Overview
This unit provides an introduction to the primary philosophies and key theories and frameworks that are fundamental to the study of psychology. You will examine the interplay of biological and social factors that underpin our understanding of people and behaviour. The biological content of the unit explores the structures and functions of the brain and nervous system, sensory and perceptual processes, learning and behaviour, and states of consciousness. The social content of the unit introduces you to motivation and emotion, human lifespan development, social cognition and perception and cross-cultural psychology, personality, psychological disorders, and intelligence. This unit is applicable to students studying a psychology course and those students from a variety of courses.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluation feedback and in-class comments.
Students appreciated extra learning materials such as videos and Ted Talks.
Provide extra learning materials such as Ted Talks and explainer videos.
Feedback from Student evaluation feedback and in-class comments.
Students stated discussing real-world examples of psychological concepts assisted learning.
Present case studies that show real-world examples of psychological concepts.
- Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
- Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.
- Reflect on, and engage with, key psychological concepts in an objective manner.
Learning outcomes are linked to the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) Standards - Foundational Competencies:
Students will be able to
1.1 Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the following topics:
- the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology
- individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality
- psychological health and well-being
- psychological disorders and evidence-based interventions
- cognition, language and perception
- motivation and emotion
- neuroscience and the biological bases of behaviour
- social psychology
1.2 Apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
1.3 Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written formats.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Psychology 6th Australian and New Zealand edition.
- Edition: 6th (2022)
- Authors: Lorelle Burton, Drew Westen, Robin Kowalski
- John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd
- Brisbane Brisbane , Queensland , Australia
- ISBN: 9780730396642
The E-Text and hardcover editions are available from Wiley Direct:
https://www.wileydirect.com.au/blog/buy/psychology-australian-and-new-zealand-edition/
This E-Text uses Vital Source Bookshelf platform, can be downloaded for off-line use for all major operating systems, and contains interactive resources.
The E-Text and hardcover editions are available from Wiley Direct:
https://www.wileydirect.com.au/blog/buy/psychology-australian-and-new-zealand-edition/
This E-Text uses Vital Source Bookshelf platform, can be downloaded for off-line use for all major operating systems, and contains interactive resources.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.wilcoxson@cqu.edu.au
Week 1 - An overview of psychology
Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025Module/Topic
An overview of psychology
Chapter
Chapter 1 - Psychology: The study of mental processes and behaviour
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2 - Motivation and Emotion
Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Motivation and Emotion
Chapter
Chapter 13 - Motivation and emotion
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3 - Personality
Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Personality
Chapter
Chapter 14 - Personality
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4 - Physical and Cognitive Development
Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025Module/Topic
Physical and cognitive development
Chapter
Chapter 15 - Physical and cognitive development
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5 - Social development
Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Social development
Chapter
Chapter 16 - Social development
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6 - Health stress and coping
Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Health stress and coping
Chapter
Chapter 17 - Health stress and coping
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1: Opens: Saturday, 26 April 2025, 9:00 AM
Closes: Monday, 28 April 2025, 9:00 AM (AEST)
Week 7 - Biological bases of mental life and behaviour
Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025Module/Topic
Biological bases of mental life and behaviour
Chapter
Chapter 6 - Biological bases of mental life and behaviour
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 - Concept Map Due: Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 8 - Sensation and perception
Begin Date: 05 May 2025Module/Topic
Sensation and perception
Chapter
Chapter 7 - Sensation and perception
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9 - Consciousness
Begin Date: 12 May 2025Module/Topic
Consciousness
Chapter
Chapter 8 - Consciousness
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10 - Learning
Begin Date: 19 May 2025Module/Topic
Learning
Chapter
Chapter 9 - Learning
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11 - Intelligence
Begin Date: 26 May 2025Module/Topic
Intelligence
Chapter
Chapter 12 - Intelligence
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12 - Psychological disorders
Begin Date: 02 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Psychological disorders
Chapter
Chapter 18 - Psychological disorders
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 - Quiz, opens: Saturday, 7 June 2025, 9:00 AM
Closes: Monday, 9 June 2025, 9.00 AM (AEST)
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 09 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Assessment 1, Midterm Online Quiz. It opens at 9 am Saturday, 26th of April 2025, and closes at 9 am Monday, 28th of April 2025 (AEST).
