PY2CBP: Cognitive and Biological Psychology

Module code: PY2CBP

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Lydia Yee , email: t.yee@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PY2RMP (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module explores core contemporary topics in biopsychology and cognition, including perception and neuroscience. Each topic will be covered from a biological, to cognitive, to behavioural perspective. This module also acknowledges the historical developments in these perspectives. As part of this module, students will conduct and write-up a research project designed to link with one of the topics covered.

The aims of this module are for students to gain an understanding and critical appreciation of theory and research into how we sense and perceive the world, and different aspects of thinking and higher-level cognition. This module aims for students to integrate information from different perspectives (biological and cognitive) and to understand their links with behaviour. Importantly, this module aims for students to be able to critically evaluate and compare experiments and theories on the topics covered. In addition, using knowledge acquired in the module, students will conduct a quantitative research project to investigate a particular hypothesis.

This module is delivered at the 51ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and the 51ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Malaysia. The Module Lead at the 51ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Malaysia is Shumetha Sidhu (shumetha.sidhu@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe and critically evaluate research on core topics in perception and cognition  
2. Use knowledge of biopsychology and neuroscience to evaluate research and theories  
3. Review relevant literature to develop accurate hypotheses for a quantitative research project 
4. Analyse data from the quantitative research project and present the project in a report format  

Module content

This module provides a detailed exploration of topics in cognitive and biological psychology, with particular emphasis on their empirical and theoretical intersection. Each topic will be examined from a biological, cognitive and behavioural perspective. Topics covered may include: attention and consciousness, object and face recognition, multisensory integration, emotion and motivation, pain, cognitive control and flexibility, judgement and decision-making, problem solving and creativity, memory, skills and habits.

The core British Psychological Society areas covered are: biological, cognitive, and conceptual and historical issues in psychology.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught via 10 2-hour lectures, two 2-hour seminars, a 1-hour project briefing, four 2-hour project workshops and supported by recommended reading.  
Teaching methods include the following:  

• Lectures on cognitive and biological psychology
• Seminars to practice skills needed for the exam
• Project briefing
• Project workshops  
• Recommended reading

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 32 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be given formative feedback on the results section of their project report.  

Reassessment

Additional costs