Psychology of Faces

The University has a long history of face research. Our internationally renowned team of experts study almost all aspects of face perception, including low level visual processing, adaptation, gaze perception, social perception such as mate preference and attractiveness, mechanisms of recognition and forensic aspects such as unfamiliar face matching and eye witness recovery of memories for faces. This research has led to EvoFIT, a unique system for constructing facial composites of offenders by witnesses and victims of crime, which has a suspect identification rate ten times higher than traditional methods used by police.  You will become part of this vibrant research community as you study the key research methods related to face research and will put your learning into practice during a month-long placement.

Course objectives

This course aims to facilitate understanding of this diverse subject, whilst allowing students to focus the majority of their efforts in face research, an area for which Psychology at Stirling has long been internationally renowned.

Entrance requirements

Consideration is given to candidates with a first or second class single or joint Honours degree in Psychology (or a closely related subject).

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 Diploma: two semesters; MSc: 12 months
Part-time Diploma: four semesters; MSc: 24 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 hand-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 Course Coordinator.

This course includes the following modules:

• Psychology of Faces: A series of seminars will address both theoretical and practical issues relating to the study of the face, including face perception, face recognition and the role of emotional expressions and gaze in face processing. Students will also be expected to participate in regular research group meetings, in which they will hear about the current work of staff and other graduate students
• 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 courses).

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.

Part-time students take the same modules spread over two years.

Course Director

Professor Peter Hancock

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

The course provides advanced training for a career involving face research. It is intended primarily for students who already have a degree in psychology or an allied discipline who intend to proceed to a PhD in this field.