Psychology

Course summary

Psychology remains one of the most popular subjects for students to study at A Level. The subject encompasses the whole of human (and animal) behaviour. Throughout the course, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the various approaches towards the study of the brain and behaviour. The skills learned in psychology also come in useful with other subjects; the A Level course will give students an in-depth understanding of scientific methodology and statistical analysis. Psychology continues to be a popular choice for degree-level study. A degree in Psychology can lead to opportunities for post-graduate study in areas such as counselling, clinical psychology, occupational psychology, educational psychology, sports psychology and many more! An A Level in Psychology can be beneficial for anyone, even if you choose not to study the subject any further. Psychology is useful in any career that deals with people. It is also a good subject to take in combination with other A Levels, such as Biology, PE and English. Year 12: Split into two components. Approaches in psychology: Pupils will learn about the nature of psychology and the various ways in which the science of human behaviour can be approached. The five approaches studied are: biological, psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive and positive. Research methods: The “nuts and bolts” of psychology. Pupils will learn about the various experimental and non-experimental ways that psychologists carry out research and the variety of ways in which results can be analysed and conclusions drawn. Year 13: The above, plus one extra component. Applications of psychology: Pupils will learn about how psychology can aid our understanding of real-world issues, and how the findings of research can be used to modify behaviour. The three topics covered are schizophrenia, criminal behaviour and addiction. In Y13, pupils will also have the opportunity to design, carry out, and draw conclusions from their studies. This will give them valuable hands-on experience in psychological research.