IGNOU BA Psychology Practical File: First-Year Guide

Introduction

The IGNOU BA Psychology Practical File is very important for the practical based psychology courses. It maintains a record of the experiments, psychological tests, observations, scoring methods and interpretations carried out during practical counselling sessions.

First year requirements are determined by programme and course code. The older BAPCH structure has a two credit practical component for BPCC-131 Foundations of Psychology. Practical learning is also a part of IGNOU’s newer BA Psychology programme, BAFPC. Therefore, students are also required to follow the guide issued for their particular admission session.

IGNOU BA Psychology Practical File First-Year Guide

1. Check Admission Confirmation

Confirm your admission, programme code and registered courses and prepare a practical record.

Students need to verify whether or not they are registered under:

  • BAPCH BA (Hons) Psychology
  • BAFPC: Bachelor of Arts Psychology
  • BAM with Psychology classes
  • Older BAG or BA Psychology structure

The actual codes and requirements for these programs may be different.

2. Keep Your Enrolment Number

Write your enrolment number correctly on the practical-file cover page and on the various forms as required.

Also make copies of your:

  • Admission confirmed
  • ID Card of IGNOU
  • Registration of practical course
  • Schedule of counselling
  • Hall ticket of practical exam

3. IGNOU ID Card Download

Carry IGNOU ID card during practical counselling and examinations. It can be used by the Study Centre to verify registration and attendance.

4. Read the Programme Guide Thoroughly

The course guide describes the structure of the programme, credits and practical requirements. Apart from core theory courses, the psychology programmes of IGNOU include practical/tutorial components.

Do not use a practical file prepared for another programme/course code.

5. The Open Practical Guide

Download the IGNOU Psychology Practical Manual/ practical-guideline block from eGyanKosh.

For example, BPCC-131 includes requirements for official practice that students must complete the assignment and attend mandatory practice sessions.

Students can check the latest programme, practical and student-registration instructions on the official IGNOU website and refer to the ManualonStudentRegistration&EvalutionSystems.pdf.

IGNOU Psychology Practical File Format

Generally, a practical record usually includes (though the format may vary):

  1. Title of experiment or test
  2. Objective or purpose
  3. 1 Introduction and theoretical background
  4. Where necessary hypothesis
  5. Description of material or test
  6. Basic participant profile
  7. Procedure and administration
  8. Instructions and warnings
  9. Method of scoring
  10. Results and discussion
  11. Discussion:
  12. Summary
  13. References

Follow the sequence your academic counsellor recommends.

6. Join Practical Counselling Sessions

Practical sessions are not optional demonstrations. Attendance may be required to be able to take the practical examination.

The students are required to perform the activities under supervision and maintain the authentic observations and get the signature of the counsellor wherever needed. Practical counselling and examination schedules are issued separately by the IGNOU Regional Centres.

7. Turn in Assignments on Time

Theory assignments and practical records are two different academic requirements.

IGNOU Galaxy is a good place for students to get general guidance. The IGNOU Solved Assignments and the IGNOU Handwritten Assignments can be used as support for assignment preparation, but practical observations, scoring and interpretations should be on the basis of the work actually done by the student.

8. Monitor Practical Dates and Deadlines

Messages from the monitor:

  • Your assigned Study Centre
  • The Regional Centre
  • UNDUE's official website
  • Practical training centre

Practical counselling, submission of file and practical exams may be held on different dates.

9. Fill Up IGNOU Exam Form

Select the appropriate practical/laboratory course code from the Term-End Examination form when necessary.

Practical file submission does not confirm registration for the examination.

10. Submission of Project or Synopsis

The practical file of first year is different from dissertation, project or synopsis. Project work is usually introduced towards the end of some programmes.

Generally students are advised not to use a project-report format for a practical record. For general guidance on research one may refer to IGNOU Projects.

Typical Errors to Steer Clear Of

  • Copying observations of another student
  • Using incorrect course or programme code
  • Scoring interpretations in writing
  • Missed practical counselling sessions
  • Filing unsigned records
  • Preparation of participant data
  • Using an old manual without checking the current structure
  • Preparing the whole file before receiving instructions

Last Tips for First-Year Students

Keep headings uniform and the file neat and properly bound. Make careful observations, check your calculations and keep rough worksheets till the practical examination is over.

Make the IGNOU Psychology Practical Record during the counselling sessions and not at the last moment.

Students may also refer to IGNOU Guess Paper for additional exam preparation.

Questions & Answers

1. IGNOU BA Psychology practical file required or not?

Required for courses that have a practical component.

2. Which first year course involves practical work?

This depends on the programme. BPCC-131 is a practical course in BAPCH pattern which is linked.

3. Can I do the file myself at home?

You can do the writing at home, but the practical activities should be done under the guidance of authorised people.

4. Is practical attendance required?

IGNOU has issued pragmatic guidelines that the practical classes are compulsory for the applicable courses.

5. Is the file to be written by hand?

Follow instructions of Study Centre. 2. Manual records are usually required.

6. Must every experiment be signed?

Summary

The IGNOU BA Psychology Practical File should consist of real supervised practicals in the given format. Students have to know the right programme and course code and attend counselling sessions and follow the official manual.

It’s important to have a tidy file but for successful evaluation equally important are accurate scoring, interpretation, attendance and understanding of the practical.