PSYCHOL 1000 - Psychology IA

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021

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. Pre-recorded lectures will be posted online via MyUni and face-to-face teaching will take the form of interactive lectures and workshops.

  • 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 1 hour per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible PSYCHOL 1100
    Course Description 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.
    Pre-recorded lectures will be posted online via MyUni and face-to-face teaching will take the form of interactive lectures and workshops.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Rachel Stephens

    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 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 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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2, 3, 4, 6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1-3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Textbook: Passer, M. W. & Smith, R. E. (2019). Psychology – The Science of Mind and Behaviour (Australian Edition). McGraw-Hill: North Ryde, NSW

    This book can be purchased by students, and an online version is available through the university library.

    Earlier editions of the Passer & Smith text will also be sutiable for the courses Psychology 1A and 1B.


    For additional information regarding required resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook on MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
    Passer & Smith - Connect Digital Resource
    The Passer & Smith textbook publisher offers an additional digital resource called "Connect", which gives access to the LearnSmart learning tool. You will find this useful for completing the courses Psychology 1A and 1B.

    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 on MyUni.
    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 series of online lectures and learning activities, and a complementary series of interactive face-to-face workshops; 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 learning activities such as videos, interactive “mini-experiments” and formative quizzes support and extend the lecture series. The online lectures, the online learning activities and the interactive workshop content are important and examinable; therefore, you should fully engage with all aspects of the course.
    Workload

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


    Online Lectures: 15 hours (5 x 30 min lectures per module)

    Workshops = 6 hours

    Module Assessment Exercises = 24 hours

    Research Participation = 3 hours

    Major Assignment = 32

    LearnSmart = 5 hours

    Online Supplementary Materials = 17

    Weekly Reading = 30

    Exam Preparation = 24

    Total = 156 hours


    Learning Activities Summary
    See the Psychology 1A MyUni page for a detailed outline of module topics
  • 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 50% 1, 2, 3, 6
    Module Assessment Exercises Summative 20% 1-4, 6
    Written Research Assignment Summative 20% 1, 2, 3, 5
    Research Participation/Alternative Summative 5% 4
    Tutorial Engagement Summative 5% 1-4

    Assessment Detail
    Please refer to the Level IA Psychology Handbook and the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available on MyUni) for further details relating to assessment.
    Submission
    Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available on MyUni) 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.
    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
  • 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.