2026/27 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC3544 Applied Social Psychology

15 Credits Class Size: 85

Module manager: Prof Mark Conner
Email: m.t.conner@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2026/27

Pre-requisite qualifications

Successful completion of all pass for progression modules in Level 2 of: BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology, BA Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought (and its International and Industrial variants) or BSc Psychology with Education (and its International and Industrial variants)

Pre-requisites

PSYC2504 Advanced Social Psychology

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module considers applied social psychological approaches to understanding, predicting and changing behaviour in a range of domains such as health, environment, politics, consumer, education, safety, transport, occupational and legal. The lectures provide state of the art coverage of current understanding of key influences on a range of different behaviours. Each lecture is given by an expert who is a researcher active in that area and provides both an overview and detailed coverage of recent cutting edge research.

Objectives

This module aims to provide in depth coverage of empirical, conceptual and theoretical issues relating to 'Applied Social Psychology'. The module will be taught by experts in the subject focusing on their own area of expertise.
Students will continue to develop their knowledge in this area of the discipline with particular emphasis on relevant research.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of applied social psychology theories and models that can be applied to understanding, predicting and changing behaviour across a range of domains with real-world implications.
2) Critically discuss psychological aspects of applied social psychology.
3) Critically evaluate the extent to which individual differences in applied social psychological constructs can explain broad variations in behaviour across different domains.

Skills outcomes

- Knowledge of applied social psychology theories and models that can be applied to real-world issues of understanding, predicting and changing behaviour across a range of domains including health, environment, politics, consumer, education, safety, transport, occupational and legal.
- Literature reviewing and presentation skills
- Peer group teaching.

Syllabus

- Attitudes and behaviour
- Norms and behaviour
- Affect and behaviour
- Intentions and behaviour
- Socio-economic status and behaviour
- Automatic influences on behaviour
- Stereotype threat and behaviour
- Feedback and behaviour
- Self-efficacy and behaviour

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Drop-in Session 9 1 9
Lectures 9 1.5 13.5
seminars 1 2 2
Independent online learning hours 12.5
Private study hours 113
Total Contact hours 24.5
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 150

Private study

- 63 hours: 7 hours per lecture
- 6 hours: Seminar/Peer Group Teaching Exercise
- 44 hours: Exam Revision

Independent online learning
- 12.5 hours: contribution to discussion boards/VLE after each lecture.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be asked to present either:
1) a mini review of empirical literature, or
2) to develop behaviour change poster based upon applied social psychological theory in week 5, as part of a peer group teaching exercise.

Formative feedback will provided for this coursework .

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Group Project Peer group teaching exercise 0
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 0

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams
Exam type Exam duration % of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S1) 0.0 Hrs 0 Mins 100
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list

Last updated: 22/05/2026

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team