SHIRBURNIAN SENIOR SCHOOL
SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY In the first half of the academic year, Year 10 psychology & sociology and 12 psychology pupils really got to grips with their new subjects at GCSE and AS Level. Year 10 psychology pupils were introduced to many theorists such as Dweck, Willingham, Gunderson and Piaget. They explored the importance of upholding ethics by forming an ethics committee and made recommendations on Johnson’s ‘Monster’ study and Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment. The Year 10 sociology pupils have learnt about culture, identity and socialisation, theory and methods, and they are now studying crime and deviance. They have also been introduced to many sociologists such as Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx and Talcott Parsons. Pupils have turned their hand to presenting the main methods used in sociological research. Year 12 psychology pupils have studied research methods and twelve core studies including Milgram, Canli et al, Andrade and Saavedra & Silverman. They have also created their own research projects and replicated Andrade’s doodling study. It really was a case of picking up where we left off with Year 11 psychology and sociology. Pupils have been so resilient they have dealt with the challenges posed remarkably well. The Year 11 psychology class completed the topics of social influence, criminal psychology and language, thought and communication. They replicated Yuki et al’s experiment to family and friends which posed the question “Are the windows to the soul the same in the East and West?” The Year 11 sociology class completed their syllabus and wrapped up the units of social inequality, education and crime, deviance and social control. The second half of the academic year has brought some challenges with remote learning, however pupils have continued to amaze me with their resilience, creativity and hard work ethic. Going forward, the next academic year will see A-Level psychology and AS-Level sociology being introduced. All-in-all it has been a very successful and enjoyable second year for the psychology and sociology department. Nuala Reid Sociology & Psychology Teacher
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