USPJVV-30-M Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Health Assessment Brief 2026 | UWE

USPJVV-30-M Assessment Brief

Submission details

Module learning outcomes assessed by this task:

1. Begin to conceptually integrate biological, psychological, and social perspectives and consider what may be the applications of this integration;
2. To establish an understanding of the factors related to the genesis and maintenance of health, disease, and disorder;
3. Demonstrate an appreciation of developmental concepts and theories in relation to lifespan changes in health and psychological wellbeing;
4. Have a basic understanding of the psychological treatment principles and interventions applied to different groups defined by disease/disorder;
5. Challenge existing theories and practices through the evaluation of current research.

Use of AI in assessment:

Generative Artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools should not be used

The purpose and format of this assessment make it inappropriate and/or impractical for GenAI tools to be used to successfully demonstrate the appropriate skills and knowledge.

You are permitted to use technology to assist with:

• correcting spelling and grammar
• identifying words with similar meanings (e.g. consulting thesauri)
• However, you should not use any software to rewrite sentences or make substantive changes to your original text. Please note that inappropriate use of Gen AI is considered to be an assessment offence.
• For more advice on this please see your Generative AI study skills guide.

Guidance on Referencing (inc AI):

Please note that the aim of referencing is to demonstrate you have read and understood a range of sources to evidence your key points.  You need to list the references consistently and in such a way as to ensure the reader can follow up on the sources for themselves.

Your referencing should be accurate and using UWE Cite Them Right Harvard style:

Referencing - Study skills | UWE Bristol

Submission and feedback dates

Submission format: Word document

Marks and Feedback due on: 10th December 2026

N.B. all times are 24-hour clock, current local time (at time of submission) in the UK

Marks and Feedback will be provided via:

Feedback will be provided through Blackboard, using a feedback sheet and embedded comments.

Completing your assessment 

Critically evaluate our understanding of how our health needs change over the lifespan with reference to (a particular long term health condition of your choice)

What am I required to do on this assessment?

Please read the information related to this module on Blackboard, including the BPS Module Handbook and lectures, suggested readings and all the information about the assessments on the BPS Blackboard pages.

1.    Choose one physical long term health condition and define it. If you are unsure if the chosen condition meets the brief for the essay, ask the module leader.

2.    Define what ‘health needs’ are in the context of the essay

3.    Draw on developmental/lifespan theory (e.g. Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg) to understand health needs across the lifespan change over time for your chosen physical health condition (see lectures)

4.    Draw on health psychology literature/research/policy relevant to the chosen condition

5.    Critique- take alternative perspectives and critique methods of included studies to come to overall conclusions

6.    Ensure you answer the question, summarizing the key essay points in the conclusion 

Presentation and structure guidance 

1)    Please clearly introduce the essay with a statement and explanation of the chosen long term condition.  

2)    Ensure your essay is well structured and includes an introduction, main body and conclusion to your essay.

3)    Ensure you follow guidance on referencing (UWE Cite Them Right Harvard)

4)    Excellent spelling, grammar and presentation (including 11 or 12 font, Arial, 1.5 spacing)

5)    Proof read your work to ensure that there are no typos.

6)    Clear title, student number (not name) and submit through myUWE Blackboard

Where should I start?

Please read this assessment brief and read the module pages on Blackboard, including the BPS Module Handbook and lectures, suggested readings and all the information about the assessments.

What do I need to do to pass?

Please refer to UWE marking criteria which is under the Assessments section on the BPS module Blackboard pages.

How do I achieve high marks in this assessment?

Marks over 70% will be achieved where the submission is a very good and competent piece of work, demonstrating very good critical awareness and analysis of the subject. Comprehensive understanding of knowledge, with the ability to develop critiques at an advanced level. 

There will be evidence of originality; negligible errors or omissions. There will be notably good presentation/communication of ideas and comprehension.

How does the learning and teaching relate to the assessment? 

All lecture content so far on the module is closely related to the assessment.

What do I do if I am concerned about completing this assessment?

It is recommended that you review all of the relevant materials on Blackboard. You can also speak to your module leader for advice and guidance.  

UWE Bristol offer a range of Assessment Support Options that you can explore through this link, and both Academic Support and Wellbeing Support are available.

For further information, please see the Student study essentials.

How do I avoid an Assessment Offence on this module?

Use the support above if you feel unable to submit your own work for this module.

-Ensure you put your work through SafeAssign (in plenty of time so that you can make any changes if required). SafeAssign is a student submissions originality checker provided by Blackboard which helps identify plagiarism by detecting unoriginal content in student submissions. 

- Read the academic conduct policy: academic-conduct-policy-and-academic-misconduct-procedures (1).pdf

Marks and Feedback

Your assessment will be marked according to the following marking criteria.
You can use these to evaluate your own work before you submit.

QAA descriptor for a higher education qualification at Level M

• a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice
• a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship
• originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline

conceptual understanding that enables the student:

-to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline
-to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.

UWE information:

1.    In line with UWE Bristol’s Assessment Content Limit Policy (formerly the Word Count Policy), word count includes all text, including (but not limited to): the main body of text (including headings), all citations (both in and out of brackets), text boxes, tables and graphs, figures and diagrams, quotes, lists.

2.    UWE Bristol’s UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy requires that you submit work that is entirely your own and reflects your own learning, so it is important to:

• Ensure you reference all sources used, using the UWE Cite Them Right Harvard and the guidance available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.
• Refer to peer reviewed primary sources, rather than using AI or secondary sources
• Avoid copying and pasting any work into this assessment, including your own previous assessments, work from other students or internet sources
• Develop your own style, arguments and wording, so avoid copying sources and changing individual words but keeping, essentially, the same sentences and/or structures from other sources
• Never give your work to others who may copy it
• If an individual assessment, develop your own work and preparation, and do not allow anyone to make amends on your work (including proof-readers, who may highlight issues but not edit the work) 

When submitting your work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your own, and text-matching software and other methods are routinely used to check submissions against other submissions to the university and internet sources. Details of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study Skills pages about avoiding plagiarism.