Modules

Module title: Forensic Psychology 2
SCQF level: 10:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: PSY10112
Module leader: Kathy Charles
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Psychology
Prerequisites

To study this module you will need the learning equivalent to the module listed or have passed this module
PSY09114 Brain and Cognition or
PSY09113 Forensic Psychology 1
2019/0, Trimester 1, Face-to-Face, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Face-to-Face
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Kathy Charles
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
This module is delivered primarily through face-to-face lectures and workshops, with a small amount of online content at the beginning of the trimester. The focus of this module is on equipping students with knowledge and experience of a range of areas within forensic psychology. The workshop element of this module allows students to engage with practical tasks which a professional forensic psychologist might use, and is designed to complement the lectures which are more knowledge and content focussed.

The assessment and learning outcomes for this module have been designed to mimic the exemplars which trainee forensic psychologists are required to produce as part of the requirements of chartership. This has been done to allow final year psychology students the opportunity to experience some of the work based demands they might face if they pursue a career in this area. The formative assessment task in week 9 requires students to produce a detailed plan (850 words) of what they will do in their summative assessment. Students will choose an area of interest from the module and detail how they will address each of the four learning outcomes in their final assessment. This is similar to the exemplar construction process for trainee psychologists. Students are encouraged to choose their own topic for the focus of their report in order to develop both confidence and creativity in their writing. This supports the 2020 strategy of delivering an excellent personalised student experience.

The content of this module is delivered between weeks 2 and 11 inclusive. During these weeks students will have between two and four hours of face-to-face teaching depending on the topic being covered. In week 1, there will be some online introductory module content which students should spend around one hour engaging with. The remaining 168 hours are for independent study and include time spent preparing the assessment for this module which is due in week 13. This means that students should aim to spend around 13 hours per week engaging in wider reading and assessment preparation from weeks 1 to 13 inclusive. Recommended readings will be uploaded to Moodle for students, but there is also an expectation of independent literature searching.


Formative Assessment:
In week 9 class time is dedicated solely to providing formative feedback on students’ plans for their summative assessment. Students will bring detailed plans for their coursework to tutorials where they will receive feedback and advice from a member of the module team.


Summative Assessment:
This module is assessed by a single piece of coursework designed to address all four of the learning outcomes. The coursework is a report focussing on a specific area of forensic psychology which is of interest to the student. The report will have a guideline structure which allows students to address the historical context of their chosen topic along with an evaluation and analysis of the research methods and theories applied to this topic. The final part of the report will allow students to produce a reflective commentary on the ethics of their chosen topic and to reflect on their own learning of this subject. This type of assessment has been designed to mimic the exemplars which forensic psychologists in training have to produce in order to be granted Chartered Forensic Psychologist status.

Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 18
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 13
Online On-demand Webinar 1
Independent Learning Guided independent study 168
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Report 100 1,2,3 & 4 13 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2500
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

This module covers a range of topics in forensic psychology and is designed to provide students with knowledge and experience of many of the practical aspects of the subject. The module focuses on three themes: forensic psychology in investigative contexts (profiling, deception, false memories and false allegations); forensic psychology in treatment (risk assessments, offender treatment programmes); and the forensic psychologist as expert witness. There will be a focus on specific types of criminal behaviour at different points in the module (e.g. sexual offending and intimate partner violence) and there will also be coverage of the biological factors associated with criminal behaviour. Students taking this module will develop a broad knowledge of several of the key areas where professional forensic psychologists practice.

Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
LO1: Analyse the historical context of key areas in forensic psychology.
LO2: Evaluate a range of research methods used in forensic psychology.
LO3: Critically analyse a range of theories applied in forensic psychology.
LO4: Reflect on ethical issues in forensic psychology.
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:

Core - CRIGHTON, D. A. & TOWL, G. J. (2015) FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY 2ND EDITION: WILEY, 2nd ed.
Core - CRIGHTON, D. A. & TOWL, G. J. (2015) FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY 2ND EDITION: WILEY, 2nd ed.
Core - DAVIES, G. M. & BEECH, A. (2012) FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: CRIME, JUSTICE, LAW, INTERVENTIONS (2ND EDITION): WILEY, 2nd ed.
Core - DAVIES, G. M. & BEECH, A. (2012) FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: CRIME, JUSTICE, LAW, INTERVENTIONS (2ND EDITION): WILEY, 2nd ed.
Recommended - ADLER, J. R. & GRAY, J. M. (EDS.) (2010) FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: CONCEPTS, DEBATES AND PRACTICE.: WILLAN, 1st ed.
Recommended - VALENTINE, T. & DAVIS, J. P. (2015) FORENSIC FACIAL IDENTIFICATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF IDENTIFICATION FROM EYEWITNESSES, COMPOSITES AND CCTV.: WILEY, 1st ed.
Recommended - GUDJONSSON, G. H. (2003) THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INTERROGATIONS AND CONFESSIONS: A HANDBOOK.: WILEY, 1st ed.
Recommended - HARDMAN, D. K. (2009) JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING: WILEY, 1st ed.
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