2nd Year Psychology

opia1970

Hey,

Im going into my second year of psychology and I am really looking forward to it.
Is there anyone who has completed the degree in Maynooth that could tell me what to expect in 2nd year? What are the modules like? I hear we partake in a lot of experiments. I found the first year really interesting so would just like some insight into what second year entails.

Thanks

:D

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opia1970 wrote: »

Hey,

Im going into my second year of psychology and I am really looking forward to it.
Is there anyone who has completed the degree in Maynooth that could tell me what to expect in 2nd year? What are the modules like? I hear we partake in a lot of experiments. I found the first year really interesting so would just like some insight into what second year entails.

Thanks

:D

Hey there Opia! Congratulations, I remember you were waiting on notification that you had gotten your place in the Psych programme for 2nd year!

I too am going into 2nd year and I must say, the crowd of us who were in the MH106 stream in 1st year are all pretty good craic! We were in discussion of creating our 2nd year Psychology group on FB tonight so if you want an add feel free to PM me!

In terms of the course, the module outlines on nuim.ie/courses give a pretty good indication of what's in store! It seems a lot more Scientifically based which I think is great! Biological Basis of Behaviour especially sounds terrific!

PictureFrame

https://www.facebook.com/groups/169017289953552/?fref=ts

this is the group yourself and any of the other 2nd year psychology students are free to join! Us in MH106 last year used this and it was a great help with regards essays/exams/mcq's!

Sanity_Saviour

opia1970 wrote: »

Hey,

Im going into my second year of psychology and I am really looking forward to it.
Is there anyone who has completed the degree in Maynooth that could tell me what to expect in 2nd year? What are the modules like? I hear we partake in a lot of experiments. I found the first year really interesting so would just like some insight into what second year entails.

Thanks

:D

Hey Opia, congrats for getting into 2nd year Psychology anyway.

Just to warn you, this year is by far the hardest of your degree. There is an assignment every 2 weeks, and the exams (though you only have 3 the first semester, and 2 the second semester) require a lot of preparation. There's 2 assignments per module (PS202 has 3), one Practical Report and one Essay.

The modules are really interesting though, Biological Basis of Behaviour goes into a lot more detail than you learnt in first year. Perception and Memory is hard going, but once you've done some outside reading, it will all make sense. Oh and PS203 has probably the best lecturer in the world, Dermot!

The only thing to be wary about is PS206, Statistics. There are a lot of assignments using the SPSS software with a test on Christmas day. IT's easy once you get the hang of it though!

Apart from that though, it's such an interesting year, if you are driven you'll do really well!

PictureFrame

Sanity_Saviour wrote: »

Hey Opia, congrats for getting into 2nd year Psychology anyway.

Just to warn you, this year is by far the hardest of your degree. There is an assignment every 2 weeks, and the exams (though you only have 3 the first semester, and 2 the second semester) require a lot of preparation. There's 2 assignments per module (PS202 has 3), one Practical Report and one Essay.

The modules are really interesting though, Biological Basis of Behaviour goes into a lot more detail than you learnt in first year. Perception and Memory is hard going, but once you've done some outside reading, it will all make sense. Oh and PS203 has probably the best lecturer in the world, Dermot!

The only thing to be wary about is PS206, Statistics. There are a lot of assignments using the SPSS software with a test on Christmas day. IT's easy once you get the hang of it though!

Apart from that though, it's such an interesting year, if you are driven you'll do really well!

Thanks for that! Do you mind me asking how many hours you have per week in semester 1? Between labs and everything? I can't seem to find that info anywhere!

murphyyy

Hey I got into second year as well and I'm super excited! Does anyone know when we are supposed to register?

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murphyyy wrote: »

Hey I got into second year as well and I'm super excited! Does anyone know when we are supposed to register?