- The quiz covers content from week 1 to week 6
- This is a multiple-choice quiz
- Once you start the quiz, you will have 60 minutes to complete 60 questions
- At the end of the 60 minutes, the quiz will close, and the system will submit all answered questions for grading
- While this is an open-book assessment, your responses to the quiz questions must be your own work. It is not permissible to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools to assist you with this task.
1
Other
Week 7 Monday (28 Apr 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Week 7 Monday (28 Apr 2025)
Online feedback
- The quiz is worth 30% of the final grade
- The quiz has 60 multiple choice questions
- Each question is worth 0.5 marks per correct answer
- Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
- Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.
- Reflect on, and engage with, key psychological concepts in an objective manner.
2 Written Assessment
Assessment 2, Perspectives in Social Psychology Concept Map, is due Friday, May 2nd at 5 pm (AEST).
-
Rationale
Concept maps enable us to make meaningful connections between information items and apply our learning to real-world situations. Constructing a concept map will help you understand the content, which will help you study for the midterm quiz. Creating a concept map can be a more effective way of preparing for a quiz than typical study methods (e.g., re-reading textbook chapters). You will create a concept map based on the social psychology content of this unit (weeks 1 - 6).
One of the key learning outcomes of this unit is distinguishing between the different theories in psychology. For this assessment, you must choose two theories and show how they explain some of the main social psychology topics you read about in your textbook.
Instructions
1. Select two main psychological theories and place them in green text in a box/circle (or whatever shape you decide to use). (1 box/circle containing main concepts; central or top of map)
2. Add six lines from the central concept box/circle (or whatever shape you decide) and connect the lines to six boxes/circles containing the weekly topic title/name in blue text (for weeks with multiple main topics, e.g., week 2 motivation and emotion, pick one, e.g., motivation) and add the (first) page number of the chapter. (6 boxes/circles; 2nd level of the map)
3. Add two lines from each weekly concept box/circle (2nd level of the map) and add two more boxes/circles to each weekly concept box/circle containing an example of how each theory explains a concept within that chapter in purple text (it could be the main concept, e.g., motivation, or it could be something else within that weekly chapter, e.g., hierarchy of needs) and add the page number. (12 boxes/circles; 3rd level of the map)
4. Add a line from each of the 3rd level map boxes/circles and provide boxes/circles containing examples of how each 3rd level theory explanation could explain or is related to aspects of your own life such as specific behaviours, goals, emotions, etc. in red text. (12 boxes/circles; 4th level of the map)
5. Insert arrows on the concept map and add any cross-links (i.e., relationships between the different concepts) in a box/circle in red text with yellow highlight. (add as many as you can find)
Artificial intelligence:
You may use artificial intelligence to explore concepts and their relationships. However, you are not permitted to use artificial intelligence to draw the concept map - this must be your own work.
Software to draw the map
- You can use any concept map software. However, Microsoft Word is recommended:
- Click on Layout/Orientation and choose your orientation
- Then click on Insert/Shapes to select a shape
- Left-click on the page and drag to locate and size the shape
- Text (in the colours assigned for the level) is inserted into the shapes to provide details about the concept
- Next, click on Insert/Shapes and choose an arrow/line that will be used to link concepts
- Any style is acceptable as there are several ways a concept map may be constructed: hierarchical, spider web, flowchart, system maps, etc.
