Academic Skills for PG Students

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Professor Matt Longo
• Tutors: Professor Matt Longo, Dr Marie Smith, Professor Beth Grunfeld, Professor Denis Mareschal, Dr Laleh Ansari, Professor Michael Thomas, Professor Natasha Kirkham, Dr Anne Miles, Dr Claire Santorelli
• Assessment: preparation of a poster (100%)

In this module we introduce you to postgraduate study, the key skills required and the nature of independent research. Skills covered include essay writing, literature reviews and presentation skills. You will also learn about contemporary trends in psychological sciences research, including the open science and metascience approaches, and ways to combine quantitative and qualitative methodologies. We will cover the importance of ethics and responsible uses of psychological research, and the public communication of science. Finally, we will discuss careers in psychology, including professional development and how to apply for a PhD.

Indicative syllabus

• Introduction to generic skills and postgraduate study in general, and expectation-setting for the course
• Talks by learning support officers, disability officer and subject librarian - introduction to online academic search engines
• Introduction to open science, reproducibility, metascience, systematic reviews
• Essay writing/undertaking a literature review
• Critical reading and critical thinking
• Designing an academic poster
• Tips on giving/designing a professional presentation
• Ethics/academic integrity
• How to use artificial intelligence tools in your studies
• Public communication of science: the publication process, social media, outreach activities
• Impact - what is it and how do we get it?
• The misuses of psychological research
• Careers in psychology/applying for a PhD, how research is funded, personal and professional development
• Diversity in psychological science
• Contrasting and combining quantitative and quantitative approaches

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand the main differences between undergraduate study and postgraduate study
• understand the resources available to you in the school to support your studies
• independently develop your skills in essay writing, literature reviews and presentations
• understand contemporary challenges and methods in psychological science
• pursue applications for further postgraduate study.