Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Analyse the historical roots of psychology and of key philosophical questions.

• Explain psychology as a science within a social context.

• Apply simple options for research design and data analysis.

• Critically evaluate key ideas, concepts, theories and experiments across various psychological disciplines.

Unit Description

This is the first unit to be taken by students studying either a 4 unit minor sequence in psychology or the 8 unit major sequence. It is designed to orient students to the discipline of psychology as a science embedded within a social context. The unit has three themes. First, students will understand the history of psychology, noting its philosophical, scientific and medical roots. Students will be given limited exposure to key philosophical problems in psychology. Psychology will then be placed within the framework of ‘Science’ and students introduced to: (1) the scientific method; and (2) critical analysis of scientific claims through the use of the FiLCHeRS criteria. Psychology as a science will then be contrasted with psychology as an activist discipline able to inform positive community change. In the unit’s second theme, students will be taught key skills in their study of the discipline. These will focus on the ability to use library resources, understand the literature and when writing a report implement APA formatting. To assist in understanding the literature students will be exposed to research design options and simple data analysis techniques (eg. M, SD, z, t, r and r2). The unit’s third theme focuses on the biological basis of behaviour. Students will be introduced to the normal and abnormal brain, how we learn and remember, sense and perceive and how the central and peripheral nervous systems work alongside the endocrine system to cause a stress response.

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Unit offerings

Face to face: (Every Year, Semester 1)
Face to face: (Every Year, Semester 2)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.