Note: Concept map instructions with examples, along with the grading rubric, are available on Moodle
Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Submit the concept map online via the PSYC11010 Moodle site
Week 10 Friday (23 May 2025)
Online grading and comments provided via Moodle
The total grade is out of 40 marks - the breakdown of marks for each section is outlined below:
Criteria
Needs Improvement: 1, Satisfactory: 2, Good: 3, Very Good: 4, Excellent: 5
Clarity
Concepts and connections are unclear or confusing - 1
Concepts and connections are somewhat clear but may have some confusion - 2
Concepts and connections are mostly clear - 3
Concepts and connections are clear and easy to understand - 4
Concepts and connections are exceptionally clear and easy to understand - 5
Organisation
Poorly organised with no logical flow -1
Some organisation, but lacks logical flow -2
Generally organised with a logical flow - 3
Well-organised with a clear, logical flow - 4
Exceptionally well-organised with a seamless logical flow - 5
Overall Content Accuracy
Many inaccuracies in the concepts and connections - 1
Some inaccuracies in the concepts and connections - 2
Mostly accurate concepts and connections with minor errors - 3
Accurate concepts and connections with very few errors - 4
Completely accurate concepts and connections with no errors - 5
Visual Appeal
Poor visual appeal with distracting elements - 1
Basic visual appeal with some distracting elements - 2
Good visual appeal with minor distracting elements - 3
Very good visual appeal with no distracting elements - 4
Exceptional visual appeal with a professional look - 5
Concept Map Levels 1 & 2
The main theories and or weekly topics are incorrect, or some are not included - 1
The main theories and or weekly topics contain minor inaccuracies - 2
The main theories and weekly topics are correct but do not contain correct page numbers - 3
The main theories and weekly topics are correct, and most of the page numbers are correct - 4
The main theories and weekly topics are correct, and all the page numbers are correct - 5
Concept Map Level 3
The explanation of how each theory explains an aspect of the weekly topic is inaccurate or does not include the correct page numbers - 1
The explanation of how each theory explains an aspect of the weekly topic is somewhat accurate and includes the correct page numbers - 2
The explanation of how each theory explains an aspect of the weekly topic is a (or almost a) direct quote from the textbook and includes the correct page numbers - 3
The explanation of how each theory explains an aspect of the weekly topic is a paraphrased explanation and includes the correct page numbers - 4
The explanation of how each theory explains an aspect of the weekly topic is exceptionally well paraphrased and includes the correct page numbers - 5
Concept Map Level 4
Some or all the examples of how each theory related to the weekly topics could explain aspects of your own life are missing - 1
The examples of how each theory related to the weekly topics could explain aspects of your own life are somewhat clear and coherent - 2
The examples of how each theory related to the weekly topics could explain aspects of your own life are mostly clear and coherent - 3
The examples of how each theory related to the weekly topics could explain aspects of your own life are very clear and coherent - 4
The examples of how each theory related to the weekly topics could explain aspects of your own life are exceptionally clear and show a deep understanding of the theories - 5
Cross-links
Cross-links are missing, irrelevant or incoherent - 1
Cross-links are marginally logical - 2
Cross-links are mostly logical - 3
Cross-links are all logical - 4
Cross-links are all logical and numerous (more than 8) - 5
Total /40
- Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
- Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.
- Reflect on, and engage with, key psychological concepts in an objective manner.
3 Online Quiz(zes)
Assessment 3, End-of-Term Online Quiz. It opens on Saturday at 9 am, 7th June, and closes on Monday, 9th of June at 9 am (AEST).
- The quiz covers content from week 7 to week 12
- This is a multiple-choice quiz
- Once you start the quiz, you will have 60 minutes to complete 60 questions
- At the end of the 60 minutes, the quiz will close, and the system will submit all answered questions for grading
- While this is an open-book assessment, your responses to the quiz questions must be your own work. It is not permissible to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools to assist you with this task.
1
Other
Review/Exam Week Monday (9 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Review/Exam Week Monday (9 June 2025)
Online feedback
- The quiz is worth 30% of the final grade
- The quiz has 60 multiple choice questions
- Each question is worth 0.5 marks per correct answer
- Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
- Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.
- Reflect on, and engage with, key psychological concepts in an objective manner.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
