This module takes an integrative approach, focusing on the everyday questions that psychology can help us to answer. Why do we help one another? Do you see what I see? How do we know what's right? Investigating how we understand others and the world around us, the module draws on biological, cognitive, developmental and social research in psychology to help you answer questions such as these. You'll also learn how to design and conduct your own research, covering a number of different methods for gathering and analysing evidence on psychological processes.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | DE200 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| 2 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
This module draws on the four core areas of biological, cognitive, developmental and social research in psychology to investigate how we understand others and the world around us. Individual differences and conceptual and historical issues in psychology (CHIPS) will be taught throughout the module within the context of these four core areas. The module also provides training and practice in a variety of psychological research methods.
The interactive online study guide leads you, week by week, through a series of everyday questions such as: Why do we help one another? Do you see what I see? Why do I feel this way? How do we know what's right? The module is divided into three main blocks and is designed to take you on a journey through the four core areas mentioned above, exploring their distinctive and overlapping contributions.
Block 1 starts with some fundamental concepts in social psychology and leads to the cognitive approaches to understanding the social world.
Block 2 begins with cognitive investigations of perception and attention and takes you on to biological understandings of the brain and behaviour.
In Block 3, you'll begin with the basic biological processes at birth and move through the lifespan to learn about developmental approaches to psychology.
The module is designed to highlight work that crosses the boundaries between the four core areas, for example, by employing concepts or methods developed in one area of research to help us understand psychological problems that have been mainly studied in another.
You'll also learn how to design and conduct your own research, covering a number of different methods for gathering and analysing evidence on psychological processes. This module builds on the methods, knowledge and skills that you gained from the OU level 1 psychology modules. It will also prepare you for your independent project work in the OU level 3 module Investigating psychology 3 (DE300). Your understanding of various research methods will be widened, and you'll have opportunities to further develop your skills. There will be a strong focus on practical methods, including various approaches to data collection as well as analysis (e.g. using statistical software).
You'll conduct and write up two mini projects which will develop and assess your quantitative and qualitative research skills in experimental and text-based research methods. You will also be assessed through two interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs), writing a report that applies psychology to a real-world problem and an integrative essay. The module finishes with an end-of-module assessment.
If you are considering progressing to Investigating psychology 3 (DE300), normally you should have completed this module.
This module is not available for standalone study; it can only be studied as part of a qualification. You must have completed Encountering psychology in context (D120) or its predecessor Investigating psychology 1 (DE100).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You'll be provided with three textbooks, statistical analysis software (SPSS) and have access to a module website which includes:
You'll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They'll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we'll make recordings available. While they're not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate.
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
All of this module's study materials are online. Online materials are composed of pages of text with images, along with interactive activities, audio-visual materials and suggestions for further study. Online materials also include links to external resources, online forums and tutorial rooms. In addition to the interactive online study guide, this module has three textbooks. Electronic versions of this printed material are available on the module website in various formats.
If you're using printed materials as part of reasonable adjustments to support your studies, note that printed versions of online materials are unavailable for this module.
This module provides online tutorials. Although not compulsory, attendance at tutorials will help you consolidate your learning.
You will be required, at certain points, to work with other students and this is assessed in one of the TMAs. This includes looking at, and commenting on existing research, making suggestions for improvements and reflecting on others' comments.
Online practical work forms a required component of assessment. This includes some collaborative group work.
The study materials contain a considerable number of diagrams, charts and images. Understanding and interpreting these is an important part of your learning on this module. Figure descriptions are provided for all figures.
Throughout the module you will be required to search for, and make use of online, academic research papers. You will be taught how to search for relevant papers using the library resources, as well as how to best understand and apply the research that is described in the paper.
This module has tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) and an end-of-module assessment (EMA).
You will receive feedback from your tutor on your submitted Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs). This will help you to reflect on your TMA performance. You should refer to it to help you prepare for your next assignment.
All University modules are structured according to a set timetable and you will need time-management skills to keep your studies on track. You will be supported in developing these skills.
The module materials and assessment ask you to use the statistical software package, SPSS. You will be able to access this software at the start of the module and will be fully supported in using it.
Investigating psychology 2 (DE200) is part of a degree qualification that is validated by the British Psychological Society. See the BPS website for more information.
Investigating psychology 2 starts twice a year – in February and October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2025 and February 2026. We expect it to start for the last time in February 2027.
This course is expected to start for the last time in February 2027.
This is one of the core modules in our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degrees in psychology.