Admission and Unit Information – Bachelor of Psychology

Psychology is a field of scientific inquiry that uses a set of scientific techniques and methods to explain and understand the causes of behaviour. As a profession, psychology applies its knowledge to practical problems in human behaviour. This unit covers a range of topics in psychology at an introductory level including: the history of psychology, intelligence, social psychology, developmental psychology, indigenous and cultural psychology, personality, and abnormal psychology.

This unit instructs students in the practical techniques required for planning, conducting and presenting research, with particular reference to research issues encountered in psychology. The primary focus is not on statistical issues, but on essential skills and knowledge in scientific investigation. Topics covered include scientific method, research design and process, internal and external validity, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, nonexperimental and survey research, critical literature reviews, identifying research problems and formulating hypotheses, measurement, sampling, ethical issues, data collection and statistical analysis, and writing research proposals and reports according to the conventions of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).

This unit provides an introduction to the biological and neuroscientific bases of human behaviour. Topics covered include the chemistry of life, the molecular basis of life, the cell and some of the major organ systems of the human body with particular reference to the nervous, endocrine and sensory systems. The course has a significant laboratory component which reinforces lecture and text material. Students will be introduced to the biological and neuroscientific concepts necessary for a thorough understanding of areas of psychology such as abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, developmental psychology, human learning, and physiological psychology.

Psychology is a field of scientific inquiry that uses a set of scientific techniques and methods to explain and understand the causes of behaviour. As a profession, psychology applies its knowledge to practical problems in human behaviour. This unit covers a range of topics in psychology at an introductory level including memory, perception, learning, and the workings of the brain.

This unit introduces psychology students to the basic aspects of reasoning and argument, with particular emphasis on psychological and scientific thinking. It aims to help students develop the skills needed to understand and evaluate psychological research and the processes of scientific reasoning, and to present their own ideas and arguments effectively. Topics covered include: barriers to critical thinking; nonrational forms of persuasion; the structure of arguments; the concepts of knowledge, belief, truth, validity, soundness, values; linguistics sources of confusion; evaluating arguments; formal and informal fallacies in reasoning; deduction and induction in science; arguments related to enduring debates and worldviews in psychology.

Human Learning is concerned with the experimental analysis of human and animal behaviour and focuses upon associative learning, including classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning approaches. Definitions, assumptions, and basic phenomena associated with the study of learning are described and evaluated in terms of their ability to account for various aspects of human behaviour and experience. The practical work highlights important concepts introduced in the lecture program and focuses upon practical techniques of use in everyday situations.

This unit is driven by the scientific method with a focus on experimental design and related data analysis. Although some of the methods and techniques are dealt with in passing in earlier units, a more complete approach is adopted here. Research design and methodology issues, statistical concepts and techniques, computer analysis of data, and communicating research findings are all features of this unit.

This unit examines the fundamental principles underlying human perception and expands upon the sensation and perception content introduced in the foundational psychology units. After reviewing the biological basis of sensing and perceiving, we will explore the way this relatively raw information is processed and organised into the complex perceptions of the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and somatosensory systems, which constitute the fundamental basis of our experience of the world. The unit will also examine the history of perceptual theories and the use of psychophysical methods and experimental approaches to the study of perceptual processes

Cognitive psychology studies the mental processes that underpin attention, perception, learning and memory. Conceptual and research questions include: How do we recognize speech, faces, or music? What are the structures and mechanisms of human memory? What processes underpin acquisition of language, and are the processes similar when we learn a second language? What processes are involved in reading? What factors affect attention and performance? Is creativity anything more than problem solving? Contemporary theories will be discussed and evaluated. Investigative research methods include experiments, computer modelling, clinical case studies, and brain imaging.

