LO1 Discuss key theories and concepts in social psychology.

2026-11-09 14:02:43

BSc (Hons) Applied Business Psychology with Integrated Foundation Year

Social Psychology Module

ASSESSMENT GUIDE 

2026

Assessment Guide

 Module Code and Name

 Social Psychology - ABP4100

Cohort

October 2025

 

 Level

 4

 Assessment component(s)

 Reflective Journal

 Restrictions on time/word count

 2500 words

 Individual/group

 Individual

 Assessment weighting(s)

 100%

Hand in date(s)

16th of November 2026

 

 

 

Assessment Component(s) - Summary 

As part of the formal assessment for the programme, you are required to complete a reflective journal. You will reflect and add entries to this journal starting from week one session two to week four session two of the module. It is recommended that you write your journal entries as soon as you observe something relevant so that you do not forget. These notes will form the basis of your final reflective journal, which you will submit as one structured assignment using the format below.

Assessment overview

 Instructions for writing your reflective journal.

The reflective journal should be structured using the following sections:

  • · Introduction
  • · Body
  • · Conclusion

The journal should draw upon your own observations of everyday interactions, behaviours, and attitudes. Use the first person when reflecting on what you observed and experienced (for example, your reactions, interpretations, and what you learned), but write the discussion of social psychological theories and concepts in the third person, in a formal academic register.Throughout the assignment, you should make clear links between your observations and relevant social psychological theories and concepts. When you have made your observations, you should use relevant social psychological theories and concepts to explain the behaviours, attitudes, and social interactions you have observed. Your aim should be for the reflection to support and develop your theoretical discussion, rather than simply describe what happened.

You are required to discuss a minimum of two social psychological theories or concepts within your journal. These may be applied across the different sections, and you are not required to use a different theory in each section. Each theory or concept should be supported by relevant academic literature. In addition, you should engage with at least three further academic sources (e.g., empirical studies, review articles, or meta-analyses) that have tested, applied, or discussed the theories or concepts you are exploring. This means that your journal should include a minimum of five academic sources.

Theories and concepts may be applied across multiple sections of the journal where appropriate. You may also introduce additional theories or concepts if they help to explain your observations and reflections. Higher grades will typically demonstrate wider engagement with relevant peer-reviewed literature, including original theoretical sources.

Introduction (approx. 200-250 words).

In your introduction:

  • · Briefly explain what social psychology is.
  • · Provide a brief overview of the observations and experiences that will be explored in the journal.
  • Briefly identify the social psychological theories or concepts that will be applied throughout the journal.

Body

Section 1: Everyday Interactions: Concepts and Social Psychological Theories in Action (LO-1) (600 words)

Describe a real-life interaction or situation where you observed social psychological processes in action. This section may consider observations relating to concepts such as social cognition, social identity, self-concept, attribution, cognitive dissonance, or other relevant social psychological theories or concepts. Apply a minimum of two social psychological theories or concepts in your discussion.  

Observation and Analysis (approximately 300 words)

  • · Describe the situation or interaction you experienced or observed.
  • · Identify the behaviours, thoughts, attitudes, or social processes that were evident.
  • · Apply two relevant social psychological theories or concepts to explain what you observed.
  • · Support your explanation with relevant academic literature, including research studies that have tested, applied, or discussed the theories or concepts you have selected.

Reflection (approximately 300 words)

Reflect on the interaction by considering the following:

  • · Why do you think people behaved in this way?
  • · How did the theories or concepts help you understand the interaction more deeply?
  • · Did the theories fully explain the interaction, or are there alternative explanations that could also account for what you observed?
  • · What did you learn about everyday social behaviour from analysing this interaction?
  • · Support your reflection with relevant academic literature, including research studies that have tested, applied, or discussed the theories or concepts you have selected.

Section 2: Social Influence on Behaviour (LO-2) (800 words)

Using the same or a different situation, identify the social influences that affected behaviour. Examples include conformity, compliance, obedience, identification, group influence

Observation and Analysis (400 words):

  • · Describe the behaviour observed.
  • · Identify the social influences evident in the situation (e.g., conformity, compliance, obedience, identification, group influence).
  • · Apply one or more relevant social psychological theories or concepts to explain the behaviour.
  • · Support your explanation and reflection with relevant academic literature, including empirical studies, review papers, or other peer-reviewed sources

Reflection (400 words):

  • · How did reflection on the social context help deepen your understanding of the behaviour?
  • · How did the social context influence behaviour?
  • · Did the theory fully explain the behaviour, or are alternative explanations possible?
  • · What did this observation teach you about social influence in everyday life?
  • · Support your reflection with relevant academic literature, including research studies that have tested, applied, or discussed the theories or concepts you have selected.

