Course Outline

PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A

Course Coordinator:Karina Rune (krune@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2024Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course provides an introduction to the social and cultural dimensions of human behaviour and mental processes, and their development. These are examined in relation to cognitive development, social development, social behaviour, personality, motivation, emotion, health and wellness, and intercultural and Indigenous cultural influences. The course also presents an introduction to methods of psychological research outside of the laboratory.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – 1 hour learning materials to review on Canvas in student own time 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus workshop - 2 hours workshops 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Seminar – Refer to CANVAS for details 1hr Week 1 2 times
Online
Learning materials – 1 hour learning material to review on Canvas in student own time 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – A weekly synchronous 2-hour online workshop 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Seminar – Refer to CANVAS for details 1hr Week 1 2 times

Course Topics

  • Science and pseudoscience in psychology
  • Research methods
  • Personality
  • Emotion and Motivation
  • Human Development
  • Social Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Cross-cultural Psychology

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 Remember, comprehend, apply, review, and explain the terminology, topics, issues, and theories of psychology. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Engaged
1, 1.1.1, 1.1.10, 1.1.12, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.7, 1.1.9, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6
2 Critically review empirical literature on a psychology topic and prepare a critical essay, that includes clear and concise academic writing and the appropriate use of APA formatting requirements. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
1.2, 1.3, 1.6
3 Use the scientific method to critically analyse information and develop knowledge about research designs. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6
4 Participate in and identify different types of psychological research designs and methodologies used in psychological research. Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
1.6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES: Graduates at this level have broad and coherent knowledge and skills in the scientific discipline of psychology. Programs for foundational competencies typically comprise an APAC-accredited sequence in psychology either as part of a 3-year program leading to a Bachelor Degree or as an equivalent stand-alone sequence of psychology units combined with a Bachelor Degree in a different discipline.
1.1.1 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology
1.1.10 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including social psychology
1.1.12 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including research methods and statistics
1.1.2 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality
1.1.3 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including psychological health and well-being
1.1.7 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including motivation and emotion
1.1.9 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including lifespan developmental psychology
1.1 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the following topics:
1.2 Graduates will be able to apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
1.3 Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.4 Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology.
1.5 Graduates will be able to demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
1.6 Graduates will be able to demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

SCS101

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will undertake early formative quizzes before week 4 and a peer reviewed article summary in Week. These formative assessments will not be included in the final mark, but will help students prepare for the weighted assessment tasks that will contribute to their final grade.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 30%
Refer to Canvas.
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Oral Group 25%
Refer to Canvas.
Week 6 Online Submission
All 3 Essay Individual 40%
1500 words

A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment item will be provided on Canvas.
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 4 Activity Participation Individual 5%
Approximately 2.5 hours

More information will be available on Canvas.
Week 13 To be Negotiated
All - Assessment Task 1:Task 1 Multiple Choice Quizzes
Goal:
The aim of the Multiple Choice Quizzes is for students to develop an understanding of the course content, to apply the knowledge of the course content, and to demonstrate their understanding of this knowledge.
Product: Quiz/zes
Format:
SUBMIT: 

This assessment task requires you to complete a series of multiple-choice questions (via Canvas) on the content covered in this course.

A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment item (as well as the start and closing times for each online assessment) will be provided on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accuracy and correctness of response.
1
All - Assessment Task 2:Task 2 Group Presentation
Goal:
To create a group presentation on a given psychological topic.
Product: Oral
Format:
Refer to Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to summarise and synthesis research article in an oral group presentation.
1 3
All - Assessment Task 3:Task 3 Essay
Goal:
The goals of this task are for you to communicate your understanding of psychological research and theory to correctly write and format a psychology essay on a given topic within psychology.

More information will be available on Canvas.
Product: Essay
Format:
You will be given a topic within psychology and need to find relevant research and critically review the research in a manner that is appropriate for the psychology discipline. 

A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment item will be provided on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to summarise and synthesise research literature in an argumentative (persuasive) essay.
2 3
All - Assessment Task 4:Task 4 Research Participation
Goal:
The goal of this task is for you to gain experience in psychological research by participating in real and/or mock research projects.

More information will be available on Canvas.
Product: Activity Participation
Format:
You are invited to participate in selected research projects on offer by the psychology team (including research conducted by Honours, Masters, and PhD students). This task gives you the opportunity to familiarise yourself, and receive 'hands on' experience, with the conduct of psychological research. 

More information will be provided on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Participation in research.
4

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au