Postgraduate Module Descriptor


ERPM007Z: Personality and Individual Differences

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary over time, it is envisaged that the syllabus will consider a range of issues that relate to the current and historical study of personality and individual differences, drawing on theory, assessment of personality and empirical research. The syllabus will likely include:

  • A general introduction to personality and individual differences
  • Psychoanalytic theory
  • Personality trait theory
  • Personality type theory
  • The person-situation debate
  • Biological and evolutionary approaches
  • Personality and intelligence tests; reliability and validity of such measures
  • Behaviourist, social learning and cognitive approaches
  • Humanistic approaches
  • Intelligence
  • Personality disorders
  • Individual differences and psychosis

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
271230

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching27Engagement online with taught content
Guided Independent Learning27Reading (textbooks, journal articles, web resources and lecture slides) in preparation for online taught content
Guided Independent Learning60Work on assessments
Guided Independent Learning9Collation and review of class materials
Guided Independent Learning27Undertaking additional class tasks and activities (e.g. on ELE) and preparing for online taught content.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Poster presentation750 words equivalent2-3,6,8Written comments

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written essay452000 wordsAllWritten feedback and grade
Written essay452000 wordsAllWritten feedback and grade
Engagement log10500 words8 -10Written feedback and grade

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Written essay (2000 words)Written essay (2000 words)AllRef/def period
Written essay (2000 words)Written essay (2000 words)AllRef/def period
Engagement logEngagement log8-10Ref/def period

Re-assessment notes

Three assessments are required for this module. Where you have been referred/deferred in the assessments you will be required to resubmit them. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%; deferred marks are not capped.