BIRKBECK, University of London, FACULTY OF LIFELONG LEARNING
Module/
Occurrence Code:
FFPS122H4BLB
Subject Area:
Psychology
Module Title:
Communication Skills: Working with Others
Award Designation: Applied Psychology (Certificate of Higher Education)
Applied Psychology – Education (Certificate of Higher Education)
Applied Psychology – Occupational (Certificate of Higher Education)
Health and Psychology (Certificate of Higher Education)
Institution:
Kensington and Chelsea AEC
Marlborough Centre SW3
First Meeting:
Wednesday 7th January 2009, 7pm - 9pm
No of Meetings:
11 meeting(s)
Class Dates:
07/01/09 – 25/03/09 (Half Term – 18/02/09)
Class Taught by:
Lecturer to be announced
AIM
To explore the nature of interpersonal communication, and the principles underlying
effective communication.
OBJECTIVES
 Enable students to consolidate learning by participating in activities and submitting
coursework for assessment.
 Develop study, library and research skills including effective oral and written skills.
 Develop a critical understanding of a range of approaches to communication theory and
practice, and their application to professional and personal communication.
 Enable students to appreciate a range of core concepts and models of communication
theory
 Encourage a practical, enquiring, and analytical approach, self confidence in independent
thinking, critical self awareness and self evaluation.
 Explore, as appropriate, the implications of equalities issues such as class, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, age and disability.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course students will be able to:






Discuss the components of the communication process, including listening and
perception.
Understand and evaluate the similarities and differences between verbal and
non-verbal communication .
Describe and evaluate the research methods used in the study of interpersonal
communication.
Assess the different factors that influence the effectiveness of communication.
Identify the role of communication in managing relationships, conflict and
negotiation.
Demonstrate an appropriate awareness of cultural considerations in the
evaluation of theory and research.




Think critically about the subjects covered.
Present your own ideas about issues addressed on the course.
Discuss and implement a range of strategies to support your learning.
Successfully plan and write essays or other assignments which have been set to
support your learning on this course.
COURSE CONTENT
The course will cover the following topics:








Definitions and models of inter-personal communication
Listening: types of listening and barriers to listening
Verbal and non-verbal communication processes
Processes of perception and person-perception
Self-presentation and self-disclosure
Communication in groups and group dynamics
Communication in relationships: affection and control
Conflict management and negotiation
TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS
A variety of teaching and learning methods will be employed, including lectures, large and small
group discussion, other forms of group work and exercises, role play, case studies, oral
presentations, written assignments, and independent study (including reading, writing and skills
practice) outside the class.
Each of these activities will provide a forum or occasion for the ongoing practice of communication
skills, and finding ways to participate in all these areas will constitute a central activity throughout
the course. They all involve either active listening, or making constructive and appropriate spoken
or written contributions. Thus, both the content and the method of the course will contribute
towards the overall aims and objectives.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment process gives students important opportunities to learn, to check their
learning and to discuss their progress with the tutor. Consequently, students will be
expected to prepare two pieces of coursework for assessment. One of which will be
written under timed conditions in the classroom. The other will be a 1500 word
assignment and may take a variety of forms such as an essay, case study, report or
class presentation. Students are encouraged to discuss with their tutor the particular
topics and the type of assignment they would like to focus on in their assessments. It
may be possible to accommodate students’ personal interests within the syllabus.
The course is part of the Certificate of Higher Education in Applied Psychology. If the
course is completed successfully, 15 CATS points will be awarded, which may be
transferred to some degree courses.
STUDY SKILLS
In most respects, study skills represent aspects of communication. Throughout the course support
will be offered with study skills issues, including: note-taking, planning coursework, essay writing,
using references and bibliographies, and presentation skills,
READING
Students are expected to do ample reading in their own time. Students will be given free library
membership for the duration of the course. The following books will provide useful and relevant
background information. Additional recommendations will be given at the start of and during the
course itself.
S L Tubbs & S Moss: Human Communication (McGraw-Hill, 2005/07)
O Hargie & D Dickson: Skilled Interpersonal Communication Routledge 2004
P Hartley: Interpersonal Communication (Routledge, 1999)
J Stewart (ed): Bridges Not Walls (McGraw-Hill, 2002)
R Bolton: People Skills (Touchstone, 1986)
Tubbs & Moss (2005/07) comes closest to serving as a course textbook. It is however quite
expensive. A briefer and more affordable introduction is provided by Hartley (1999).
Library and study skills resources
To join the library – once you have enrolled send in a passport size photograph of
yourself with your full name, student number and module code on the back to your
subject Executive Officer. Your library card also serves as your ID card. Once you have
your library card you can also activate your Birkbeck computer account. This will give
you access to electronic resources – for instructions and further information see this link
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/userinfo/fcestudents/fceccsstud
You may find the following web links helpful for your studies.
 For information on how best to access the resources available for psychology
students through Birkbeck College Library, students may wish to work through
the tutorial available at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/life/
 For guidance on study skills, including essay and report writing, research and
referencing, go to http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/psychology where you will be
directed to relevant links.
 For specific guidance for psychologists and psychology students on getting the
best out the internet go to http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/tutorial/psychologist
 For specific guidance on how to avoid plagiarism in your course work go to
https://connect.le.ac.uk/p50066682/ and press the ‘play’ button.
Course Evaluation:
During the course students will be asked to complete an evaluation form which gives the
opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of their learning.
Jonathan Smith has been teaching psychology at Birkbeck College for more than 20 years. Since 2000 he has
been working part-time at Birkbeck, and now combines his teaching with training and psychotherapy work for a
range of other organisations.