Manchester Metropolitan University

Department Psychology and Speech Pathology

MSc Modular Psychology Scheme (all routes):

Short Course

Our aims are that by the end of the course you will:

1. understand some of the main principles and methods of community psychology and how it differs from other forms of psychological practice;
1. appreciate how community psychology is a way of being, rather than a way of undertaking a specific piece of work; and
1. be able to assess the contributions made by community psychologists.

Specifically, we hope that by the end of the course you will:

• be able to analyse community systems, groups and organisations from a psychological perspective;
• have developed some strategies for achieving change in community systems;
• understand the context and constraints that surround working as a psychologist in the community; and
• have developed an appreciation of the links between community psychology and marginalised people’s lives.

Students who have undertaken this module, from whichever programme, have all succeeded. Sometimes the mark they have received for their report is not commensurate with the amount of learning they have achieved. This reflects the difficulties of learning a totally new way of working and developing skills as well as academic analysis. Some of the comments made by past students include:

Whilst the emphasis on certain aspects of the course may change, depending on the projects on which you are working, the broad outline of the course is as follows:

Day 1: Course requirements. Introduction. What is community psychology? Principles of community psychology; nature of community psychology; nature of social change; values of community psychology; conceptual orientation; overview of strategies and methods; evaluation

Day 2: Systems perspectives; stakeholder analyses; power and empowerment; context and problem assessment; strategies and methods; process and change. The identification of project work for assignments.

Day 3: Group presentations of assignments (1) background (including literature review); nature of community; analysis of assignment issue (context, power, diversity, levels of analysis, systems and subsystems) and focus of assignment

Day 4: Skills and methods; social policy and other documentary analysis; bargaining and negotiation; group facilitation; networking and forming alliances; participatory work; ecological analyses; soft systems methodology; strategies for sustainability; evaluation

Day 5: Group presentations of assignments (2) change (including values, goals) implementation (including strategies and skills)

Day 6: Constraints on working as a community psychologist; resistance; professionalism; values and ideology; political and policy stakeholds; access, inclusion and exclusion. Evaluation, change and development in context over time

Day 7: Group presentations of assignments (3) Critical assessment and evaluation. Project and methods of working (within the group and in the community). Community partners may be invited to this presentation.

Some of the workshops and research seminars you see advertised on notice boards may be useful - keep your eye on them. From time to time we have visitors from abroad and may be able to arrange additional sessions.

You will be given some articles during the course, but you MUST read journals as well as reports, and books e.g. Journal Community Psychology, Community, Work and Family; American Journal Community Psychology; Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology; Journal Social Policy; Critical Social Policy; Social Issues; Race and Class; Disability and Society; British Journal Social Work; Organization.

See Also:

• Atkinson, D. & Williams, F. (Ed.) (1990) Know me as I am: An anthology of prose, poetry and art by people with learning difficulties. Kent: Hodder & Stoughton in association with the OU and MENCAP.
• Carr, S and Schumaker, J (eds) (1996) Psychology and the Developing World Greenwood
• Checkland, P and Scholes, J (1990) Soft Systems Methodology in Action London, Wiley
• Croft, S and Beresford, P 1991 From Paternalism to Participation Brighton, Open Services Project
• Fox, D and Prilletensky, I (1997) Introduction to Critical Psychology London, Sage
• Frieres, J.S. (ed) (1992) A World of Communities: Participatory Action research Perspectives Captus University
• Hales, G. 1996 Beyond Disability: Towards an Enabling Society London, Sage
• Henderson, P and Thomas, D (1987) Skills in Neighbourhood Work Union Press
• Kagan, C. (Ed) (2000) Collective Action and Social Change Manchester, IOD Research Group
• Levine, M and Perkins, D (1997) Principles of Community Psychology: Perspectives and applications 2 ed Oxford University Press
• Moore,M. et al (1998) Doing Disability Research Milton Keynes, Open University Press
• Oliver, M. (1990) The Politics of Disablement. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
• Parker, I and Spears, R (eds) 1996 Psychology and Society London, Pluto Press
• Sarason,S (1974) A Psychological Sense of Community San Francisco, Jossey Bass
• Swain, J. et al 1993 Disabling Barriers - Enabling Environments London, Sage/Open University Press
• Thomas, D and Veno, A (eds) 1996 Community Psychology Wellington, Dunmore Press
• Whyte, W.F. (ed)(1991) Participatory Action Research London, Sage

