This is overall a well presented, student friendly psychology text. It offers a fresh and refreshing insight into AS Psychology. Along with familiar favourites I enjoyed reading the many new studies not usually featured in AS Psychology textbooks. I particularly liked the `Take a Closer Look` feature of the `Study in Focus` section as this encourages the skills needed for effective evaluation. All psychology departments should have access to this book, whether they use `AQA` `A` or not. --Claire Barker, Head of Psychology, Wells Cathedral School

Student friendly - nice layout, not too big and cumbersome and not too much writing on each page - students these days would be put off with too much text. Photos and cartoons appeal to visual learners. I like the format - the different parts (ask an examiner and boxes with supplementary text etc.). --Alison Wilson, Allerton High School

Very student user friendly . Nice cartoons, and good pictures. Students like pictures! Information - written in an easy style correctly written without the loftiness of academic writing. The layout of the book is easy on the eye . The colour coding of the pages is useful for quick access to information. The Key Studies, or here called Studies in Focus are easily understood and are jargon free so students an access content without too much trouble. Where possible, recent research studies have been added. It is difficult to be original as many of the studies have been on the specifications for years. Things are kept simple, like terminology etc. and thus helps the student to make the transition from GCSE to A level work without it being a daunting experience. From experience I have found that students give up before they have started because, as they say it is too difficult! A refreshingly welcome approach to the new AS exam which should stimulate and enthuse both student and teacher. The Ask the Examiner tips are really useful to students and they have the confidence that the advice given is from current practising examiners I should know I have worked with both of them! And they know their stuff! Students often let themselves down not due to lack of knowledge, but how to answer the question to maximise their grades. Many textbooks omit this. As a teacher of many years, I thought it was going to be yet another textbook, but I personally enjoyed it and found it quite refreshing to read, even though it is covering material I already know. Although the authors have not included a section on How Science works , it does not detract from the usefulness of the book. This section is best kept out as such information is not really necessary in a student textbook. That sort of information is more for teachers. I certainly will recommend this book to colleagues and my students. --Jenny Toal. Vice Chair of the ATP. Senior Examiner. Currently teaching Psychology at Countesthorpe Community College. Leicestershire

Student friendly - nice layout, not too big and cumbersome and not too much writing on each page - students these days would be put off with too much text. Photos and cartoons appeal to visual learners. I like the format - the different parts (ask an examiner and boxes with supplementary text etc.). --Alison Wilson, Allerton High School

Very student user friendly . Nice cartoons, and good pictures. Students like pictures! Information - written in an easy style correctly written without the loftiness of academic writing. The layout of the book is easy on the eye . The colour coding of the pages is useful for quick access to information. The Key Studies, or here called Studies in Focus are easily understood and are jargon free so students an access content without too much trouble. Where possible, recent research studies have been added. It is difficult to --Jenny Toal. Vice Chair of the ATP. Senior Examiner. Currently teaching Psychology at Countesthorpe Community College. Leicestershire

This is an excellent textbook. It is accessible to all levels of Advanced Psychology students. I would highly recommend this textbook for anybody starting teaching psychology for the first time or those experienced teachers who need some fresh and innovative ideas. I have highly recommended this text for all the psychology PGCE students at Manchester Metropolitan university , as I believe it is an invaluable tool --Karen J Duffy, Senior Lecturer Social Science, Psychology and Citizenship Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

Very student user friendly . Nice cartoons, and good pictures. Students like pictures! Information - written in an easy style correctly written without the loftiness of academic writing. The layout of the book is easy on the eye . The colour coding of the pages is useful for quick access to information. The Key Studies, or here called Studies in Focus are easily understood and are jargon free so students an access content without too much trouble. Where possible, recent research studies have been added. It is difficult to be original as many of the studies have been on the specifications for years. Things are kept simple, like terminology etc. and thus helps the student to make the transition from GCSE to A level work without it being a daunting experience. From experience I have found that students give up before they have started because, as they say it is too difficult! A refreshingly welcome approach to the new AS exam which should stimulate and enthuse both student and teacher. The Ask the Examiner tips are really useful to students and they have the confidence that the advice given is from current practising examiners I should know I have worked with both of them! And they know their stuff! Students often let themselves down not due to lack of knowledge, but how to answer the question to maximise their grades. Many textbooks omit this. As a teacher of many years, I thought it was going to be yet another textbook, but I personally enjoyed it and found it quite refreshing to read, even though it is covering material I already know. Although the authors have not included a section on How Science works , it does not detract from the usefulness of the book. This section is best kept out as such information is not really necessary in a student textbook. That sort of information is more for teachers. I certainly will recommend this book to colleagues and my students. --Jenny Toal. Vice Chair of the ATP. Senior Examiner. Currently teaching Psychology at Countesthorpe Community College. Leicestershire

AS Level Psychology: The Students Textbook, written for the new (2008) AQA A Psychology syllabus, covers the whole specification in colour-coded, clear and concise chapters. Designed to facilitate a smooth transition between the current and new specifications, this definitive textbook allows many existing lesson plans and resources to be worked into the new syllabus. Each chapter is well illustrated with photos and diagrams and contains key studies and vignettes to engage the student. The innovative Ask an Examiner sections provide additional student-friendly hints and tips vital to exam success.

"The AS-Psychology Student's Textbook" is the definitive student's text for the 2008 AQA 'A' Psychology specification. This text covers the whole specification in colour-coded, clear and concise chapters. The philosophy behind this book is to facilitate a smooth transition between the current and the new specifications. The authors have looked closely at the way the new A level is designed, and have developed this text to ensure that the material you are familiar with, and for which you have lessons and resources, can be worked into the new design. Some changes in the specification are subtle, some are more obvious, but, throughout the book, the authors make it clear how the specification should be addressed.Electronic resources will also be available to enhance your provision. Each chapter is amply illustrated with photos and diagrams and contains key studies and vignettes to engage the student. These, together with the helpful "Ask an Examiner" sections make this the most user-friendly text available for the new AS specification. The book contains coverage of the all units described in the specification.

It covers: Research Methods, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences. An accompanying revision guide will be available in September 2008, and the partner A2 text and revision guides will follow.

Nigel Holt has a PhD in psychology and is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Bath Spa University, a senior team leader examiner at AS and A2 level and an editor of Psychology Review. In addition to teaching and examining, he spends time researching the use of e-learning and podcasting in psychology and talks regularly to A-level students at conferences around the UK. He is currently working on a European version of a leading university-level introductory psychology text. Rob Lewis has been teaching for over twenty years, lecturing in psychology at A/AS, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Recently, his primary focus has been initial teacher training. An extremely experienced examiner, having held senior examining posts with several exam boards, he continues to be involved in specification development and researching the fields of neuro and anomalistic psychology.

2008-04-25 Through the eyes of a teacher.

This really is this seasons 'must have' psychology text book. Although aimed at AQA 'A' it has relevence for all the major A level specs for the new syllabus. It offers a range of familiar and new research which adds a new spark to oft visited topics. Although we all encourage our students to 'go and find other material' we know that they probably will not bother. This text gives that extra insight. For me the book is not only logically set out, but is colour coded by section, which really speeds up finding the bit you are looking for. Each section is follows a fluid path which provides a useful backdrop for learning and I can see how you could easily structure lessons around this layout. I particularly liked the 'focus' studies as these have been designed to get the students thinking (a skill we sometimes forget they need) in a way that encourages a critical analysis of the research. I personally teach OCR but will ensure I have several copies of this text on my bookshelf and in the library by September.