Study location	United Kingdom, Nottingham, City Campus
Type	Master courses, full-time
Nominal duration	1 year
Study language	English
Awards	MSc

Language requirements	English

More information	ntu.ac.uk/..ciences/pg/msc-cyberpsychology

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

Core modules

Applied Psychology of Digital Technologies

This module runs across Terms One, Two, and Three. Terms One and Two include taught elements, which may cover topics such as:

new technologies
digital technologies in education and mental health and well-being
online research methods.
Tutorials will support you in coursework preparation, as well as preparing you for the work-based learning opportunity in Term Three and your individual work-based learning report.

Whether you wish to proceed directly into employment, further study or research, this module is designed to increase your employability and benefit your future choices. The eight-week work-based learning opportunity within a cyberpsychology-relevant organisation will give you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to real-life cyberpsychology practice and contribute to the everyday professional work in these organisations.

Psychology of Cyberspace and Online Behaviours

You’ll explore various aspects of cyberspaces (both online and digital technology environments) and the behaviours mediated by technology. There may also be specialist lectures and seminar sessions delivered by experts in their fields, including online and video gaming, cyberspace, cybersecurity, and online relationships.

Computer Forensics

This module is taught at our Clifton Campus alongside MSc IT Security students. It highlights the breadth of cyberpsychology by incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to online behaviours. You’ll gain a critical appreciation of both the theoretical and practical issues in the field of computer forensics, consolidate your knowledge of various computing systems and understand their importance to computer forensics investigations, and develop the necessary skills, methodologies, and processes to conduct an initial computer forensics investigation within an organisation.

Module content may include:

computer crime and the role of computer forensics in law enforcement and the organisation
investigation processes and procedures
the computer forensics environment
hard drives and storage media
operating systems, e.g. Windows and Linux
computer forensics tools and techniques
file system and deleted data analysis
investigating electronic files and meta-data
network forensics.
Professional Skills

This module aims to equip you with the ability to plan, carry out and evaluate professional skills in a psychological setting. You’ll be introduced to a range of key professional skills necessary for the pursuit of an academic or professional career in psychology or related disciplines.

Research Project

You’ll explore and critically examine a psychological research question of your choice in the area of cyberpsychology. The research may be an empirical project, or could take the form of a non-empirical dissertation. In both cases, regular supervision will be provided to guide you in the planning, preparation, conduction, and write up of the research.

Optional research modules

You’ll choose one from a selection of five existing postgraduate Psychology research methods modules:

Research Skills

This module introduces a range of key research and research dissemination skills necessary for the pursuit of an academic or professional career in psychology (or related disciplines). It aims to ensure that you are capable of planning, carrying out and seeking funding for ethically sound, independent research projects in a psychological setting, and that you are able to present your research results in a variety of media for both professional and non-professional audiences.

Advanced Experimentation & Statistics One

You’ll examine the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of statistics used in experimental research, for example statistical inference, power, and effect size. This typically draws on a regression / GLM approach to statistics, focusing on the relationship between multiple linear regression, ANOVA and ANCOVA.

Psychometrics One: Developing Psychometric Scales in Research and Practice

This module will provide you with a basic knowledge of psychometric theory and how it can be applied to the different stages of test development. It will demonstrate the process of test development through practical application of theory, and you’ll work in a group to produce your own psychometric scale.

Qualitative Research Design and Analysis One

Concerned with the subjective world, this module focuses on finding out not just what people think, but why they think it, and investigating human experience in order to understand peoples’ opinions, motivations, and feelings. You’ll gain a comprehensive philosophical and methodological grounding in qualitative research in order to draw out understandings and perceptions, explore the complex nature of settings and culture, and appreciate the links between process and outcome.

Observational Methods

You’ll work with other students on a collective observational analysis of video-taped material, in order to develop your knowledge and practical skills in the area of observational research methods.

Career opportunities

Throughout the course, you’ll receive one-to-one careers support and mentoring. The course team currently have links to various organisations such as the National Video Game Arcade, Confetti Media Group, ICN, Holovis International, Fuzzy Frog, British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems, Redsock, Esendex, and Boom Online.

As a graduate of MSc Cyberpsychology you’ll be able to critically appraise and apply key features of cyberpsychology research and practice. Awareness of your own experiences and characteristics will inform your knowledge and skills surrounding cyberpsychology science and practice, and your work-based learning experience in a cyberpsychology setting will be a foundation for the development of core employability skills, including team-working and effective communication.

As the MSc Cyberpsychology is highly multidisciplinary, it opens up a wide range of career options because it is applicable and relevant to any organisation with an online presence. Areas which graduates may work in could include:

- gaming
- social networking
- online dating websites
- usability testing
- consulting media industries -cybersecurity
- virtual reality
- mobile apps
- online design
- online marketing
- online retail
- journalism
- research
- education
- healthcare.