Why study Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. Psychology is a research-based subject, and provides the opportunity to conduct practical research. This includes working with human participants in accordance with ethical standards.

This course develops your ability to analyse psychological explanations for individual and social behaviour. You will learn about some of the ways that thoughts and emotions can affect how we feel and behave.

Knowledge of human behaviour is a useful subject for your personal development as well as being relevant to many career paths, including education, medicine and law.

Career Pathways

To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:

Administration and Management

Arts, Social Sciences and Languages

Communications and Media

Health and Medicine

Law

Social, Caring and Advisory Services

Sport

Uniformed and Security Services

What do I need to get in?

Entry is at the discretion of the school or college but you would normally have achieved one of the following:

•  a social studies or social sciences course at SCQF Level 4 
• National 4 Biology
• National 4 People and Society

What will I study?

Psychology is a research based subject that develops your thinking, reasoning, numeracy and communication skills. You will learn about the research process and how to use psychological approaches, concepts, theories and evidence to describe and explain human behaviour. You will learn about ethical and scientific standards in psychological research.

The course comprises three areas of study.

Research

You will:

• learn about the research process, research methods and ethics used in psychology
• explore the factors to consider when planning and carrying out psychological research
• develop your numerical skills and an understanding of psychological terminology.

Individual Behaviour

You will:

• use psychology to explain individual behaviour
• investigate topics using psychological approaches and theories
• consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches and theories investigated.

Social Behaviour

You will:

• explain how interaction with others shapes social behaviour
• investigate social psychological topics, and use relevant concepts and research evidence to explain how the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of individuals are developed through interaction with others and within the social environment
• use psychological knowledge and understanding to explain everyday examples of behaviour. 

How will I be assessed?

Course Assessment

The course assessment has two components totalling 100 marks:

• Component 1: question paper – worth 70 marks
• Component 2: assignment – worth 30 marks.

For the assignment component, you will produce a report on your investigation of a topic in psychology and a research plan for further research on this topic. Your assignment will be set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The question paper will be set and externally marked by SQA.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across all course assessment components.

The course assessment is graded A-D.

Study Materials

• SQA Past Papers Psychology National 5
• SQA Specimen Paper Psychology National 5
• SQA Understanding Standards Psychology
• UShare Study Resources

What can I go on to next?

If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:

• Higher Psychology

Further study, training or employment in:

• Administration and Management
• Arts, Social Sciences and Languages
• Communications and Media
• Health and Medicine
• Law
• Social, Caring and Advisory Services
• Sport
• Uniformed and Security Services

Which jobs are related to this subject?

• Psychology - Related Careers