The study of motivation and emotion attempts to understand why a person engages in certain actions and why he/she has certain feelings and thoughts. In addition to being an interesting topic in its own right, concepts of motivation and emotion are central to many broader aspects of psychology. Therefore, in addition to examining core motivation and emotion research and theory, the unit also explores the topic's relationship with other areas of psychology, and its relevance to central debates discussed throughout the discipline. Emphasis is placed on a critical understanding of the relevant research and its implications for theory and practice.

This unit advances upon the research methods and statistics taught in the prerequisite unit, Experimental Design and Analysis. It introduces students to nonexperimental, correlational research design, and develops skills in survey research, including questionnaire design and administration, and survey sampling. Knowledge and skills in the construction and evaluation of psychological tests are also taught. Accompanying correlational statistical techniques are taught, together with advanced analysis of variance, and instruction in the use of SPSS. The unit also develops skills in conducting and reporting psychological research.

Personality is the study of the mental and behavioral factors on which individual human beings vary. In other words, the study of personality is the attempt to understand why a given individual is the way he/she is. This unit involves an examination of the major personality theories, applications to individual differences, and contemporary research. Emphasis is placed on a critical understanding of personality research and its implications for the practice of psychology.

This unit provides an overview of the origins and historical development of psychology. It examines the major landmarks in the history of psychology, focusing on important individuals, schools of thought, and recurrent ideas and themes. Historical conceptual problems are related to areas of controversy within contemporary psychology, and an insight is provided into the philosophical underpinnings of the various new movements and major theoretical conflicts within psychology today. The unit also provides a critical appraisal of psychology's status as a science, and explores the limits of psychological inquiry.

Abnormal Psychology is the study of behaviours that cause distress or dysfunction or are judged as deviant within the individual's culture. This unit examines definitions of abnormality, ways of assessing and diagnosing abnormality, theories of the causation of psychological abnormality and treatments for recognized psychological disorders. Diagnostic criteria from the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are applied to illustrative cases with emphasis on contemporary Australian research and theory. The development of integrated models of abnormality, including biological, psychological and social factors, is a significant theme of the unit.

Note: The unit offerings for the 1H and 2H Teaching Periods at Bankstown and Penrith campuses listed above are available only for students enrolled in courses 1670 - Bachelor of Education (Birth - 5 years) and 1615 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Child and Family). Please note that enrolments will be monitored and students who are not enrolled in courses 1670 or 1615 will be required to withdraw from 1H/2H and enrol in one of the alternative Teaching Periods listed above. Structured around an overview of lifespan development including diversity, this unit explores the holistic nature of growth and development through developmental theory and research. This unit highlights the interactive nature of three main areas of development: biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that affect the individual from conception to end of life. The unit encourages observation as a means for understanding development and promoting individuals well being. An understanding of indigenous development will be integrated into the unit alongside an appreciation of richness in diversity within various cultural contexts.

Social psychology is the study of human behaviour and mental processes in their social context. Social psychology examines social behaviour and social thinking using scientific psychological research methods. This unit considers both classic and recent theories, research and applications in core areas of social psychology such as: attitudes, stereotyping and prejudice, social cognition, group processes, cross-cultural and indigenous psychology, and social influence. Emphasis is placed upon the role of contemporary research and theory in increasing our understanding of social phenomena and the relevance of this to everyday life.

This unit acquaints students with current research issues in the psychology of language. It uses experimental psychology methods to research areas such as: cross-language speech perception, speech production, second language acquisition, spoken word recognition, bilingualism, processing of syntax and morphology, visual word recognition, reading and writing, and speech technology.

Health Psychology is a branch of psychology concerned with the inter-relationship between psychological factors and physical health. It addresses such issues as the possible role of psychological characteristics in health maintenance and promotion, and in the development of illness. Other aspects include reactions to illness, the contribution of psychology to treatment, and explicit means by which health-relevant behaviours might be modified. This unit provides an introduction to Health Psychology and covers theoretical and research issues, the nature and management of stress and pain, issues concerning the receipt of health care and a selection of specific health problems.

