Assessment Details
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Module Name and Module Code:
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LC Lifespan Psychology B: Social Psychology of the Person (36241)
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Module Learning Outcomes:
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1. Demonstrate knowledge of historical and conceptual debates within the field of social psychology and individual differences.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of a range of research methods and techniques used to study the person in social psychology and individual differences.
3. Understand and critically evaluate the empirical evidence underpinning selected theories relating to social psychology and individual differences.
4. Demonstrate skills in searching for and evaluating scientific evidence related to social psychology and individual differences.
5. Develop cogent arguments about topics in social psychology and individual differences using appropriate empirical evidence.
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Assessment Title:
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What matters most when explaining human behaviour: social or individual factors?
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Restrictions on Time/Length:
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1000 word in-course written assignment
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Submission Format:
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.doc, .docx, .pdf
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Is the use of generative AI permitted in this assessment? (please select one of the statements)
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RED – Generative AI tools cannot be used
Within this assessment the use of generative AI, including ChatGPT or similar, is not allowed.
This is because use of generative AI would not be appropriate for this assessment and could undermine the skills assessed (ability to demonstrate one’s own understanding and critical reflection on the taught content).
Using generative AI to contribute to your assessment will result in you being in violation of the University’s Code of Practice on Academic Integrity which may have implications for your future studies.
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If generative AI is not permitted in this assessment, how have you mitigated against the effects of the inappropriate use of generative AI tools in this assessment?
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Rather than using all in-class time for the delivery of new content, we will use a flipped classroom approach to encourage students to cover new content independently prior to the session. In-class time will then be used to promote scaffolded critical reflection, a skill they will then be able to use in their writing of the in-course assignment (dissuading a reliance on generative AI).
We will also use workshops to help them develop their ideas related to the main assessment. These approaches allow the opportunity for students to discuss with the module team, and their peers, their work and ideas and answer any questions that might arise.
Finally, the in-course assignment purposely encourages the students to draw on content from across multiple teaching weeks and to integrate what they have learnt across the whole course into their final assignment. This should guard against students using generative AI to structure their arguments.
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Individual or Group
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Individual
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Assessment Weighting:
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100% (Lifespan B, but 50% of the synoptic assessment of Lifespan A and B).
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Deadline:
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08/05/25, 13:00 (1pm)
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Planned Feedback Date:
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30th May 2025, 17:00 (5pm)
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By submitting work you agree that this assignment submission is your own, original work.
Assessment Task
Essay Title: What matters most when explaining human behaviour: social or individual factors?
In this short essay assignment, you are required to select topic(s) covered during the Lifespan Psychology B: Social Psychology of the Person module (e.g., personality & wellbeing, aggression, prosocial behaviour) when answering the question.
The maximum length of answers is 1000 words (excluding title page and reference list). Your answer should include at least 7 references. There must be a clear introduction and conclusion in your essay.
Specific Guidance
- Select topic(s) from the lecture series that interests you. Be sure to state what topic(s) you are writing about in the title or the introduction paragraph.
- The essay title suggests a weighing up of social and individual factors. You can approach this essay in a number of ways,
o You may wish to focus on one topic, either social or individual differences and use the principles and research of the other to critique.
o You may wish to focus on two topics and argue the case for context being important in whether individual or social factors are more important.
- Whatever argument you choose, be sure to support your claims with evidence from research, and to answer the question and demonstrate your understanding you need to address both social and individual explanations of your chosen topic area.
- Your answer should be clearly structured with a definite introduction and conclusion.
- Refer to specific examples of research (not anecdote) to support your argument. It is not appropriate to refer to Lectures, magazines, websites, or Wikipedia at University. We expect you to use original primary sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles) or reputable secondary sources (e.g., monographs, textbooks, literature reviews).
- Give concise summaries of the studies you mention and consider the strengths/limitations of the studies you discuss.
- In your conclusion consider what kind of research might be needed in the future to help answer the question.
Submission
· Include a completed School Assessment Submission and Use of Gen AI Form. as the first page of your assessment.
· Please number each page in your document. The files should be saved with the letters LA followed by your student ID number. For example: LA_12345678. Files should be submitted as word documents.
Assessment Criteria
Students must comply with the Code of Practice on Academic Integrity when undertaking assessments.
Grading and feedback will focus on the School of Psychology undergraduate essay marking criteria:
1. Knowledge and understanding of the topic (i.e., sound knowledge of the topic at hand and accurate use of terminology).
2. Analysis (i.e., the ability to analyse, synthesise, and evaluate material).
3. Reading and Referencing (i.e., relevant reading and accurate referencing).
4. Essay Structure (i.e., structured so that argument and discussion are clear and coherent).
5. Language (i.e., good standard of formal English with few errors/mistakes).
6. Use of generative AI (ensuring you adhere to the generative AI policy for this assessment)
You will receive written feedback on Canvas alongside an overall mark. The feedback on this assignment is designed to help you in the future essays (e.g., Lifespan Psychology B). Written feedback will be structured as follows:
1. A comment about notable strengths of your essay.
2. A comment about why you have received a particular grade.
3. A comment about how you can improve future work.
4. A response to any request for specific feedback on your cover sheet.
Resources available to you
· Lectures will be pre-recorded and uploaded and made accessible prior to the Lifespan B lecture slot, and live lectures will be held every week during Semester 2 (we advise you watch the pre-recorded material prior to the live lectures). These sessions are hosted by the module lead and/or the tutor who has created the content for that week and provide an opportunity to discuss coursework.
· The seminars focus on essay preparation and provide an opportunity for verbal feedback on your coursework assignment before the submission date.
· Reading will be detailed in the resourcelist for the module, further references lists are supplied for each topic.
· You can receive informal feedback on your ideas by speaking with members of the module team at the end of lectures or during workshops.
· You can post questions about your essay ideas on the anonymous discussion board and members of the module team will respond.
· The University Library Academic Skills Gateway provides additional support and training in academic writing.
· Full details about how to check your essay is written in APA style. can be found in: American Psychological Association (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. The APA also has useful online resources for in-text citation and referencing.
· If you wish to improve your writing style, one useful and accessible resource is: Pinker, S. (2014). The Sense of Style. The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century. London: Penguin.
· Refer to ‘Submission of Coursework’ in the Undergraduate Programmes Handbook for details on how to layout (present) your assessment.
· You can find examples of this type of coursework assessment in the Bank of Assessed Coursework in the Undergraduate Programmes Handbook.