1. Reflecting on Psychology
Teachers:
Jeremy Burman
Douwe Draaisma
Markus Eronen
Imke Gooskens
Other staff:
Jonna Brenninkmeijer
Maarten Derksen
Stephan Schleim

2. Reflecting on Psychology
Reflecting on Psychology (RoP): Putting psychology in perspective
Goal: To understand why psychological concepts, theories and explanations are the way they are; explore how psychology is related to other parts of science and society
Methods: History, philosophy, and sociology of science
Students from RoP will become skilled in writing, qualitative analysis and reflection

3. Why Reflect on Psychology?

4. Why Reflect on Psychology?
Reflecting on psychology is crucial for advancing psychology as a science (replication crisis etc.)
More need for multidisciplinary approaches
Psychology is increasingly important in society, but there is little reflection on its goals, methods and foundations
RoP is unique: The only Theory and History of Psychology master program in Europe

5. Reflecting on Psychology
One year programme: 60 EC
30 EC thesis project
10 EC Foundation courses
Conceptual Issues in Psychology
Brain, Consciousness and Society
10 EC Elective courses
Reflections on Psychology: Critical Issues
Boundaries of Psychology
5 EC Skills course: Writing skills
5 EC Methods course: Qualitative Research Methods

6. Foundation Courses Conceptual Issues in Psychology
Classic and basic texts: e.g., scientific paradigms, social constructionism, classification, philosophy of mind, history of psychology
Reading, assignments, discussion and final essay
Brain Consciousness and Society
Open book exam
Topics: Asperger’s Syndrome and delinquency, relation between rationality and emotions, controversies on the interpretation of dreams, brain reading with fMRI, impact of the neurosciences

7. Elective Courses Reflections on Psychology: Critical Issues
Elaborates on Conceptual Issues in psychology
Discussion and presentations – topics: theory of mind, intelligence testing, consciousness, qualitative vs. quantitative research, transient mental illnesses and wellnesses
Boundaries of Psychology
Starting with Kuhn’s “incommensurability” to define what a boundary is, the topic will be approached from a historical, philosophical or sociological angle
Concluding essay

8. Skills and Methods Courses
Writing Skills
Regular writing & reading of “best science writing”
Learn peer review through collaborative wikis
Goal: publication
Qualitative Research Methods
Foundations and ethics
Digital methods
Observations and ethnography
Interviews and narrative research
Data analysis

9. Master Theses and Internships
30 ECT
Master thesis
Possible internship (max 15 ECT)
Communicate your research findings in media or lectures
Participate in a research group
Archival research
(Co-)organize meetings on RoP topics
Work with Mindwise

10. Master theses: possible topics
What is the purpose of replication? What exactly is a replication?
Can some types of crime be explained by reference to limitations inherent in autism?
Is ‘cognitive dissonance’ an example of a discovery? Or is it an invention?
What aspects of "Piaget's new theory" are still relevant to contemporary psychological science?
Can meaning-change be identified using formal tools drawn from the Digital Humanities?
Is it possible to scientifically measure psychological attributes such as intelligence?
Can neuroscientists (some day) read your mind with neuroimaging techniques?

11. Teachers
Douwe Draaisma: History of psychology, memory, science popularization
Jeremy Burman: History of psychology, digital humanities, cultural evolution, historiography
Markus Eronen: Philosophy of psychology, philosophy of science, methodology
Imke Gooskens: Qualitative research methods, anthropology, ethnography

12. Other staff
Maarten Derksen
Stephan Schleim
Jonna Brenninkmeijer

13. Former students Historians of science
Academics in departments of psychology, philosophy and medicine
Science communicators or publishers
Science policy advisors
Qualitative researchers for institutes or firms
Teachers …

14. Alumnus: Saskia Wiegant
Education Coordinator
Hanze University of Applied Science

15. Alumnus: Saskia Wiegant
"I learnt that knowledge doesn't sell itself, but that it travels over networks. And that knowledge is not neutral, but that it has a political dimension, and you must look for that dimension. That's why people like us function well in education and government, in interest groups, political parties. Any position where policy is translated into practice and vice versa. For me as a manager my training has been really useful too."

16. Recent Alumnus: Stephen Scholte
PhD Student University of Sussex

17. Recent Alumnus: Stephen Scholte
“Beyond providing introduction to some of the most interesting work in the theory, methodology and history of psychology and the social sciences, the RoP Master provided the framework within which I learnt to really think. Knowledge in isolation means little … What is necessary, and of utmost value in any interesting occupation (and especially for aspiring academics such as myself) is the ability to analyse, to reflect, and to connect the oversupply of information with which we are constantly confronted. This I learnt in Groningen, and is what I try to do every day in my current position.”

18. Reflecting on Psychology
More information:
on-psychology/
Questions?