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PSYC3587: Psychology and Health Promotion

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 3
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Psychology

Prerequisites

  • 60 credits from Level 2 Psychology module

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to theoretical approaches and empirical research in psychology that can be applied in promoting people's health and preventing disease

Content

  • The application of psychological theories and empirical research to heatlh promotion and disease prevention (example topics: Theory of Planned Behaviour; Health Belief Model; Stage Models; Implementation intentions; Fear appeals; Debiasing risk perceptions; Rewarding; Nudges; Principles of influence; Message framing)

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Detailed knowledge of health psychopathology including current theory, evidence, and research methods
  • In-depth knowledge of some specialist sub-areas of applied psychology

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Ability to review critically and consolidate understanding of a coherent body of psychological knowledge and apply it appropriately

Key Skills:

  • Good written communication skills
  • Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation, and data presentation
  • Ability to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Knowledge and understanding is developed through the weekly two hour sessions involving a variety of learning modes including lectures, video based material, and some small group work
  • All modes of teaching are designed to promote critical evaluation of evidence and arguments, to adopt different theoretical positions, and to interpret empirical work in terms of its application to health promotion and disease prevention
  • These abilities will be assessed in the written exam. The exam will be essay based, providing students with the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to appraise and apply empirical evidence and theoretical claims in a critical manner

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures / Seminars101 per week220 
Preparation and Reading80 
Total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Examination2 hours100 

Formative Assessment

None

More information

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