Curriculum

AQA GCSE Psychology aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Use specialist vocabulary, psychological concepts, terminology and convention to engage in the process of psychological enquiry.

• Acquire knowledge and understanding of psychology, developing an understanding of self and others, and how psychological understanding can help to explain everyday social phenomena.

• Understand how psychological research is conducted, including the role of scientific method and data analysis.

• Present information, develop arguments and draw conclusions through a critical approach to psychological evidence; developing as reflective thinkers.

• Develop an understanding of the relationship between psychology and personal, moral, social and cultural issues, and develop an understanding of ethical issues in psychology.

• Develop an understanding of psychological issues, the contribution of psychology to individual, social and cultural diversity, and how psychology contributes to society.

Psychology GCSE is an opportunity for Moorside students to learn about key concepts, theories and research studies in modern psychology.  Psychology is an excellent opportunity for students to improve their knowledge of themselves and others around them. It focuses on encouraging students to investigate the similarities and differences between humans and their behaviours, as well as identifying the root causes and motivations for these.  This can lead to and facilitate smoother interpersonal interactions and thus support the development of the child.  This is one feature that makes the subject a popular choice among students and their future employers. 

During the psychology GCSE, students will acquire a range of skills. The course has an emphasis on learning, and correctly using, key psychology terminology. Students will learn how to plan and carry out their own psychology research. They will also learn how to describe well known psychology studies. In conjunction with this, they will become familiar with existing criticisms of studies and theories – both positive and negative. Additionally, students will have opportunities to apply their knowledge to explain everyday psychological phenomena. Finally, they will begin to develop their own critical thinking skills in psychology.  As with all subjects, home study is essential. All students will be provided with a paper homework booklet for each of the eight topics, and they will have free online access to the psychology textbook. As part of the course, students will also be coached on the use of flashcards, time management and memorising the information they will need for their exams.