Evolutionary Psychology

You will benefit from the expertise of our leading researchers in evolutionary psychology, who have particular interests in cultural evolution and language, social learning, and mate choice.  Our staff are also at the forefront of new developments in applying evolutionary principles to address real world issue.  Students interested in comparative approaches and animal behaviour will benefit from other members of our Behaviour and Evolution Research Group whose world-leading research on behaviour and cognition in primates, dogs and elephants are also being applied to real world problems, including conservation, human-animal interaction, and animal welfare.  Under the group's expert guidance you will undertake specialists modules, a research placement and a research project.  You will also be able to take advantage of our on-site and overseas labs, field sites and links with industrial partners.  For example, the University works closely with the Living Links to Human Evolution Research Centre at Edinburgh Zoo.

Course objectives

The course provides advanced training as a preparation for a research career in Psychology, primarily for those intending to proceed to a PhD in the area of evolutionary psychology, comparative cognition or animal behaviour. It may also be suitable for meeting continuing professional development needs for those working in related applied contexts.

Entrance requirements

First or upper second class Honours degree in Psychology or a related discipline.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your  proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill), or  TOEFL: Listening 23, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 23.

Funding

There are typically five £1,000 bursaries to contribute towards fees or maintenance costs for students beginning a taught MSc course. All students, including international students, formally accepted onto the MSc course are eligible to apply for these awards. Awards will be decided on both previous experience and academic record but preference will be given to applicants intending to stay at Stirling to pursue a PhD following the MSc course.

Information on other possible sources of funding

Modes of study

Full-time:
MSc: one year; Diploma: nine months

Part-time:
MSc: two years; Diploma: 18 months

Course start date

September

Structure and content

The course consists of a number of different modules designed to provide training in the fundamentals of research methods. They emphasise different types of skills, from explicit hands-on demonstrations of tools, to discussion of different approaches to research. Students may select some alternative modules from the other taught MSc courses at the discretion of the Programme Coordinator.

This course includes the following modules:

• Evolutionary Psychology: A series of seminars will address both theoretical and practical issues relating to the study of evolution and behaviour across topics and research settings. Students will also be expected to participate in our weekly Behaviour and Evolution Research Group meetings, in which they will hear about the current work of staff, other graduate students and also regular presentations from external speakers
• Psychological Research Methods I and II: These modules cover a wide range of techniques used in psychological research and to demonstrate these techniques in relation to topics in a range of areas
• Advanced Statistics: This module assumes a reasonable knowledge of statistics, although an additional introductory module is available for those who wish. The main statistics teaching is aimed at introducing advanced methods such as multivariate statistics and at the rationale of using statistical methods
• Key Skills for Psychology Researchers: This module focuses on the research process, including ethical reviews, professional conduct and disseminating research
• Qualitative Research Methods: This module provides a broad but solid grounding in qualitative research methodology

Research Placement

This month-long placement is carried out in January/February, allowing students to broaden their practical research experience. The placement may be external to Psychology and can be in a non-academic environment

Dissertation

For those who go onto the MSc, approximately half of your time is devoted to a research project, leading to a 12,000-word dissertation.

Delivery and assessment

Teaching is delivered using a variety of methods including tutorials, demonstrations and practical classes, but the majority is seminar-based. Students are typically taught within small groups in specialist classes, with first-year PhD students or other postgraduate students (for example, in modules from other MSc programmes).

Both taught and research postgraduates are integral to our research group and expected to participate in our regular meetings. All students allocated a peer mentor are provided with appropriate office space and equipment. In addition, each student is associated with an academic from Psychology.

The individual modules contribute towards 60 percent of the MSc grade, with the research dissertation contributing the remaining 40 percent.

Course Director

Professor Phyllis Lee

RAE rating

70 percent of research in Psychology at Stirling was recognised as being of a quality that is internationally recognised in terms of originality, significance and rigour in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Our students

Career opportunities

This course provides advanced training to prepare you for a research career in evolutionary approaches to behaviour, especially for those intending to proceed to a PhD.  You will become an integral member of our lively and active research group and we will support you in making the complex transition towards being an independent research scientist.  The placement also allows considerable scope for those interested in more applied areas to develop relevant skills for these careers.  The course also seeks to meet the continuing professional development needs of those already working in related applied contexts.