PE7028 - Individual Differences

In this module you will have the opportunity to learn about psychological approaches to intelligence and personality, and how psychologists have evaluated the methods and tools employed in their assessment. The intelligence component will examine a range of topics, e.g. historical approaches to intelligence with an emphasis upon contemporary cognitive approaches such as working memory, intelligence and cognitive interventions, and individual differences in cognition such as lifespan differences. Personality topics will consider the construct of personality, factors in personality, and applications. Psychometric aspects of the module will consider topics such as test classification and development, standardisation, reliability, validity, interpretation and applications.

The module is delivered entirely online via our electronic learning platform (elp). You will interact with a range of materials on the module site. The module home page provides you with quick access to detailed information about the module in an interactive, easily accessible format. The syllabus topics will be introduced using video lectures. On occasions the activities will be driven by you within an online group context. Psychometrics exercises will provide hands-on experience of research tools/test evaluation. Discussion board forums will be used to encourage students to exchange ideas with their peers. Together, the lectures, directed and independent learning and online discussion will enable you to gain greater depth of knowledge in the fields of personality and intelligence.

The module is delivered entirely online via our electronic learning platform (elp). You will interact with a range of materials on the module site. The module home page provides you with quick access to detailed information about the module in an interactive, easily accessible format. The syllabus topics will be introduced using video lectures. On occasions the activities will be driven by you within an online group context. Psychometrics exercises will provide hands-on experience of research tools/test evaluation. Discussion board forums will be used to encourage students to exchange ideas with their peers. Together, the lectures, directed and independent learning and online discussion will enable you to gain greater depth of knowledge in the fields of personality and intelligence.

You will be an autonomous, self-motivated learner within a supportive distance learning environment. You will be introduced to the module by the module tutor in an introductory video. The online module sessions and interactive tasks form the cornerstone for supporting you during your study. Academic support is available from the teaching team and each session includes a link to enable you to email a question directly to the tutor from within the session. Responses will be fed back either directly or via the module discussion board. In advance of each assessment a video presentation is uploaded to support you in your preparation for this session. This is followed by an online live question and answer session prior to submission of your assessed work. Focused academic support coupled with timely formative and summative feedback should enable you to meet your full academic potential within this module..

You will be an autonomous, self-motivated learner within a supportive distance learning environment. You will be introduced to the module by the module tutor in an introductory video. The online module sessions and interactive tasks form the cornerstone for supporting you during your study. Academic support is available from the teaching team and each session includes a link to enable you to email a question directly to the tutor from within the session. Responses will be fed back either directly or via the module discussion board. In advance of each assessment a video presentation is uploaded to support you in your preparation for this session. This is followed by an online live question and answer session prior to submission of your assessed work. Focused academic support coupled with timely formative and summative feedback should enable you to meet your full academic potential within this module..

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MKU1: By the end of the module you will be expected to discuss, and critically evaluate current knowledge derived from theoretical and empirical evidence drawn from the field of individual differences.
• MKU2: By the end of the module you will be expected to critically examine and interpret psychometric data.
• MKU3: By the end of the module you be expected to apply your knowledge of individual differences and psychometrics to real world contexts.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MIPSA1: By the end of the module you will be expected to deploy your understanding of constructs and psychometric procedures in novel ways in order to tackle applied issues.
• MIPSA2: By the end of the module you will be expected to employ a range of techniques relevant to psychological enquiry.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MKU1: By the end of the module you will be expected to discuss, and critically evaluate current knowledge derived from theoretical and empirical evidence drawn from the field of individual differences.
• MKU2: By the end of the module you will be expected to critically examine and interpret psychometric data.
• MKU3: By the end of the module you be expected to apply your knowledge of individual differences and psychometrics to real world contexts.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MIPSA1: By the end of the module you will be expected to deploy your understanding of constructs and psychometric procedures in novel ways in order to tackle applied issues.
• MIPSA2: By the end of the module you will be expected to employ a range of techniques relevant to psychological enquiry.

The first assessment will be a 2 hour multi-choice Examination covering your critical understanding of Intelligence and of Personality. (MKU1, MIPSA2)

The second assessment, with a 50% weighting is a written Psychometrics assignment with a word limit of 3000 words. Written in the form a research article, you will critically assess the development of a new research tool. (MKU1, MKU2, MKU3, MIPSA1, MIPSA2)
Specific Feedback will be provided on scripts and generic feedback on the elp.