Building on concepts and theories introduced in 'Cognitive Processes', methods, theories and practical approaches are applied to the analysis of behaviour, tasks and the solving of problems in workplace, operational and educational settings. Principles from cognitive psychology and learning are applied to the analysis, evaluation, and improvement of software, product and instructional design. Human perception, memory, decision-making and cognitive workload are examined in the context of complex and dynamic environments such as human-machine interaction, ageing populations, expert domains such as music, aviation, sport, and forensic psychology.

This unit exposes students to advanced psychological methods. This will provide a strong basis for postgraduate studies and further strengthen applied research skills. The first half year will focus on qualitative methods. It will be assumed that students have not been exposed to these methods previously and this component of the unit will begin with an introduction to the topic before progressing to the major qualitative methods. The second half year will focus on quantitative methods and aims to extend and challenge some of the common statistical methods taught in earlier units.

This unit equips students with the skills needed to design and develop a research project, to operationalise their research question, to select and undertake the appropriate methods of analysis, and to effectively present results. The program is one year long, and is taught on the assumption that students have a statistical competence in multi-way analysis of variance, bivariate regression analysis, and basic non-parametric procedures. This includes demonstrated computational ability using the statistical package SPSS.

Theory and Practice of Psychological Assessment and Intervention has been designed to develop practitioner competence by providing you with both relevant practical as well as theoretical input regarding the administration, scoring, and interpretation of some of the more frequently used standardised measures within an assessment context. In this unit, the scientific and ethical underpinnings of psychological testing and assessment are initially advanced in order to provide a general context for the employment of standardised psychological tests. Emphasis will then be placed on familiarising you with i) the processes that practitioners go through during a testing session and ii) current research employing the standardised tests presented in this unit. The unit will provide you with a foundation in psychological testing and assessment, allowing you to make informed use of some testing data and psychological reports. A further aim of the unit is to familiarise students with the principles of evidence based practice in psychological interventions.

This unit exposes students to advanced psychological methods. This will provide a strong basis for postgraduate studies and further strengthen applied research skills. The first half year will focus on qualitative methods. It will be assumed that students have not been exposed to these methods previously and this component of the unit will begin with an introduction to the topic before progressing to the major qualitative methods. The second half year will focus on quantitative methods and aims to extend and challenge some of the common statistical methods taught in earlier units.

This unit equips students with the skills needed to design and develop a research project, to operationalise their research question, to select and undertake the appropriate methods of analysis, and to effectively present results. The program is one year long, and is taught on the assumption that students have a statistical competence in multi-way analysis of variance, bivariate regression analysis, and basic non-parametric procedures. This includes demonstrated computational ability using the statistical package SPSS.

This unit provides an introduction to basic counselling and consultation skills. Students are provided with a theoretical overview of the 'helping relationship' and have opportunities to learn and practice basic counselling skills. There is a focus on specific approaches such as solution focused and narrative therapies together with a range of ways of working with young children, adolescents, teachers and families. The unit provides structured opportunities to reflect on personal and professional development with the counsellor role.

In this unit students will study and critically evaluate the psychological theories and procedures that underlie contemporary approaches to the assessment and treatment of addictive behaviours. The emphasis will be on social learning theory conceptualisations of addictive behaviours and cognitive-behavioural models of assessment and treatment. This material will be at an advanced level building on the students' psychological knowledge from their first three years of study.

The aim of this unit is to develop an advanced level of theoretical and empirical knowledge in core topics of psychology, and an awareness of how this knowledge underpins evidence-based approaches to psychological intervention. The unit fosters an appreciation of how psychology as a scientific discipline based on sound research provides the foundation for psychological intervention and practice. Skills in the critical evaluation of knowledge and research are developed.

This unit will explore important issues related to developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents. It will focus on the criteria, etiology, and developmental progression, considering risk and resilience factors within a normative developmental approach. This unit will also consider the assessment, treatment and prevention and current developments including behaviour therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, in childhood disorders. Psychopharmacology will also be discussed.