies, services, charities, and emotional support organisations in providing care and support.

In this module, you’ll take charge of your own independent research project – from designing and carrying out the study to analysing your findings. You’ll also present your research, building confidence in sharing your ideas with others. Throughout the process, you’ll be supported and guided as you prepare for your honours project, developing the skills you’ll need to succeed. Indicative Content - Working with a Supervisor: You’ll learn how to get the most out of supervision by preparing effectively for meetings, setting clear goals, and evaluating your progress. You’ll also build confidence as an independent learner while making the best use of your supervisor’s guidance. - Becoming an Effective Researcher: You’ll develop the skills to critically evaluate your own ideas, identify strong research questions, and connect your work to existing literature. You’ll also explore ethical issues in research and learn how to address them responsibly. - Participating in the Research Community: You’ll immerse yourself in academic literature, practise organising research materials, and keep accurate records. Where relevant, you’ll gain experience in meeting with outside agencies and learn how to communicate your findings clearly to participants and peers. - Design and Procedure: You’ll explore methodological issues and analysis techniques, while also recognising the limitations of certain statistical approaches. You’ll practise pilot work, design experimental materials, and ensure your ideas are testable, while learning how to overcome common implementation challenges. - Data: You’ll develop the skills to collect data efficiently, maintain accurate records, and ensure your data is ready for analysis. You’ll learn how to analyse and interpret results appropriately, maintain confidentiality, and present your findings in a clear and professional way. - Communicating Results: You’ll practise writing in APA format, editing and reviewing your own work, and linking your findings to existing literature. You’ll also gain experience in presenting your project’s main findings orally, building confidence in sharing your research. - Presentation Skills: You’ll learn how to organise material effectively and use multimedia tools to enhance your presentations. You’ll also work on personal confidence, clarity, and delivery skills such as audibility, modulation, and diction in public speaking. - Personal Development Planning (PDP): You’ll reflect on your learning, skills, and experiences to build employability awareness and prepare for postgraduate study or the workplace. You’ll also consider transferable skills, CV development, and the importance of psychological literacy. - Writing Skills: You’ll develop a mature and confident writing style, using the correct editorial format for research projects. You’ll also practise proofreading and troubleshooting common writing challenges to strengthen the quality of your work.

This module focuses on critically exploring a wide range of perspectives on mental health. You’ll engage with theories drawn from different cultures, models, and philosophies, using them to complement, expand, and challenge existing therapeutic ideas. Each week, you’ll take part in interactive workshops that combine lectures, readings, discussions, group activities, and practical skills development, giving you the chance to apply what you learn in a dynamic and supportive environment. Indicative Content - Critical Issues in Mental Health Policy and Practice: You’ll explore how ideas of mental illness have been shaped historically and socially, and examine the different theoretical perspectives that influence how we understand mental health today. These include biological-medical, cognitive, psychodynamic, social, and humanistic approaches, giving you a broad foundation for critical analysis. - Contemporary Debates: You’ll engage with current debates that challenge and expand traditional views of mental health. This includes exploring social constructionist and feminist perspectives, as well as movements such as the psychiatric survivor movement and antipsychiatry. You’ll also consider how these debates influence today’s policies and practices in mental health care. - Critical Analysis of Diverse Perspectives: You’ll investigate a range of non-traditional therapies and approaches to mental health, including spirituality, body movement therapies, creative therapies, and practices rooted in Eastern traditions. This will give you the opportunity to critically reflect on how diverse perspectives can complement or challenge mainstream therapeutic models.

In this module, you’ll build on what you’ve already learned about cognitive psychology and take your understanding to the next level. You’ll explore key processes such as attention, perception, decision-making, memory, and language, and see how these play out in real-world settings. From education and healthcare to economics, security, policy-making, and even the justice system, you’ll discover how psychology shapes everyday life and professional practice Indicative Content - Historical and Conceptual Issues: You’ll revisit key cognitive models in psychology and explore how they shape our current understanding of the field. You’ll also review examples of where cognitive psychology has been applied successfully – and where it hasn’t – linking this to the idea of ecological validity and how research translates into real-world contexts. - Visual Perception: You’ll refresh your knowledge of models of visual perception and recognition, while also looking at how other senses influence cognition. You’ll apply this to real-world issues, such as how sensory stimulation can change cognitive processes, or how theories of motor control help explain conditions like Parkinson’s disease. - Attention: You’ll study models of visuo-spatial and executive attention, and explore the role of executive functions. You’ll also consider whether these functions can be trained or improved through activities such as dance, music, or gaming. - Cognitive Biases in Decision Making: You’ll examine how we make decisions, the cognitive biases we’re prone to, and why they occur. You’ll connect this to ethical considerations and to Behavioural Economics/nudge theory, exploring how policymakers use these ideas to encourage healthier choices and better public outcomes. - Memory: You’ll explore different types of long-term memory, including semantic, episodic, declarative, and non-declarative memory. You’ll learn about associative networks and priming, and apply this knowledge to forensic and therapeutic settings. You’ll also consider ethical issues, such as the debate around repressed memories and whether it’s acceptable to create false memories in research. - Language and Multilingualism: You’ll investigate the cognitive processes involved in storing and using multiple languages. You’ll explore how we define languages and dialects, and what this means for categorising bilinguals and monolinguals. You’ll also connect this to real-world contexts such as education, speech and language therapy, and language assessment.