SL+Psychology

**Psychology SL: ****Syllabus (summary), prerequisites and materials ** The IB Psychology course is composed of three parts for SL and four parts for HL. __Part 1: The Core __ of the course introduces students to the three fundamental influences on human behaviour: biological, cognitive and sociocultural. Students investigate how the interaction of these influences substantially determines behaviour. Students investigate the defining principles of the biological, cognitive and sociocultural levels of analysis, and how they may be demonstrated in research. Furthermore, they evaluate how and why particular research methods are used at each level of analysis and the ethical considerations related to the respective research studies. __Part 2: Options __ are offered to students to provide continuity with the previous syllabus and to reflect developing fields in psychology. Students are invited to consider five options: abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, psychology of human relationships and sport psychology. (Students at SL must study one option; students at HL must study two options.) The study of the core (Part 1) provides a foundation and a broad overview of psychology, whereas the options (Part 2) allow students the opportunity to study a specialised area of psychology in depth (including empirical studies and theories), according to their own particular interests. Teachers integrate the options with the study of the core (levels of analysis) wherever possible. __Part 3: Qualitative research in psychology __ __(HL only)__ provides the opportunity for students to experience research in the real world, as opposed to the laboratory, and deals with how people give meaning to their own experiences. It involves research of behaviour in a natural setting, and is followed by an attempt to interpret the behaviour and the meanings that people have given to their experiences. Students develop a critical understanding of theory and practice in qualitative research, as well as the function of interviews, observations and case studies. __Part 4: Simple experimental study __<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> serves as an introduction to experimental research methodology. Students are required to plan and undertake a simple experimental study and to produce a report of their study. Teachers prepare students for the simple experimental study and the writing of the report. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">**<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Prerequisites ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">No prior study of psychology is expected. No particular background in terms of specific subjects studied for national or international qualifications is expected or required of students. The skills needed for the psychology course are developed during the course itself. <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">**<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Materials ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">E-book: Forty Studies that Changed Psychology, by Roger R. Hock; Pearson; (0558846807 / 9780558846800) <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">E-book: IB Psychology Course Companion, by John Crane and Jette Hannibal; Oxford University Press; (0199151296 / 9780199151295) <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">E-book: Psychology in Modules, Ninth Edition, by David G. Myers; Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing; (1429216387 / 9781429216388) <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Additional online resources will be made available to students <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">//<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Adapted from the IB Psychology Guide © International Baccalaureate Organization //<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">