Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To provide students with an insight into the general area of forensic psychology and to develop critical understanding of:

how psychological research has been applied to understanding the causes of criminal behaviour, including the assessment and treatment of offenders, and:

the way such research can be used in an applied setting through investigative psychology.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       Introduction to Forensic and Criminological psychology
•       Theories of crime and offending
•       Assessment and treatment of offenders
•       Psychological disorders e.g. Antisocial and Narcissistic Personality Disorders, Psychopathy.
•       Investigative and legal psychology

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

After completing the module, students should be able to:
1.       Evaluate the importance of forensic psychology and research across the Criminal Justice System.
2.       Describe and evaluate key psychological paradigms which have been used to explain criminal behaviour;
3.       Recognise ethical dilemmas in assessment and treatment and to manage the implications by identifying and evaluating appropriate information required for risk assessment/functional analysis;
4.       Compare and contrast knowledge of different methods of assessing and treating offenders;
5.       Explain how psychological disorders may result in criminal behaviour and the subsequent implications of such behaviour on society and the subsequent behaviour;

Intended Skill Outcomes

After completing the module, students should be able to:
1.       Gather information from a variety of sources and have the ability to select those most appropriate for the specific task;
2.       Work collaboratively with peers to articulate their understanding of the topics within forensic and criminological psychology;
3.       Critically evaluate theoretical arguments and research evidence in relation to forensic psychology;
4.       Formulate independent views on a range of topics associated with forensic and criminological psychology;
5.       Develop the skills necessary to undertake a formulation of offender behaviour;
6.       Develop reflective practice skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials and structured learning activities will be used as the main way to impart knowledge and to stimulate interests in the topics. The private study time will allow students to carry out an in-depth review of the knowledge imparted through lecture materials, to generate their own views on the topics and to follow these out by carrying out independent reviews of the literature, thereby taking control over their learning and preparing them for the final assessment. The workshops will give students the opportunity to prepare for the assessment.

The contact time for this module reflects the amount of preparation students are expected to do for the assessment.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

This module will be assessed by one summative assessment as detailed below:

Report: A 2000-word psychological assessment report including a psychological case formulation (1500 words) underpinned by theoretical evidence, and a case summary (500 words) reflecting evidence based professional onions. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the topic and provide their own supported and evidenced views on the subject. Finally, an assessment of this nature provides the student with an opportunity to articulate their comprehension of the main themes and topics presented throughout the module.

Formative practice will be included within the teaching strategy of this module.

FMS Schools offering Semester One modules available as ‘Study Abroad’ will, where required, provide an alternative assessment time for examinations that take place after the Christmas vacation. Coursework with submissions dates after the Christmas vacation will either be submitted at an earlier date or at the same time remotely. The form of assessment will not vary from the original

If the module is failed, Stage 3 students may only be offered a resit if an honours degree is not awarded on the first occasion. Failed assessments will be the same format during the August resit period.

General Notes

N/A