Congrats murphyyy! Feel free to join our Group FB page for all the Psych goss!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/169017289953552/?fref=ts

Sanity_Saviour

PictureFrame wrote: »

Thanks for that! Do you mind me asking how many hours you have per week in semester 1? Between labs and everything? I can't seem to find that info anywhere!

First semester it's usually around 18, second semester it's 12 That includes lectures, practical classes, tutorials, SPSS labs and practical review sessions.

PictureFrame

Sanity_Saviour wrote: »

First semester it's usually around 18, second semester it's 12 That includes lectures, practical classes, tutorials, SPSS labs and practical review sessions.

Thanks very much! That's a great help! Did you find the year tough or manageable enough?

Sanity_Saviour

PictureFrame wrote: »

Thanks very much! That's a great help! Did you find the year tough or manageable enough?

It's very hard going to begin with, as they throw you in at the deep end assignment-wise. Once you really immerse yourself in the course though, it's really good because you're actively trying to study outside the lecture material.

But it's a great course, I'm so glad I did it. I hope you have a good year!

(Oh and one last thing, be prepared to miss out on nearly all SU events, as Psychology tests and assignments are strategically placed to get in the way of everything )

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Sanity_Saviour wrote: »

It's very hard going to begin with, as they throw you in at the deep end assignment-wise. Once you really immerse yourself in the course though, it's really good because you're actively trying to study outside the lecture material.

But it's a great course, I'm so glad I did it. I hope you have a good year!

(Oh and one last thing, be prepared to miss out on nearly all SU events, as Psychology tests and assignments are strategically placed to get in the way of everything )

Looking forward to it anyway! That's great! Once the SPSS isn't too hard I should be ok! Hopefully!

murphyyy

PictureFrame wrote: »

Congrats murphyyy! Feel free to join our Group FB page for all the Psych goss!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/169017289953552/?fref=ts

thanks! I joined it! looking forward to the new year. anyone here live on campus?

opia1970

Hey guys! I havent checked this in a while. Thanks for all your responses! Ye are a helpful bunch!! I had a look on the moodle page for Psychology and there is a second year handbook there also which I found good. I cant say Im looking forward to a 2,000 word essay every two weeks but will be worth is in the end I suppose

What sort of topics will the essays be on? Are the essays for PS201, 202 or which module?

Cheers!

PictureFrame

opia1970 wrote: »

Hey guys! I havent checked this in a while. Thanks for all your responses! Ye are a helpful bunch!! I had a look on the moodle page for Psychology and there is a second year handbook there also which I found good. I cant say Im looking forward to a 2,000 word essay every two weeks but will be worth is in the end I suppose

What sort of topics will the essays be on? Are the essays for PS201, 202 or which module?

Cheers!

Hey Opia could you link me where you found the handbook? I'm mad to have a look and I can't find it anywhere!

opia1970

I cant send a link because its on my moodle so you wont be able to see it, but if you log into moodle and then click onto Psychology Undergraduates 12-13 the link for the handbook is there!

RiverSong

Wait until you get to the 5000 word assignments! Second year is really interesting, way better than first, but you'd better be prepared for a pile of work!

opia1970

5000 every second week? Is that for 3rd year?

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opia1970 wrote: »

5000 every second week? Is that for 3rd year?

As far as I am aware, this is our workload for Semester 1 of 2nd year:

• 2 x 2,500 word practical reports to get us use to the format and all (Practical 1A & 1B)
• 3 x 3,000 word essays, one for each module
• 2 x 5,000 word practical reports

So we'll have one of these due every 2nd week! And the last 3 weeks of term we'll have one a week. Aswell as this we'll have study for the 3 x 3 hour exams in January and assignments for the Statistics and Computers Applications for Psychology module!

So it's going to be a tough year of work, but after a verryyyyyyyy laid back first year of Psych, English and Sociology, i'm ready for a good bit of work in all fairness!

