PSYCHOL 6506OL - Social Psychology

Online - Online Teaching 5 - 2021

What cognitive processes are involved in prejudice and discrimination? What are the factors that influence a person?s likelihood to identify with a particular group? How do we talk about racism? These are some of the questions that social psychologists are interested in exploring. In this course you will learn about topics central to contemporary research in social psychology, examining the principles and processes that enable us to understand human social behaviour. You will learn about social cognition approaches, processes of social influence, behaviour in groups, and theories of social thinking and ideology. Through critical 2021 FHMS Minor Course Change Request Form (Updated January 2020) examination of these topics, you will be introduced to four different levels of analysis in social psychology, which will provide you with a broad understanding of the range of epistemological traditions that underpin social psychological research.

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Course Details

Course Code	PSYCHOL 6506OL
Course	Social Psychology
Coordinating Unit	Psychology
Term	Online Teaching 5
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	Online
Units	3
Contact	1 to 2 hour online tutorial
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	PSYCHOL 6500OL and PSYCHOL 6501OL
Restrictions	Graduate Diploma in Psychology or Graduate Certificate in Psychology
Assessment	Online Assessments and Written Assignments

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Sophie Dahlenburg

Email: sophie.dahlenburg@adelaide.edu.au

Course Timetable

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

Full details of each week's activities can be found in MyUni.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Explain a variety of theories and methods used in social psychology research.
2. Contrast between social psychological theories operating at different levels of analysis.
3. Critically evaluate knowledge claims in contemporary social psychology topics.
4. Apply social psychology theory and methods to address real world problems.
5. Communicate applications of social psychology to varied audiences.

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)	1,2,3,4,5
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	1,2,3,4
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	1,4,5
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1,2,3,4,5
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	3,4,5
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	3,4,5

Learning Resources

Required Resources

This is a fully online offering. Students will require access to the internet to access course content, readings, assessments and to engage in online tutorials. All required readings, including the online text-books, will be provided within course modules. If you wish to also purchase hard copies of the textbooks, please find the details below, in ‘Recommended Resources’.

Recommended Resources

Augoustinos, M., Walker, I. & Donaghue, N. (2014). Social Cognition: An Integrated Introduction (3rd edition)

Passer, M. W. & Smith. R. E. (2019). Psychology: the science of mind and behaviour. McGraw-Hill Education: Australia.

Online Learning

This is a fully online offering. Myuni will be used for all course materials, communication, links to curated resources, online tutorial support and assignments including submissions, feedback and grades.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Engagement with course content is facilitated by online presentations, interactive online activities, curated readings and resources, and self directed research and study supported by weekly online tutorial sessions. There are 6 Weekly Modules with learning scaffolded across the modules to ensure that students develop deep discipline knowledge as well as the academic literacy, research skills and capacity to apply and communicate their understanding as specified for an AQF8 level offering.

Workload

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

This course is a 6-week intensive, accelerated learning offering. Students should expect to spend around 24-25 hours per week engaging with the online content, in private study, attending online tutorials and completing the assignments for this course.

Hours per Week:
1.5 Hours - Tutorial
1 Hour - Tutorial Preparation
9 Hours - Assessment related tasks
10 Hours - Engaging with online content including video presentations, podcasts, directed research activities, discussions, interactive tasks
3 Hours - Readings

Learning Activities Summary

Weekly Modules cover:

1. Introduction to Social Psychology
-What is social psychology?
-Levels of analysis
-Theory and ethics in social pscyhology

2. Social Cognition
-Core priniples
-Social Perception
-Attribution and attitudes
-Automaticity, implicit bias & stereotypes

3. Social Influence
-Key concepts
-Persuasion
-Prosocial behaviour
-Conformity

4. Behaviour in Groups
-Groups and levels of analysis
-The Individual within the group
-Social identity theory
-Contemporary theories of racism

5. Social Representations Theory
-What is social representation theory?
-Reified and consensual worlds
-Structural characteristics and processes of representations

6. Discursive Psychology
-Core principles
-Analysing discourse
-Discursive Psychology and traditional social psychology

Specific Course Requirements

Nil

Small Group Discovery Experience

N/A

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

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

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Reflection (Module 1 and 2)	Formative & Summative	Sunday 11:59pm Week 2	20%	1,2,3,4,5
Policy recommendations	Summative	Sunday 11:59pm Week 4	40%	1,3,4,5
Reflective Journal (Modules 3-6)	Summative	Sunday 11:59pm Week 6	40%	1,2,3,4,5

Assessment Related Requirements

Submission via Turnitin. All assignments are due by 11:59pm on the Sunday at the end of the week in which they are due. A penalty of 5% per day applies for late submissions.

Extensions are granted on medical, compassionate or other special circumstances recognised under the University’s Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy. The completed extension application form and any documentation (such as a medical or counsellor's certification) should be emailed to the course coordinator and submitted before the due date. The course coordinator will consider the request in the light of the case made and University deadlines, and may grant an extension of up to three days.

Assessment Detail

Assessment # 1 Reflection (20% 350 words X 2 entries = 700 words; due week 2)
In this task you will reflect on the content you have learned about in topics for module 1 and 2 by including a description of relevant theory, critical reflection on the theory as it pertains to some real life examples, and personal reflection on the topic.

Assessment #2: (40% 1800 words; due week 4). You will write a paper that provides a literature review and a series of brief policy recommendations for a specified topic related to a global social issue of your choice (details provided in the course). Assessment #2 comprises two parts: Part 1 is the paper. This will include an introduction and outline of the issue, an overview of relevant theory and research, and four policy recommendations based on the research presented. Part 2 is a 3-5 minute presentation of your four policy recommendations that includes justification/rationale as to why you are recommending them.

Assessment #3: Reflective Journal (40% 350 words X 4 entries = 1400 words) on the prescribed topics for modules 3-6. The purpose of this assessment is to demonstrate content knowledge across modules; to develop critical engagement with social psychological theories; to apply theory to real-world examples; and to reflect upon your own beliefs, assumptions and prior knowledge when evaluating social psychological theories.

Submission

Assignment submission, feedback and grading is done via Myuni

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.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator