These create the basis of your psychological knowledge. The way these units work is structured and linear, so they are required to be completed in a specific order. You must finish the foundational units, then the intermediate units, and then the advanced units. Covered in more detail below.
Psychology foundations: The individual
Unit Code: PSY4111
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
Discover psychology’s historical origins as you build your understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline, and acquire the ability to conduct rigorous literature reviews. In ‘Psychology foundations: The individual’ you will learn how scientific research supports contemporary psychological theory and practice, exploring psychological theories related to learning, development, sensation and perception, personality, and the neurobiological basis of behaviour. There is a joint emphasis on the important role of cultural competency in understanding human behaviour, and you will learn to apply an Australian Indigenous lens to psychological research and practice.
Psychology foundations: The social self
Unit Code: PSY4122
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
‘Psychology foundations: The social self’ serves as an introduction to the scientific discipline of psychology, and provides foundational knowledge in key areas including theories of social behaviour, emotion and motivation, and the cognitive processes underlying human memory. You will learn about the psychological research methodology, using descriptive and inferential statistics to justify your research in the form of a formal research proposal. Weaved throughout the unit is an ongoing discussion of cross-cultural similarities and differences, and the potential pitfalls of applying mainstream understandings of psychology beyond the culture from which those insights were derived.
Psychological inquiry: theory, methods and practice 1
Unit Code: PSY4051
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
This unit expands upon topics in psychological inquiry initially presented in the foundational psychology units. You will further develop your understanding of the different theoretical perspectives on research and how these relate to the research process. You will develop your knowledge and skill in using some of the most common methods of research and statistical analysis. Specific topics include; theories of knowledge and research, parametric and nonparametric procedures to compare two or more independent or matched samples; correlation and linear regression; planned and post hoc comparison techniques; power and sample size considerations; interpretation of output; experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research strategies; between- and within-subjects designs; and research ethics. There is a strong practical component to the unit, including authentic assessments and regular hands-on tutorial experiences, designed to advance your competency in applying a range of common research techniques and analyses.
Developmental and biological psychology
Unit Code: PSY4131
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
Psychology is a scientific discipline which spans a diverse range of areas. This unit provides a continuation of two psychology topics that you will have learnt about in the foundational units. Developmental psychology encompasses physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes across the life span and how these are shaped by macrosystems such as culture, and microsystems such as peers and the family. Biological psychology includes states of consciousness, mental disorders and addiction, mechanisms and disorders of learning and memory, and the regulation of emotional and motivated states. Unit activities provide further training in research techniques, report writing, oral presentations and teamwork.
Psychopathology and clinical science
Unit Code: PSY4032
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
This unit develops your understanding of how human behaviour is classified as ‘pathological’ through examination of the historical influences and the theory of the aetiology, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders.
Adopting a biopsychosocial-cultural perspective across the lifespan, this unit will provide broad and comprehensive knowledge of both scientific and professional aspects of psychopathology.
Psychological testing and ethics
Unit Code: PSY4041
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
Testing and assessment is a major component of psychological research and practice, which is why ‘Psychological testing and ethics’ teaches the underlying principles and processes of test development, administration and interpretation, as well as the ethical and legal responsibilities that underpin psychological research and practice. By investigating widely used psychological tests, critiquing various criteria including test reliability and validity, with a focus on theories of ability, and how our thinking about human abilities is influenced by our cultural framework. You will also learn how ethical principles apply to psychological research and practice by examining specific ethical dilemmas and case studies.
Psychological inquiry: Theory, methods, and practice 2
Unit Code: PSY4062
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
This unit will enhance your scientific aptitude and critical thinking abilities applicable to empirical research in psychology, and enhance your pragmatic problem-solving skills. In this unit, you will continue your training in psychological inquiry across three areas: theory, methods, and practice. In the theory component, you will learn about different theoretical perspectives on knowledge and research, including various quantitative and qualitative theories. In the methods component, you will develop your knowledge and ability to design complex research methodologies using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
In the practice component, you will undertake complex statistical analyses, such as parametric and nonparametric procedures that compare three or more variables, the use of planned and post hoc comparison techniques, as well as techniques that investigate relationships and predictions involving three or more variables. There are strong practical components incorporated into the unit designed to advance and showcase your competency in undertaking individual research. To bring together your knowledge and skills in research theory, methods, and practice, you will undertake a research project under the supervision of a staff member.
Perception and cognition
Unit Code: PSY4081
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
‘Perception and cognition’, divided in two interrelated halves, covers both perception and cognition. Following a cognitive psychology methodology, you will learn about the sensory processes involved in vision, audition and speech perception, sensory coding mechanisms and perceptual processing. The second half of the unit encompasses the acquisition, organisation, and retrieval of knowledge, with an emphasis on contemporary research techniques, cognitive architecture, attentional processes, models of learning and memory, mental imagery, language and higher-order thinking.
Personality and social psychology
Unit Code: PSY4151
Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week
Duration: 6 weeks
Description:
Investigate the history and philosophy of social psychology and personality, two fields that have radically altered our understanding of social identity, meaning and relationships. The first half of ‘Personality and social psychology’ will demonstrate how social psychology theories – such as behaviour in groups, aggression, attraction, dehumanisation and attitude change – are applied and critiqued in light of contemporary behaviour and new knowledge. In the second half of the unit, you will examine and compare distinct personality theories, including psychoanalytic, phenomenological, trait, and social learning approaches to personality.