Liz Mc Keever

Hi all

I am looking for some advise as i am a newbie this year I really want to study Psychology as part of my degree however I have heard a few horror stories about the maths in first year. Now i am ok with maths in general but when it comes to e.g. xy x p = z I have a problem:):):) So this is my question - will I have enough time to join the maths groups and learn all i need to know about equations/fractions etc or does the course introduce such maths from the very beginning???
Thanks to all in advance

Alt_Grrr

Liz Mc Keever wrote: »

Hi all

I am looking for some advise as i am a newbie this year I really want to study Psychology as part of my degree however I have heard a few horror stories about the maths in first year. Now i am ok with maths in general but when it comes to e.g. xy x p = z I have a problem:):):) So this is my question - will I have enough time to join the maths groups and learn all i need to know about equations/fractions etc or does the course introduce such maths from the very beginning???
Thanks to all in advance

What course are you taking, if your doing Psychology through science, then you might struggle.

There is of course the Maths Support Centre and its there to help.

PictureFrame

Liz Mc Keever wrote: »

Hi all

I am looking for some advise as i am a newbie this year I really want to study Psychology as part of my degree however I have heard a few horror stories about the maths in first year. Now i am ok with maths in general but when it comes to e.g. xy x p = z I have a problem:):):) So this is my question - will I have enough time to join the maths groups and learn all i need to know about equations/fractions etc or does the course introduce such maths from the very beginning???
Thanks to all in advance

PS104: research design and statistics is the "maths" module you will be taking in the first year BA programme. I started the course late, as I transferred course towards the end of October and to be honest, the maths element isn't at all difficult. The lectures may be slightly confusing, but the lecturer is fantastic and very willing to help. Really there are only 2 separate calculations you need to be able to do, an independent and a dependent t-test. Honestly, they're not difficult and they circle around being able to manipulate two formulas that are given to you on the exam paper. Once you jeep on top of your materials and practise your t-tests regularly it honestly doing be an issue so don't let that defer you from doing the course!

I'm going into 2nd year of the psychology course so if you need any other advice for first year give me a pm, I'll be more than happy to help!

**btw I wasn't any great shakes at maths, I did OL for the leaving and got a B1 and was well able! You'll be grand! PS104 ended up being by 2nd highest result for the year (1:1)

Liz Mc Keever

What course are you taking, if your doing Psychology through science, then you might struggle.

There is of course the Maths Support Centre and its there to help.

I am taking MH101 with Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology

Liz Mc Keever

Really there are only 2 separate calculations you need to be able to do, an independent and a dependent t-test. Honestly, they're not difficult and they circle around being able to manipulate two formulas that are given to you on the exam paper.

Thanks for that PictureFrame I think i have found my new best friend hahaha It is a long time since i sat my Leaving Cert so formulas are a thing of the past for me.... I suppose my next question is 'will the lecturer expect me to understand what he/she is taking about or will he/she explain what the above means? :D

opia1970

Liz Mc Keever wrote: »

Hi all

I am looking for some advise as i am a newbie this year I really want to study Psychology as part of my degree however I have heard a few horror stories about the maths in first year. Now i am ok with maths in general but when it comes to e.g. xy x p = z I have a problem:):):) So this is my question - will I have enough time to join the maths groups and learn all i need to know about equations/fractions etc or does the course introduce such maths from the very beginning???
Thanks to all in advance

Its statistics. I cannot speak for 2nd year yet, Im only going into it. In first year there is 2 main calculations you need to know and they dont involve algebra or any sort of 'difficult' maths. The exam paper consists of a t-test and the rest involves theory of certain statistical applications. The lecturer is really helpful and does go over the calculations lots to make sure everyone has the hang of it. i managed to get a 1st in my stats by just keeping up with the work. If you go to all your lectures and keep up with the calculations you will do good in the module.

Alt_Grrr

Liz Mc Keever wrote: »

formulas are a thing of the past for me....

You might want to brush up on the basics so if you've been out of it that long.
Its important to remember that mathematics is a part of all sciences and you should at least be able to follow it.