Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 x 2 hours lecture |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 4 x 2 hours seminars on alternate weeks from week 2 |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours written examination | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Health Poster with 1000 word outline | 40% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours written examination If students fail the module overall, any failed component must be re-sat or determined as the Examination Board sees fit. | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Health Poster with 1000 word outline | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of how health and quality of life is assessed
2. Examine and evaluate models of health perception and behavior change
3. Discuss and evaluate health promotion strategies
4. Understand the effect of the relationship between health professional and patient for health behavior outcomes
5. Understand the social influences on health behaviour
6. Demonstrate and understanding of living with and coping with chronic disease
Aims
This module examines the role of psychology in health. Health psychology is an application that provides the opportunity to use psychological theory to explain a number of health related topics and behaviours. The ability of students to use psychological theory within applied settings is important for their ability to relate their theoretical learning to real life situations.
Brief description
The module examines the use of psychology and psychological theory to explore a range of health related topics and behaviours. The assessment of health and quality of life will be discussed in relation to psychological testing. Psychological theory will be used to explore perceptions, beliefs and cognitive processes for behavior change and health promotion with the aim of reducing unhealthy behavior, such as smoking and overeating, and encouraging health promoting behavior, such as exercise and screening. The role of society and health will also be explored by discussing gender and cultural differences in health and the relationship between doctor and patients. Finally issues surrounding managing chronic illness and coping will be explored.
Content
• Ethical considerations in health research
• Perceptions of health
• Health risk behavior
• Health enhancing behavior
• Predicting and modeling behaviour change
• Health promotion
• Health professional and patient relationship
• Gender, culture and health
• Living with chronic illness
• Coping with chronic disease
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Not directly applicable although students will be introduced to the key concepts of statistical analysis through the examination of research designs. |
| Communication | Students will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to the best advantage. They will learn to be clear and direct in their and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic and to focus on the objectives of their argument or discussion. Seminars will be run in groups where oral discussion and presentations will form the main medium of teaching. Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format and the presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the facilitator and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their essay and poster topics. The need to conduct a poster and to meet an essay deadline will focus students' attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as Web of Science and PsychLit). |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The discussions in particular will help to develop students' verbal and presentation skills. Learning about the process of planning a poster for a lay audience as well as an academic essay, framing the parameters of the projects, honing and developing the projects and seeing through to completion will contribute towards their portfolio of transferable skills |
| Problem solving | Independent project work and problem solving will be one of the central goals of the module; the submission of an essay will require that the student develops independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; use psychological theory to validate their opinions and estimate an answer to the problem; consider case studies and reason logically. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of the student's ability to work alone can be undertaken. |
| Research skills | The submission of a poster and essay will reflect the independent research skills of the student. The need to locate appropriate research resources and write up the results will also facilitate research skills. Research preparation for a seminar presentation will also enable the student to develop independent project skills. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of the student's ability to work alone can be undertaken |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of subject specific skills that will help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and research publications presented on the module. These subject specific skills include: • Assessment of scientific methods in psychology. • Differentiation between quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. • Demonstration of a familiarity with the techniques required for literature searches. • Appreciation of the nature of ethical research in the social sciences. |
| Team work | Seminars will consist in part of small-group discussion where students will be obliged to discuss as a group the core issues related to seminar topics. Such class room debates and discussions are a vital component of the module |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6