Investigating a Murder with Forensic Psychology (FutureLearn)

Experience what it’s like to be a detective in a murder investigation as you learn how psychology can help crack the case. Explore applied psychology in the context of a criminal case. Psychology plays an important role in police enquiries. It can help build rapport, plan interviews, detect deception, and understand cognitive bias.

Enroll in course

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On this four-week course, you’ll explore the way suspects are dealt with during a police investigation and how psychology can help the police with their enquiries.

This immersive and engaging short course will showcase applied psychology in a highly interesting context.
Take on the role of detective to investigate a murder

You’ll become a detective investigating a murder as you join two fictional detectives working alongside a senior investigating officer.

This complex criminal case has been carefully written to be realistic by a team of academic and policing practitioner experts.
Understand the psychological skills of building rapport and identifying cognitive bias

You’ll delve into the psychological skills that can help police in an investigation. You’ll learn how to spot a liar, how to establish rapport, the impact of cognitive bias, and how to plan an interview.

This will also include investigating falses confessions and developing and assessing an interview plan.
Learn from the experts at The Open University

This interactive course has been created by the experts at The Open University’s Centre for Policing Research and Learning, and Forensic Cognition Research Group.

You’ll learn from the specialists with a well-established network of policing practitioners.

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to the case

Week 2: Suspect interviews and establishing rapport

Week 3: Confessions

Week 4: Conclusion to the case

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Synthesise and apply psychological knowledge regarding detecting deception

- Develop and assess an interview plan

- Apply a psychological model of rapport to suspect interviews

- Investigate false confessions

- Identify potential forms of cognitive bias in investigations

- Apply psychological research to a simulated case study
Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in policing careers, psychology, or the law.

It may also be beneficial for those interested in writing crime fiction.