Introduction

The University of Kent has an excellent international reputation for its research in social psychology. This was recognised in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise by special "flagging" of this group (equivalent to a 5* rating). The School was originally established as a small social psychology research unit, which became the Institute for Social and Applied Psychology. Now, within the School of Psychology our research activities include intergroup relations, small group processes, decision making, persuasion, attitudes, communication and language, health behaviour, forensic psychology, work-related behaviour, and social aspects of development. Further details of these areas of activity can be seen in the sections about the MSc degrees in Group Processes, Health Psychology, and Forensic Psychology. Staff engaged in research in social and applied psychology include Professor Dominic Abrams, Professor Richard Crisp, Professor Diane Houston, Professor Adam Rutland, Dr Lindsey Cameron, Dr Karen Douglas, Dr Roger Giner-Sorolla, Dr Georgina Randsley de Moura, Dr Joachim Stoeber, Dr Robbie Sutton, Dr Tendayi Viki, Dr Arnaud Wisman, and Dr Jane Wood.

The MSc in Social and Applied Psychology offers the opportunity to sample from the range of modules in the Group Processes and Forensic programmes as well as other modules related to social and applied psychology. Students also gain a thorough grounding in research methods, and conduct a project in an area of social/applied psychology that interests them.