The Psychology teaching at Ashbourne is shared between tutors with different areas of specialism. Dennis teaches social psychology, which he studied at university and Duncan teaches biopsychology, along with Biology, which ties in with the Functional Neural Imaging MSc. that he recently studied. Both tutors are enthusiastic about their specialist area and students find their classes interesting. Particular, topical subjects lend themselves to engaging classroom discussion, such as eating disorders and media psychology. A variety of resources are used, including the 'Psychology Review' journal, video clips of classic psychology experiments, even party political broadcasts to enhance student learning. Classes are exam-focused and students get lots of past paper practice. The department has a strong track record of excellent results and not surprisingly it is one of the more popular A levels at Ashbourne.
Why study Psychology?
Whilst we would love to tell students that studying Psychology will confer upon them the ability to read people's minds (it doesn't) or that it will make students more attractive to the opposite sex (it won't do that either!), there are still many good reasons for studying this increasingly popular A level. In psychology we can develop our understanding of memory, stress, depression, phobias, schizophrenia, prejudice, obedience to authority and many other fascinating areas.
Which syllabus do we follow?
We follow AQA specification for Psychology
How many units are there?
There are four units in total; two at AS and two at A2.
What is each unit about?
Unit 1
AS unit 1 is called 'Cognitive and developmental psychology and Research methods'?Students start with memory then go on to developmental psychology, which is a study of the way children develop with a particular emphasis on attachment. At the same time students evaluate the research methods used by psychologists.
Unit 2
AS unit 2 is called Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences?Students then go on to look at abnormal, social and physiological psychology; they study stress and stress management then go on to investigate conformity and social influence. They finish by investigating and explaining different types of abnormality and how these can be treated.
Unit 3
AS unit 3 is called 'Topics in Psychology'?The topics studied are: Perception, Relationships, Aggression, Eating behaviour, Gender, Intelligence and learning, Cognition and development.
Unit 4
AS unit 4 is called 'Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods'?This unit is divided into three sections. Section A is Psychopathology. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of one of the following disorders: schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders.?Section B is called 'Psychology in Action'. Students investigate a contemporary application of psychology in detail. They will be expected to have knowledge and understanding of one of the following: media psychology: the psychology of addictive behaviour: Anomalistic psychology. Section C is called Psychological Research and Scientific method. In order to gain sufficient understanding of the design and conduct of scientific research in psychology, candidates will need to practise these skills by carrying out, analyzing and reporting small-scale investigations.
How is each unit examined?
Unit 1
Students sit a 1 hour, 15 minute exam. Questions include short answer, stimulus material and one 12 mark questions requiring extended writing in which QWC will be assessed.
Unit 2
Students sit a 1 hour, 30 minute exam. There are three compulsory structured questions, one based on the Biological Psychology content, one based on the Social Psychology content and one based on the individual differences content.
Unit 3
Students sit a I hour, 30 minute exam. They answer three essay questions chosen from eight topics. QWC will be assessed in each essay.
Unit 4
Students sit a two hour exam. They answer one essay style question chosen from three on Psychopathology, one question chosen from three on Psychology in Action and one compulsory subject question on Research Methods.
How is the Course structured?
AS unit 1 is studied between September and December of the AS year. After Christmas students begin AS unit 2. A2 unit 3 is studied between September and December of the A2 year. Unit 4 is studied between January and May of the A2 year.
When do the exams take place?
AS students sit their examinations in the May/June examination period. There will be opportunities to resit AS units in January of the A2 year. A2 examinations will be taken in June of the A2 year.
Which Ashbourne teachers teach this course??
Dennis Fulcher
(BSc Hons (Kingston) MA (London) PGCE (Greenwich)
Media and Social Sciences (HoD), Psychology, Sociology, Film, Politics and Law)
Dennis Fulcher is the College's polymath and Head of Humanities. Originally a graduate in Sociology, Dennis has also completed a Masters in Government and Political Studies, a PGCE and a Diploma in Print Journalism. He is also a teamleader for Government and Politics examiners. Dennis is a lifelong film enthusiast.
Beyond A level for Psychology students
The type of degrees or careers that students may go on to pursue may include Medicine, Biology, Nursing, Advertising, Psychotherapy, Educational Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social work and Forensic Science.
Any other information
There is some biology involved in the study of stress or mental disorders. There will be some statistics involved in the final unit, but they will be carefully guided through it.
Textbooks
AS
Title - AQA Psychology A AS: Student's Bookby
Author - Bailey, McGinley, et. Al
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Psychology-AS-Students-Level/dp/0748798234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275923546&sr=1-1
A2
Title - AQA Psychology A A2: Student's Book
Author - Bailey, Lund et al.
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Psychology-A2-Students-Book/dp/0748798250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275923736&sr=1-1
Other Resources:
'Psychology Review,' journal
http://www.philipallan.co.uk/psychologyreview/index.htm
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