Higher Psychology Course Support Notes - Scottish Qualifications ...

Equality and inclusion
The following guidance should support assessors to ensure that any issues
relating to equality and inclusion for learners undertaking the Psychology Course
are addressed:
Centres must take into account the needs of all learners who undertake the
Course.
There should be no unnecessary barrier for any learner studying this Course
or its individual Units.
Centres could involve learners in negotiating the topics they wish to study on the
Course. In this way, learners’ prior experience could be acknowledged and
issues, such as culture, could be taken into account.
The following are reasonable responses to adapting assessments in Psychology:
additional time allocation
scribe or reader
audio evidence
assistive technology
Learners undertaking this Course will be required to write psychological reports,
work with numerical data, and communicate psychological understanding.
If learners require support to overcome barriers, they may be supported by
scribes when writing psychological reports, and/or this could be done
electronically. Communication could be written, oral or diagrammatic.
Interpretation of numerical and statistical data/descriptive statistics is crucial to
the study of Psychology. Calculators may be used.
The topics and approaches covered in this Course may touch on controversial or
sensitive issues. For example, in discussions which may relate to health,
relationships or emotions, teachers/lecturers should be alert to any signs of
discomfort or distress. It is important that centres encourage an accepting,
positive attitude, and strongly discourage the use of language which shows
prejudice towards people who suffer from psychological disorders.
The activities and assessment in this Course are flexible. In order to fully support
learners with additional support needs, centres should select from among the
wide range of options, in order to find learning experiences which best suit the
profile of their learners.
It is recognised that centres have their own duties under equality and other
legislation and policy initiatives. The guidance given in these Course Support
Notes is designed to sit alongside these duties but is specific to the delivery and
assessment of the Course.
It is important that centres are aware of and understand SQA’s assessment
arrangements for disabled learners, and those with additional support needs,
Course Support Notes for Higher Psychology Course 22