Section 3: Attitudes in Action (LO-3) (600 words)

Identify a situation where you observed positive or negative attitudes

Observation and Analysis (300 words):

  • · Describe the situation.
  • · Identify the attitudes observed.
  • · Explain how those attitudes were expressed.
  • · Apply relevant social psychological theory and supporting academic literature, including empirical studies, review papers, or other peer-reviewed sources, to explain the attitudes observed.

Reflection (300 words):

  • · What factors may have influenced these attitudes?
  • · How were they formed?
  • · Did they change over time?
  • · Which factors were most influential and why?
  • · Support your reflection with relevant academic literature, including research studies that have tested, applied, or discussed the theories or concepts you have selected.

Conclusion (200-250 words)

  • o Summarise the key arguments/points addressed by your reflective journal.
  • o End with a strong statement about the importance of social psychology in understanding everyday behaviour and attitudes.

Assessment criteria/marking rubrics

Learning Outcomes 

This assessment will enable you to demonstrate in full or in part the following learning outcomes as identified in the module descriptor: 

LO1 Discuss key theories and concepts in social psychology.

LO2 Explain the influence of social contexts on individual behaviour

LO3 Outline the role of social factors in attitude formation and change.

Referencing Requirements 

Provide a complete list of all sources cited in your assignment, formatted according to APA 7th edition guidelines. Ensure that all references are accurate and consistent. A minimum of one reference is expected per paragraph but a demonstration of wider reading is recommended, with a significant proportion from peer-reviewed journal articles and books.

APA Style

Word Count or Timing Limits 

BSU Assessment & Feedback Policy states that word counts, and timing limits have a +10% margin for tolerance. If you submit work that exceeds this limit, no further content will be marked, hence you may be disadvantaged for failing to be concise and/or concluding your work within the limit specified. 

There is no additional penalty be applied for work submitted below the word count, but you should be aware there is a high risk you will not meet the assessment criteria if your assessment submission is significantly below the word count. 

The word count refers to everything in the main body of the text, including headings, tables, figures, in-text citations, quotes, lists etc. Items not included in the word count are titles, contents pages, executive summaries or abstracts, appendices, bibliographies or reference lists. 

Guidance for Online Submission Through Moodle 

All assessments should be submitted to the module Moodle site (Assessments tab) by no later than 23:59 on the designated submission date. Proofread your work to correct any grammatical or spelling errors. For guidance on how to upload your work to Moodle, please see: 

https://moodle.globalbanking.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=55314&redirect=1 

Late Submissions 

If you miss a coursework deadline (unless you have arranged an approved extension), the following penalties will apply:  

  • · Work handed in after the deadline, but before the cut-off date (usually one week later), will be given a maximum score of 40 (pass mark).
  • · Work handed in after the cut-off date will be marked zero (fail). 

How to Arrange an Extension 

Request an extension using the extension form on the module page, or use the following link to request an extension:

 https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LpxU6C4NYEWVkTGGdV_Fh3oUojoaGKZGqi0cVVPYek5UNEUzQkNYVUI3WlpTOTNCTlU0MTZLME5HVS4u

Ensure the extension is requested in advance of the coursework deadline. You should provide a valid reason for requesting an extension, e.g. illness, and you must support your claim with evidence.

The normal extension period is a week; anything more than a week must be applied for and approved by BSU as Exceptional Circumstances (see section below). 

Exceptional Circumstances 

https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/media/bathspaacuk/about-us/policies/academic-and-student/Exceptional-Circumstances-Policy.pdf 

Academic Misconduct 

Academic Integrity is essential for the successful completion of your studies. 

If you do not understand how to properly paraphrase from appropriate sources and correctly reference your work, you risk accidentally committing academic misconduct, such as plagiarism, collusion or cheating. This may result in you failing an assignment or a module. Repeated academic misconduct can lead to more serious consequences. 

All student work submitted at GBS is thoroughly checked by anti-plagiarism software to ensure it is your own work and not the work of someone else. Our anti-plagiarism software will compare your work to a wide variety of sources including websites, e-books, student assessments from across the world, journal articles and many more. 

If your work is suspected of academic misconduct, you may be invited to an interview to explain how you undertook the assessment and to check your understanding of the topic area(s). If you are unable to adequately explain the above, your work will be sent to a BSU Academic Misconduct Panel for appropriate penalties to be applied.

Academic Misconduct & Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) 

Random Viva Sampling 

Bath Spa University (BSU) and GBS use a variety of means to identify potential academic misconduct in alignment with BSU’s Academic Misconduct Policy. 

To better ensure the academic integrity of all student work submitted for assessment, GBS staff randomly undertake a series of viva voce interviews (oral interviews) with a sample of students across modules covering all levels of a course.

The viva voce will be conducted by two representatives from the academic team and will require students to defend their work by demonstrating that each assignment submitted for assessment is their own original work.

If you are selected to take part in this compulsory process, you will be notified in writing a minimum of 7 calendar days before the date of the viva voce. You will also be provided with guidance on how to prepare for the viva voce effectively.

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact your relevant SST. 

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