A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY - AQA (B)

Introduction

Students following this specification will be able to:

develop their critical thinking skills
demonstrate a sound understanding of the various methods and approaches in Psychology
inspire the ability to interpret, evaluate and comment.

Assessment Framework

The course is taught and examined within the framework of three different skills and enables students to:

AO1 - Recognise, recall and show understanding of scientific knowledge, select, organise and communicate relevant information in a variety of forms

AO2 - Analyse and evaluate scientific knowledge, apply knowledge and processes to unfamiliar situations, assess the validity, reliability and credibility of scientific information

AO3 - describe ethical, safe and skilful practical techniques and processes, know how to make, record, and communicate valid observations, analyse, interpret, explain and evaluate the methodology and investigative activities in a variety of ways.

Description of Teaching and Learning

The course is split into the study of:

Social Psychology : People interacting with each other, relationships
Developmental Psychology : How we learn and change our behaviour as we grow
Physical of Biological Psychology : The way in which our genes and the structure of our bodies produce much of our behaviour
Cognitive Psychology : How our brain and mind make sense of the world around us and create our reactions to it
Individual Differences : the biological and environmental influences which make each of us totally unique as a human being.

Aims : AS and A Level specifications in Psychology encourage students to:

Study psychological theories, research, terminology, concepts, studies and methods
Develop skills of analysis, interpretation and evaluation
Develop an understanding of different areas of psychology
Design and report psychological investigations, and analyse and interpret data
Develop an understanding of ethical issues in psychology, including the ethical implications of psychological research.

In addition, A Level specifications in Psychology:

Include the study of psychological principles, perspectives and applications
Enable students to explore and understand the relationship between psychological knowledge, theories and methodology and their relationship to social cultural, scientific and contemporary issues
Enable the study of cognitive, social, developmental, individual differences and physiological psychology
Enable the development of critical and evaluative skills in relation to theory, empirical studies and methods of research in psychology
Enable candidates to have an understanding and critical appreciation of the breadth of theoretical and methodological approaches in Psychology

Links to Future Careers

Armed Forces, Business Studies, Educational Psychology, Forensic Science, Law, Leisure Management, Management, Marketing, Medicine (including Psychiatry), Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacology, PE, the Police, Politics, Psychology, Research in any Field of Study, Social Sciences and Theatre Studies.

Higher Education Successes of Former Students

A significant number of Upton Hall Psychology students study for a degree in the subject after completing their A levels. 2007 saw the first graduation of past students.

Additional Information

Psychology has become the most popular subject at AS Level in Upton Hall’s Sixth Form.

It is essential students are confident they will gain an A or B grade in both English and Maths at GCSE level as they are required extensively to analyse and evaluate texts and statistically analyse data from experiments.

Please see Mrs Ingram (Head of Psychology)