Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology

Research forms the cornerstone of how we solve psychological problems. You will identify a burning question from a range of psychological sub-disciplines and design a research study that addresses the question using appropriate methodologies. This module will give you the skills to conduct research and communicate research in various forms. You will have the unique opportunity to conduct your research project under the supervision of experts across a range of psychological sub-disciplines. The skills learned in this module will prepare you for the completion of your dissertation and future as psychologists.

Understanding human psychology necessitates empirical research, and this module provides students with the opportunity to conduct research from conception to completion. Students will benefit from the guidance of a dedicated expert in the field, who will assist them in reviewing the existing psychological literature that aligns with the student’s passions and interests, as well as the expertise of the supervisor. Students will discover how to identify knowledge gaps, design a bespoke empirical research study, which makes for a personalized learning experience. Students will also learn how to complete the research process by collecting, analysing, interpreting, reporting, and presenting their findings. The learning through conducting research process with the aid of supervision provides a dynamic learning experience.

How can research methods and statistics answer advanced research questions in psychology? As a postgraduate student, this module will deepen your ability to answer research questions such as how children improve in their skills year on year, whether a given training module improves the ability to correctly identify faces, or what factors predict prejudice in the workplace. You will learn about the logic of qualitative analysis and the many different forms it takes, and gain a firmer understanding of quantitative analysis, sampling, and statistical inference. In preparation for understanding and conducting research, you will learn advanced insights about correlational and experimental methods to understand relationships, causes and effects among variables. Building on this understanding, you will learn in-depth how simple correlations underlie understanding of multiple regression and its assumptions, and how regression in turn supports the general linear model, which is key to the other advanced topics taught in the module. The teaching will keep up-to-date with the latest advances in open science and transparent reporting of evidence. We will also use open-source software to support practical lessons and assessments in data analysis, so that you can produce as well as understand the techniques being taught. Reporting your results through writing in APA style and appropriate data visualisation is an important skill that you will learn for a variety of analyses. There is also a special focus upon learning how to identify which analysis technique is right for any given statistical problem.

How can we investigate the mental processes that allow us to think, understand, remember and perceive the world around us? What are the best methods for addressing different research questions on the relationship between brain and mind? This module will provide you with a theoretical foundation and practical experience in some key advanced research methods appropriate for scientific research in cognitive psychology/neuroscience. You will learn how different cognitive psychology/neuroscience methodologies are applied in practice, including their strengths and weaknesses, and how they relate to and complement each other. This will provide you with the core knowledge base needed for interpreting and critically evaluating empirical research in the field, as well as planning your own research studies.

Why do we study the brain? This module will provide you a coherent foundation for understanding the biological bases of human behaviour and on how different cognitive processes are instantiated in the brain. You will learn how to critically appraise the contribution of the various disciplines that comprise cognitive psychology and neuropsychology to our understanding of the human mind and behaviour. You will achieve this while by studying some of the methodological and theoretical issues that are currently considered important in the study of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology such as body perception, emotion, memory and psychopathology.

Accurately measuring people’s psychological attributes, for example, their personality, abilities and performance is a key goal in quantitative research, educational testing, and organisational selection. In this module, you will gain a postgraduate-level foundation in the theory of psychological tests, measurements, and modelling. You will learn the concepts, methods, and computational techniques needed to effectively evaluate and apply standardised measures in clinical, organisational, educational and research settings. You will be introduced to the fundamental principles of Classical Test Theory such as ‘true score’ and ‘error of measurement’, and key techniques needed for evaluating reliability and validity of test scores. The module covers factor analysis in depth, as a core method to evaluate what the test measures. It also introduces ‘measurement by modelling’ using a Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) framework. Within this framework, you will learn techniques for multivariate data analysis such as path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, basic longitudinal analysis and multiple-group analysis. You will explore data analysis applications from various fields of behavioural studies and learn how to model/test statistically complex phenomena such as spurious and indirect effects, growth and change, measurement invariance, and others.

How does cognition change as we get older? Is the pattern of cognitive change in advanced age comparable across cognitive domains such as executive functioning, memory, and social cognition? How are these changes reflected in changes at the level of brain structure and function? Finally, how can we understand pathological ageing conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia from a neuropsychological and cognitive neuroscientific perspective? In this module you will learn about different theories of cognitive ageing and apply these to understanding healthy and pathological ageing and critiquing evidence on methods of slowing or preventing the ageing process. Additionally you will learn from individuals with pathological ageing conditions and also how clinical psychology/clinical neuropsychology benefits from ageing research and provides tailored assessments and therapies for older adults.

How does Developmental and Educational Psychology inform the work of professionals who work directly with children? In this module you will learn how developmental and educational psychology can be applied in professional settings (e.g clinical, education, healthcare, etc.) involving children and young people. You will receive lectures from educational psychologists, clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, etc. These professionals will discuss with you the role developmental and educational psychology plays in their professional settings, outline major theories that inform practice, and critically evaluate the role of developmental psychology in their work. Through Case Studies, you will have the opportunity to hear about specific instances where theories and methods from developmental and educational psychology can be applied to a particular problem/issue in a professional setting with children and young people.

Current estimates suggest that up to 1 in 4 children are neurodiverse or experience some form of additional needs, yet these children are often overlooked in our understanding of development. In this module, you’ll uncover the complexities behind common (neuro)developmental diagnoses and emotional/behavioural issues that arise in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. You’ll gain a deep understanding of these developmental diagnoses and explore their potential psychological, neurobiological, and genetic or environmental causes. You’ll also examine key clinical approaches to supporting individuals with these differences and learn how to evaluate research in this area, giving you the tools to critically assess study findings, theories, and methodologies. By the end of the module, you’ll be prepared to engage with this field on a deeper, more informed level.

What role do sensory and motor systems play in human cognition? In this module you will survey cutting edge research on their role as well as learning about the relations between brain, mind and body from physiological, experimental, philosophical, linguistic, and neuroscientific perspectives. You will learn about areas such as sensorimotor interactions, interoception, brain plasticity, body representation, body ownership, the sense of agency, influence of the vestibular system on the self-consciousness, as well as embodied cognition. Implications for cognition, social behaviour and clinical conditions will be emphasised. At the end of this module you will be able to critically read and analyse articles of scientific journals, clearly and concisely communicate your own ideas and discuss advanced methodological and theoretical topics in cognitive psychology/neuroscience.