Studying psychology often feels like being in an avalanche of recommended reading. For every class (whether that\u2019s a lecture, workshop, etc.), we have one or two corresponding bits of reading.<\/p>\n
In our cognitive psychology module, however, this year\u2019s suggested textbook is different from last year\u2019s. I haven\u2019t bought it yet, because almost all of the readings are online resources \u2013 links to either a chapter of a book or an article \u2013 which I have prioritised because the exam is largely based on them rather than on the textbook. Moreover, the textbook is accessible at the university library.<\/p>\n However, I am thinking about buying the suggested textbook (because during Christmas revision period I won\u2019t be accessing the library) from the used section on Amazon, where I\u2019ve bought countless books before, and where there are people selling used copies of the textbook for as little as \u00a30.01 (and just \u00a32.80 for postage). To buy it new, it\u2019s \u00a345.99, which is hard not to be put off by. The previous editions are cheaper; however, the chapters may be organised differently. Furthermore, in essays we\u2019ll often get marks for referencing recently-conducted research, and sometimes research and perspectives can be outdated. Therefore, I would lean towards getting the most recent edition.<\/p>\n So far, I\u2019ve found the online resource readings have sufficed, however for the revision period for the mid-year exams, I think it would help to have a textbook with an exhaustive view of the module, especially for critically evaluating topics which is an important part of the unseen essay questions we\u2019ll get in the exam.<\/p>\n Tell us how you<\/strong> prepared for second year by taking our online\u00a0survey, <\/a>and you could win a \u00a320 Amazon voucher and \u00a350 worth of SAGE books!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/sagestudents\/files\/2017\/12\/Photo-on-Fri-1-Dec-2017-at-4.38-pm-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a>Often this is a chapter of a book that you can only access in its physical form. For example, in our developmental psychology module, the essential reading is frequently a chapter from the textbook How Children Develop. This was one of the essential textbooks in first year psychology, so fortunately I didn\u2019t have to buy another book. Incidentally, I bought it second-hand (and half-price) as part of a bundle of the first-year psychology textbooks from a student who had switched to another course.<\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>