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BA/BSc (Honours) Criminology and Psychological Studies - Learning Outcomes

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Educational aims

The Criminology strand of this degree aims to:

  • introduce you to a social constructionist perspective in social science
  • teach you how to apply this perspective in analyses of developments in social and criminal justice policy
  • enable you to survey the shifts in criminal justice and social policy that have taken place since the late eighteenth century
  • provide you with an insight into the diverse and expanding boundaries of the discipline of criminology
  • help you to communicate and to apply your knowledge in an appropriately scholarly manner to provide a sound basis for further study at third and postgraduate level.

The Psychology strand of this degree aims to provide you with:

  • an understanding of key concepts, theories, methods and debates in psychology
  • an appreciation of different perspectives within psychology and the ability to evaluate them critically
  • experience of designing, carrying out, analysing and reporting psychological research using a range of research methods.

Both strands of this degree aim to provide you with support and guidance to improve your own learning and performance and to develop as an independent learner.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will know and understand:

  • links between the construction of social problems and welfare and criminal justice policies, both historical and contemporary
  • patterns and processes in the restructuring of social and criminal justice policies, particularly in the past two decades
  • competing rationales for criminal justice
  • key debates to be found in contemporary criminology (e.g. crime causation, the meaning of crime, the ubiquity of crime, the nature of justice)
  • the relevance of the concepts of discourse, power, social construction, and social difference for the analysis of criminal justice and social policies
  • the key approaches to psychology, and the contribution of different theorists to psychological ideas and thinking
  • an understanding of a range of research methods, including ethical issues, in psychology and their appropriate use.

Cognitive skills

You will be able to:

  • organise, select, present and evaluate arguments logically
  • recognise and use abstract concepts and theories in the fields of criminology and psychology
  • read original papers and evaluate them in an appropriately critical, social and scientific manner
  • understand and evaluate a range of research strategies and methods used in the study of criminology and psychology
  • interpret, use and evaluate different kinds of evidence and understand that data and knowledge are socially constructed and contested.

Practical and/or professional skills

You will be able to:

  • adopt a critical stance towards ‘common-sense/taken for granted’ understandings of the social world
  • apply theory to the study of policy issues
  • analyse and assess research findings and appreciate the ethical principles involved
  • design and conduct research using a range of methods and types of data analysis and report these in appropriate formats.

Key skills

You will be able to:

Communication

  • select, summarise and synthesise information from different sources, including primary text and other multimedia forms
  • select and read material in an appropriate way and efficiently and effectively take notes
  • present written material in a coherently organised form, with arguments and information in a logical sequence, communicated effectively and referenced appropriately.

Numerical skills

  • interpret and present tables, graphs, diagrams and bar charts
  • work with quantitative data and apply appropriate statistical procedures.

Information technology

  • access, process and prepare information using computers
  • use information technology to access library resources.

Learning how to learn

  • analyse tasks, make plans for tackling them and manage time
  • identify and use sources of support and learn from feedback
  • monitor and reflect on personal progress, identifying own strengths and weaknesses.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

Knowledge and understanding are acquired in a variety of ways, through:

  • printed items, such as specially written module texts
  • study guides
  • methodology handbooks
  • assignment and project guides
  • a range of multimedia material
  • work on original texts

Understanding is enhanced through:

  • interactive in-text activities
  • self-assessment questions
  • work on original texts
  • feedback on assignments.

Associate lecturers (locally based part-time tutors) support your learning in tutorials and day schools and through their detailed comments on assignments.

We will assess your learning with:

  • tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
  • formal examinations.

Cognitive skills are taught and assessed through TMAs based on essays, research reports and short exercises evaluating research methods and questions. Skills progress from exposition, through an ability to compare and contrast, to critical evaluation and application.

Communication

The open nature of entry to the OU means that at Level 1 there is considerable emphasis on reading and writing skills. These are integrated into the study material and specifically taught and developed in separate texts, via student notes for the tutor-marked assignments, and through tutor feedback. At Levels 2 and 3 you are assumed to have developed abilities in these areas, although tutor feedback on writing and reporting skills continues to be important. However, the material from which you work becomes increasingly complex and diverse and more sophisticated skills of interpretation, selection and synthesis are required. These skills are central to the presentation of written assignments and, consequently, throughout the award receive continuous assessment and examination.

Numerical skills

At Level 2 you will undertake work with statistical data and manipulate figures and percentages. At Level 3 you will be required to deconstruct official criminal statistics.

Information technology

You have the opportunity to work with information technology on each of the modules. You will be expected to use word processing packages to prepare and present your tutor-marked assignments.

Learning how to learn

As you will be studying at a distance and part time, a strong emphasis is placed on helping you to develop as an independent learner. At Level 1 this means developing basic skills (e.g. of time planning, using support). It also means laying the foundation for increasing emphasis on reflection at Levels 2 and 3. This is not assessed directly but is demonstrated by your ability to study autonomously. Self-assessed activities are also built into the teaching texts. Your tutors’ written responses on your assignments are intended, in part, to help you learn from feedback and enable you to improve subsequent submissions.

Practical and professional skills are taught and assessed throughout the award, including essay-based TMAs and exam questions that require the application of theory to criminological and psychological issues and a critical stance toward understanding the social world. Research reports and questions focusing on methods support the development of design and analytical skills as well an understanding of ethical issues.

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