HPS104 - Foundations of Psychological Science

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2022 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2022 unit information

Important Update:

Unit delivery will be in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. We continue to tailor learning experiences for each unit to achieve the best possible mix of online and on-campus activities that successfully blend our approaches to learning, working and research. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates.

Last updated: 4 March 2022

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Warrnambool, Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Trimester 3: Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Alexander Mussap
Trimester 3: Alexander Mussap
Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

HBS108

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 2 hour class (online) per week
1 x 1 hour Q & A (online) per week
1 x 2 hour seminar (campus) per fortnight

Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

1 x 2 hour class (online) per week
1 x 1 hour Q & A (online) per week
1 x 2 hour seminar (online) per fortnight

Content

This unit introduces students to the empirical foundations of psychology. The central question addressed is: 'What does it mean to be an evidence-based practitioner of psychology?'. Topics include: the nature of evidence in psychology; the relationship between psychological research and practice; experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental quantitative research designs; qualitative research; threats to the reliability and validity of research; statistics and the interpretation of results; ethical research and ethical practice in psychology.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

ULO1

Explain psychological phenomena: Describe the empirical and logical bases of psychological science.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

ULO2

Test the validity of psychological explanations: Formulate a research question and select an appropriate research design.

 GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

ULO3

Conduct research into psychological phenomena: Implement a research design in a manner that is valid, ethical and feasible.

 GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO6: Self-management
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO4

Understand the results of psychological research: Describe and interpret the results of an empirical investigation into a psychological phenomenon.

 GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

Assessment

Trimester 1, Trimester 2 :
Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)		 Indicative due week
Assessment 1: Experimental Research Designs 500 words 10%
  • Week 7
Assessment 2: Observational Research Designs 500 words 10%
  • Week 9
Assessment 3: Design Implementation 750 words 20%
  • Week 12
Assessment 4: Plain Language Statement 500 words 10%
  • Week 12
Assessment 5: Examination 90 minutes 50%
  • Examination period
Trimester 3:
Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)		 Indicative due week
Assessment 1: Experimental Research Designs 500 words 10%
  • Week 7
Assessment 2: Observational Research Designs 500 words 10%
  • Week 9
Assessment 3: Design Implementation 750 words 20%
  • Week 11
Assessment 4: Plain Language Statement 500 words 10%
  • Week 11
Assessment 5: Examination 90 minutes 50%
  • Examination period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: HPS104 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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