The University of Adelaide
Course Outlines

PSYCHOL 1000 - Psychology IA

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

This course, together with PSYCHOL 1001, provides an introduction to the basic concepts and core topics within contemporary psychology. The two courses may be taken singly or in combination. Core topics covered over the year will include the development of the individual over the lifespan; the study of the person in a social context; differences between people with respect to their intelligence and personality; issues related to individual adjustment and maladjustment; the biological bases of behaviour; the interpretation by the brain of sensory signals from the external environment; the mechanisms underlying learning; the encoding, storage and retrieval of information; the nature of motivation and emotion; and culture and cross-cultural psychology. The courses will also provide an introduction to the methodological approaches employed by psychologists to study these topics. Major findings to emerge from psychological research will be presented, and the practical significance of such work will be discussed. Practical work will address the conventions of psychological report-writing and the ethical principles underlying psychological research and practice.

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  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 1000
    Course Psychology IA
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible PSYCHOL 1000A/B
    Assessment Assignments, practical exercises, research participation, multiple choice exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Matthew Dry

    School of Psychology Office: psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.au; ph +61 8313 5693
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1.    Demonstrate an introductory knowledge of selected areas of basic psychological enquiry
    2.    Demonstrate an understanding of how psychology is applied to real-life problems
    3.    Critically evaluate knowledge claims regarding psychological theory
    4.    Recognize a range of different research methodologies within the discipline of Psychology
    5.    Present written reports that follow the basic conventions of written communication within the discipline of Psychology
    6.    Demonstrate elementary skills in the quantitative analysis of psychological data
    7.    Demonstrate elementary skills in the interpretation of psychological data
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-7
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3, 5, 6, 7
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1-7
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-7
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1, 2, 3
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1, 2, 3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    1) Digital Resource: Connect for Passer & Smith (2013)
    2) Textbook: Passer, M. W. & Smith, R. E. (2013). Psychology – The Science of Mind and Behaviour (Australian Edition). McGraw-Hill: North Ryde, NSW
    3) Writing Guide: Taines, C. (2013). A Practical Guide to Writing: Psychology (2nd Edition). McGraw-Hill: North Ryde, NSW

    The Passer & Smith text and Connect digital resource will be essential tools for completing the courses Psychology 1A and 1B.

    The three resources are available as a discounted package at UniBooks

    For additional information regarding required resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Recommended Resources
    Barr Smith Library – Psychology on the Web
    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    For additional information regarding recommended resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link:

    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Online Learning
    In this course you will participate in online learning environments via MyUni (https://auth.adelaide.edu.au/login).

    In your online learning you will read, listen to a number of presentations, be expected to participate in online discussions via discussion boards, and complete and submit assessments online.

    This course may also use MyUni for one or more of the following:

    •    Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    •    Submission of summative assessment
    •    Access to lecture recordings
    •    Access to tutorial materials
    •    Additional readings
    •    Self-directed learning activities
    •    Exam preparation materials

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/  


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Psychology IA is comprised of a lecture series and a complementary series of online modules; both of these components cover a representative range of psychological topics and illustrate some of the various approaches currently employed in psychological research.  Materials in the online modules such as videos, interactive “mini-experiments” and formative quizzes support and extend the lecture series. Both the lectures and the on-line content are important and examinable; therefore, you should fully engage with both aspects of the course.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with course requirements.

    Lectures = 35 hours
    Exam = 1.5 hours
    Research Participation = 3 hours
    MAEs = 24 hours
    Research evaluation assignment = 22.5 hours
    Weekly Reading, Online Supplementary Material, etc = 50 hours
    Exam Preparation = 20 hours
    TOTAL = 156 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Begininng Week No Tuesday 3-4pm Thursday 4-5pm Friday 2-3pm Work Due
    March 2 1 Introduction to course Social Psychology Social Psychology
    March 9 2 Social Psychology Social Psychology Social Psychology   
    March 16 3 Research Participation Information Session Psychology: Options for Study & Career Science of Psychology Social Psychology MAE
    March 23 4 Research Evaluation Assignment Information Session 1 Science of Psychology Science of Psychology
    March 30 5 Memory & Cognition Memory & Cognition Good Friday Public Holiday Science of Psychology MAE
    April 6 6 Memory & Cognition Memory & Cognition Memory & Cognition
    April 13 Break
    April 20 Break
    April 27 7 Research Evaluation Assignment Information Session 2 Cross Cultural Cross Cultural Memory & Cognition MAE
    May 4 8 Cross Cultural Cross Cultural Cross Cultural Research Evaluation Assignment
    May 11 9 Ethics Biological Bases of Behaviour Biological Bases of Behaviour Cross Cultural MAE
    May 18 10 Biological Bases of Behaviour Biological Bases of Behaviour Biological Bases of Behaviour
    May 25 11 Mental Health Mental Health Mental Health Biological Bases MAE
    June 1 12 Mental Health Mental Health Exam Prep Research Participation or Alternative
    June 8 Swot Vac Mental Health MAE
    June 15 Swot Vac & Exam
    June 22 Exam
    June 29 Exam
    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This course does not offer a Small Group Discovery Experience. Please see PSYCHOL 1004 Research Methods in Psychology for information regarding a Small Group Discovery Experience.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    End of Semester Examination Summative 55% 1, 2, 3, 6, 7
    Module Assessment Exercises Summative 20% 1-4, 6, 7
    Research Evaluation Assignment Summative 15% 1, 2, 3, 5
    Research Participation/Alternative Summative 10% 4
    Assessment Detail
    Please refer to the Level IA Psychology Handbook and the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for further details relating to assessment http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Submission
    Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for details on submission process/requirements, penalties for late submission, the process of applying for extensions, and the staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback and policy relating to re-submission/redemptive work.

    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
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