A Student's Guide To Studying Psychology

Now in its third edition, this very popular guide to studying psychology remains an invaluable tool for students at both undergraduate and pre-degree levels, along with those deciding whether to take psychology as an academic subject. Topics covered include: perspectives within psychology; making the most of seminars, tutorials and lectures; how to write essays and empirical reports; guidelines on exam preparation and technique; information on careers in psychology and tips for applying for jobs, including how to write your own curriculum vitae. For this fully up-dated third edition, new advice is included on web-based research and referencing. Subject coverage is expanded to include contemporary research trends in cognitive neuroscience, evolutionary psychology and positive psychology. In addition, new material investigates postgraduate specialisms including neuropsychology, psychotherapy and sport psychology.

Thomas M. Heffernan is Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University.

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. x
Preface to third edition	p. x
Introduction to psychology	p. 1
What is psychology?	p. 1
Perspectives and methods in psychology	p. 3
The psychoanalytic perspective	p. 3
The biological perspective	p. 6
Developmental psychology	p. 8
Humanistic psychology	p. 10
Behaviourism	p. 13
The cognitive perspective	p. 16
Social psychology	p. 18
Twenty-first century psychology	p. 20
Finally	p. 22
A study guide to lectures, seminars and tutorials	p. 23
Skills developed on a psychology course	p. 23
Practical classes	p. 25
Contact time	p. 26
Lectures	p. 29
Seminars	p. 31
Tutorials	p. 35
Effective note taking	p. 37
Reference materials	p. 41
Summarising a piece of work	p. 43
A guide to essay writing and referencing	p. 45
Stages in essay writing	p. 45
Example: A completed coursework essay	p. 55
Important points about coursework essays	p. 61
A guide to writing style: Neil McLaughlin Cook	p. 62
A guide to referencing: Sue Thomas and Keith Morgan	p. 66
A guide to research methods	p. 79
The quantitative/qualitative distinction	p. 79
Sampling procedures	p. 80
The experimental method	p. 82
The quasi-experimental method	p. 86
The non-experimental method	p. 88
Data, statistical analysis and causal inference	p. 97
Qualitative approaches	p. 104
Ethics in research	p. 107
Ethical considerations when testing humans	p. 108
Ethical considerations when testing animals	p. 110
Empirical research report writing	p. 113
Structure of the report	p. 114
Title page	p. 114
Abstract	p. 115
Introduction	p. 116
Method	p. 118
Results	p. 121
Discussion	p. 123
References	p. 124
Appendices	p. 125
Summary	p. 125
Example: A practical write-up	p. 126
Additional guidelines for second-year practicals	p. 135
Additional guidelines for the third-year practical	p. 136
When using an observational method	p. 138
Writing a qualitative report	p. 139
Presenting research at a conference	p. 142
Example: A research article	p. 143
A guide to preparing for examinations	p. 153
Examinations	p. 154
Revising for the examination	p. 155
Taking the examination	p. 164
Example: A first-year examination essay	p. 167
Critical assessment	p. 169
Example: A second-year examination essay	p. 170
Critical assessment	p. 172
After the examination	p. 174
Failing an examination	p. 174
How essays are marked	p. 175
After the degree: Opportunities for a psychology graduate	p. 179
Graduate status	p. 181
Postgraduate training and research	p. 181
British Psychological Society	p. 184
Applied psychology	p. 185
Clinical psychology	p. 186
Educational psychology	p. 188
Occupational/organisational psychology	p. 190
Criminological/forensic psychology	p. 191
Health psychology	p. 194
Counselling psychology	p. 196
Research and teaching	p. 196
Other areas (non-accredited)	p. 198
Other specialisms	p. 201
Preparing your curriculum vitae (CV)	p. 201
Some important points about the CV	p. 204
References	p. 209
Author index	p. 221
Subject index	p. 225
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A Student's Guide To Studying Psychology

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Table of Contents

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