This module is the second part of the MSc in Psychology (Conversion) and will continue to introduce you to a range of aspects of the core curriculum which underpins Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society. The topics covered include intelligence, personality, attitudes, motivation, attachment, early experiences, social relationships, moral development and gender development. Throughout all topics, references are made to real-world applications using engaging current literature and case studies to bring the content to life. The module draws on a range of voices to encourage critical thought and debate, and issues around diversity will be directly embedded into the curriculum.
The module is comprised of three study blocks. The first two are theoretical content and research methods, which will prepare you for the project block.
Block 1 focuses on individual differences in psychology. This includes chapters on intelligence, looking at how intelligence is defined and measured and the implications of the tests used; Personality, exploring how we measure personality and the influence it has on aspects such as leadership, the workplace and creativity; attitude development and the impact on an individual’s behaviour; and why individuals differ in motivation.
Block 2 explores aspects of developmental psychology. You'll look at cognitive and social development across the lifespan from babies to older age. You'll consider the influence of attachment and social relationships in childhood and adulthood, learning difficulties and diversity, moral development in children, and the development of gender identity.
Running alongside the theoretical material, you'll have the chance to develop your research skills and apply these to the topics you are studying. Each week will include an in-depth look at the different perspectives taken in psychological research and draw on examples from theory to illustrate where our psychological knowledge comes from. On completion of the first two blocks, you will have developed the skills to carry out your own independent piece of research.
Block 3 is devoted to the completion of an independent piece of research and culminates in the submission of a dissertation. Throughout this block, you’ll be supported in developing a research question and designing a project to collect and analyse data whilst considering the ethical implications of your proposed work. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in your chosen methodology and technique of analysis; you’ll be supported throughout to use relevant specialist software packages where necessary. At the end of the module, you will produce a dissertation presenting your research findings.
On successful completion of this module, you’ll have:
This is one of the two core modules in our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited MSc in Psychology (Conversion).
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Course work includes:
You will be provided with a research methods workbook and have access to a module website which includes:
You can only study this module as part of specific Open University qualifications.
D811 is a compulsory module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
Critically exploring psychology 2 starts once a year – in September.
This page describes the module that will start in September 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in September 2032.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
This module is not available for standalone study. To study this module, you should have completed Critically exploring psychology 1 (D810) for the MSc in Psychology (Conversion) (F92).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Written transcripts of any audio and video components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available to download. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader (and where applicable, mathematical and scientific materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
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| 05 Sep 2026 | 30 Jun 2027 | 13 Aug 2026 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
