Exploring psychology
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How humans think, develop, and experience the world around us has been fascinating psychologists for over 100 years. Using a historical and biographical framework, this course introduces you to a wide range of psychological approaches, including biological, social, and cognitive psychologies. It looks at areas such as identity, learning, memory, and language. But you won’t just learn about psychological theories, you’ll learn how to do different types of psychological research too. You’ll undertake practical work using quantitative and qualitative research methods and learn to analyse data using statistical software. All in all, Exploring psychology will give you a thorough overview of psychology, relevant to your daily life.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Psychology and Social Sciences.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | DSE212 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| Examination |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
This course covers a wide range of psychological theories, concepts and methods and demonstrates how they are typically applied in various contexts. The course explores the scope of contemporary psychology and its historical roots, and assesses the role played by very diverse perspectives on understanding human behaviour and experience.
The course is divided into two parts, each with a different focus and approach. Each part is presented in a book with accompanying software, video and audio material on CD-ROM, DVD, DVD-ROM and online.
Book 1, Mapping Psychology, is in two parts and together with its linked materials makes up about two thirds of the course. The book maps out a basic set of approaches to psychology (e.g. cognitive, biological, social, individual differences) and provides you with a conceptual ‘bag of tools’ – the basic equipment needed to start mapping psychology in the twenty-first century.
Book 2, Challenging Psychological Issues, and its associated materials, make up the last part of the course and build on the foundations presented in the first book. Book 2 presents three topics that epitomise current debates about what is ‘distinctively human’ psychology. The discussion of each topic (lifespan development, language and meaning, and sex and gender) draws on theories and empirical research from the biological, cognitive and social-psychological approaches introduced in Book 1.
Accompanying both Books 1 and 2 is a third book, Exploring Psychological Research Methods, which takes you through the range of methods employed by psychologists to investigate questions in psychology, and gives you an introduction to designing both quantitative and qualitative research projects and to gathering and analysing data. A separate online booklet will guide you through using a computer for performing statistical analyses so that you develop information technology skills in handling and analysing data. An online workbook that accompanies the main texts develops study skills such as using evidence, understanding the research process, structuring an argument, writing essays and undertaking critical evaluation.
Associated residential school course
The 15-credit residential school course Exploring psychology project (DXR222) and its online version Exploring psychology on-line project (DZX222), offer tuition and activities that support and extend the academic aims of this course. If you want to count DSE212 towards an Open University qualification, you may need to include either DXR222 or DZX222 as well.
If you decide to attend the residential school, you must register for DXR222 or DZX222 separately, for which an additional fee is payable.
Entry
This is a Level 2 course. You should have the study skills obtained either through Level 1 study with the OU, or by doing equivalent work at another university but you are not expected to have any special knowledge of psychology.
We recommend that you study the two 30-credit courses Introducing the social sciences - part one (DD131) and Discovering psychology (DSE141) to prepare you for this course.
Alternatively, if you feel you would benefit from a greater degree of preparation, study the 60-credit Introducing the social sciences (DD101) and Discovering psychology (DSE141).
You are expected to have some basic knowledge of how to use a computer, so that you can for instance use the mouse or keyboard to open a document or program, navigate around a standard screen and windows on a PC, print a document and use a word processor. Guidance is provided on installing software.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
When you register you will receive all preparatory information.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of the printed study materials are available, although some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. The printed study materials are available in comb-bound format and as audio in the DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability of alternative formats.
Students with visual impairments may benefit from the assistance of a sighted helper when working with the statistical software CD-ROM. Elements of this course are delivered online and through CD-ROMs. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet and have concerns about accessing this type of material you are advised to talk to the Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Text books, other printed materials, DVD, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM and website.
You will need
The ability to play DVDs.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Two assignments are based on project work. Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Professional recognition
This course may help you to gain recognition from a professional body. You can view or download our Recognition leaflet 3.1 British Psychological Society for further information.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Psychology and Social Sciences.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | DSE212 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| Examination |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
I really enjoyed this course. It was heavy going, the practicals were hard but I really enjoyed them. I recommend ...
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This was my third OU course and second level two course. The workload was tough at times and I did ...
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