A number of books have been placed in the Short Term Loan system in the library:

• Orford, J (1992) Community Psychology London, Wiley
• Hogett, P (ed) 1997 Contested Communities Bristol, Policy Press

See Also:

• Parker, I and Spears, R (eds) 1996 Psychology and Society London, Pluto Press
• Thomas, D and Veno, A (eds) 1996 Community Psychology Wellington, Dunmore Press
• Whyte, WF (1991) Participatory Action Research London, Sage

The assignment is a set assignment, within which you can direct and focus your interests whilst working in the community. You may work alone, with a partner or in a small group.

Community Psychology is concerned with social change and with social disadvantage. Your task is to work on a change project. Whilst clearly the most important aspect for you is to undertake a project which will meet the course requirements, it is essential that within the spirit of community psychology, you work in partnership with a neighbourhood or community group on an issue of importance to them. You must ensure that you take account of the timescale in which you are completing the course and that you do not begin something that cannot be finished or that will not be sustainable. This means that some of you will be able to do preliminary work leading to a proposed change project, whilst others will be able to see through some change issue.

Either in relation to a community group with which you are currently involved, have recently been involved, or have begun to be involved, write 4000 words each on:

Your project must be agreed in advance with tutors. You will need to produce an assignment which includes:

(1) Background and context to your work (including literature review; nature of community and your involvement; analysis of assignment issue (context, power, diversity, levels of analysis, systems and subsystems etc.) and focus of assignment. This section should refer to a specified community issue and ‘problem’ on which you will, or intend to work.

(2) Change (including values, goals) implementation (including strategies and skills). This section may be based on actual or proposed action, depending on the nature of the issue and timescale.

(3) Critical assessment and evaluation: Project and methods of working (within the group and in the community). This section may be based on actual or proposed evaluation, depending on the nature of the issue and timescale. It should also include some reflexive analysis of how you have worked within your group, and of what you have learnt about yourself as a community psychologist.

You may submit an individual 4000 word report or a group report in which individual people have contributed 4000 words each. A group report must contain a statement of who has contributed what, and how marks should be divided amongst members of the group, and signed by all members of the group.

Opportunities will be provided within the course sessions for presentations of these three parts of the assignment. each presentation will be worth 10% of the marks, and the final report worth 70%. The presentations may be in any form. If it would be useful for your project to present your material in non-standard mode, such as via drawings, videotape, leaflets, drama performance etc., you must discuss this with one of the tutors. The presentations are assessed and the assessments must be capable of external moderation. (There is usually a way of ensuring that all presentations meet this requirement, but this must be agreed in advance.) All presentations will be assessed on content and process by peers and a tutor.

Your work will be assessed according to the extent to which you have shown:

• ability to communicate the community psychology project on which you are working;
• knowledge about the relevant community psychology literature, and its application to real life issues;
• understanding of how the principles and values of community psychology underpin your actual or proposed work in the community;
• ability to analyse community issues, in context, at different levels and with the interests of marginalised people at the forefront;
• ability to devise relevant strategies for change and to reflect critically upon the skills you have used and the impact your work has had on different stakeholders, especially marginalised people.

As you will be working in an ‘uncontrolled environment’ all work must undergo a risk assessment in advance. You will be required to complete a risk assessment process and, if relevant an ethical clearance process. This will be undertaken in class time. You must agree your project with a tutor. Projects we may be able to link you with include:

• work with a residents’ group on an overspill housing estate (Knutsford based)
• work with drug users (Manchester based)
• work with street children (Manchester based – police check required)
• work with Age Concern (Tameside)
• work with MIND (Manchester based)
• Work with young people (Ashton or Manchester based)
• work with learning disabled adults (Manchester or Northwich based)
• work with a carers’ organisation (Bury or Wigan based)
• Work within a community safety programme (East Manchester based)
• Work with disaffected youth (East Manchester based)

You may find the Community Exchange directory a useful source of ideas about other projects.

We would appreciate your comments on this module. They really do help us plan for any changes to the course in the future. Please write your comments below and leave the form in CK’s pigeon hole. Thanks.