Legal Psychology: Current Research

Main field of studies: Psychology

Specialization: A1N, Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

For admission to the course, the students are required to have a minimum of 180 passed credits at undergraduate level/first cycle level. Applicants must also prove knowledge of English: English 6/English Course B or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL or IELTS.

The course covers current research on key areas in legal psychology. The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. The course consists of three sub-courses.

Sub-courses

1. The legal system: the actors and decision-making (Rättssystemets aktörer och beslutsfattande), 5 credits

Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U)

This sub-course covers an overview of the principles of different legal systems (the inquisitorial, adversarial and mixed systems), models for legal decision-making, and recent psychological knowledge of relevance for the actors in the legal systems.

2. Memory, deception detection and credibility assessment (Minne, tillförlitlighets- och trovärdighetbedömningar), 5 credits

Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U)

This sub-course covers state of the art research on human memory processes, deception detection and credibility assessment.

3. Interviewing and interrogation (Intervju och förhör), 5 credits

Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U)

This sub-course covers state of the art research on the interviewing of victims and witnesses, and the interrogation of suspects in criminal cases.

A student who successfully completes the course should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate knowledge of the scientific basis of legal psychology
• demonstrate deep insight into current research in key areas of legal psychology

Competence and skills

• critically and systematically integrate knowledge in the field of legal psychology
• identify and formulate research questions in the field of legal psychology, and to clearly report and discuss these research questions

Judgement and approach

• make scientific and ethical assessments in the field of legal psychology
• evaluate the possibilities and limitations of research in legal psychology and its role in society

Teaching will take place in the form of lectures and seminars.

Language of instruction: English

The learning outcomes are assessed through individual written exams and papers, and in active participation of seminars. All seminars give the basis for examination and are therefore obligatory. Arrangements to compensate for absence are made according to the course leader’s instructions.

A student who has taken two exams in a course or part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to the nomination of another examiner. The student needs to contact the department for a new examiner, preferably in writing. This should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

A student with a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for special educational support may sit an adjusted exam or get an alternative form of assessment, provided that the examiner decides it is compatible with the course learning outcomes and it does not require unreasonable resources.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no more than two years, after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies to placements and professional placements (VFU), although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). To obtain a Pass (G) grade for sub-courses, the student must meet the following requirements:

• Active participation in the sub-course’s obligatory seminar(s).
• A Pass (G) grade on the individual written assignment(s).

To obtain a Pass with Distinction (VG) for sub-courses, the student must meet the following requirements:

• Active participation in the obligatory seminar(s).
• A Pass with Distinction (VG) grade on the individual written assignment(s).

A Pass grade for the entire course requires at least a Pass grade for all sub-courses.

A Pass with Distinction grade for the entire course requires a Pass with Distinction for sub-courses corresponding to at least 10 of the course’s total higher education credits (two sub-courses), in addition to at least a Pass grade for other sub-courses.

The course coordinator is responsible for ensuring that students are given the opportunity to provide an anonymous, written course evaluation at the end of the course. After the course is finished, the course coordinator writes a report, which includes a summary of the course evaluation. The report is discussed in a relevant course evaluation group. The report and possible changes to the course are shared with students who participated in the evaluation as well as students who will start the course. These reports are available to students.

If the course requires use of internet, computer, digital resources, it is a student's responsibility to make sure they have access to such resources.