Module Code:

PS903

Module Name:

Communication, Dissemination and Professional Issues

Module Credits (CATS):

10 (ESRC-only), 15

Module Convener

Elizabeth Maylor

Module Teachers

Elizabeth Maylor

Module Aims

It is important for postgraduate students embarking on a research career both within and beyond academia to receive training in communicating and disseminating their research findings to different audiences. Media awareness is a particularly important component of this training in view of the recent emphasis on the public understanding of science. One aim of this course is therefore to provide general transferable skills in oral, visual, and written presentation. A further aim is to offer guidance to those intending to pursue an academic career in teaching and research in psychology, covering the funding, management, and exploitation of research, and general issues surrounding career development.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Present their work at conferences in poster/spoken format
  
  
• Communicate their work to a wider audience
  
  
• Write about their work in different formats
  
  
• Review the work of others
  
  
• Begin to plan, manage and develop their future research career

Assessed by:

• Poster and oral presentations
  
  
• Poster presentation or abstract assignment (10 CAT-only)
• Abstract assignment (15 CAT-only)
  
  
• Poster presentation

Module Work Load

Module Length

9 weeks

Lectures

8 lectures of 2 hours each

Seminars

2 seminars of 2 hours each

Attendance

Attendance at lectures and seminars is compulsory

Module Assessment - 10 CAT version (ESRC-only)

Assessed work:

Oral presentation

Poster presentation OR abstract assignment

Weighting:

50%

50%

Module Assessment - 15 CAT version

Assessed work:

Oral presentation

Poster presentation

Abstract assignment

Weighting:

34%

33%

33%

Module Programme

Topics covered on the course will likely include:

• Conference presentations I: Posters
• Conference presentations II: Talks
• Publishing I: Writing for books and journals
• Publishing II: Abstract writing workshop
• Publishing III: Reviewing and editing others’ work
• Communicating with the media (Press Office Team)
• Writing grant proposals
• Exploiting research (Warwick Ventures Team)
• Student presentations

Module Reading List

• American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Beins, B. C., & Beins, A. M. (2008). Effective writing in psychology: Papers, posters, and presentations. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

• Darley, J. M., Zanna, M. P., & Roediger III, H. L. (Eds.) (2004). The compleat academic: A career guide (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Feldman, D. B., & Silvia, P. J. (2010). Public speaking for psychologists: A lighthearted guide to research presentations, job talks, and other opportunities to embarrass yourself. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Silvia, P. J. (2015). Write it up: Practical strategies for writing and publishing journal articles. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Sternberg, R. J. (Editor) (2000). Guide to publishing in psychology journals. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

• Sternberg, R. J. (2003). The psychologist’s companion: A guide to scientific writing for students and researchers (4th ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

• Sternberg, R. J. (2017). Psychology 101 1/2: The unspoken rules for success in academia (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.