512-121 Social, Develop. & Clinical Psychology 1

No prerequisites

This subject comprises four units.

Human Development introduces issues concerning the nature of human development: understanding development in terms of change and constancies; the factors which influence development; some major concepts and theories used in accounting for cognitive, intellectual and social-emotional development.

Social Psychology. The following areas are covered in this introduction to social psychology: what is the field of social psychology?; what do social psychologists do?; representative samples of topics in social psychology; the procedures, methods, and language of social psychology.

Introduction to Personality and Clinical Psychology. The four main approaches to personality, ie. psychoanalytic, type/trait, social-cognitive and humanistic, as well as issues in the measurement of personality, are examined. Different ways of conceptualising abnormal behaviour, understanding its aetiology and treatment options, are considered. Specific psychological problems will be selected from schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

Introduction to Inferential Statistics is taught in the laboratory program, and covers methods for drawing conclusions about populations from samples of data. Specific topics include confidence intervals; hypothesis generation and testing; t-tests; and an investigation of correlation and causation.

On completion of these subjects that comprise the first year of study in psychology, students should be able to: identify and evaluate the empirical basis for some major psychological concepts and theories; identify the critical features of specific research designs; identify the basic approach to hypothesis testing including formulation of research questions, collection of relevant behavioural observations, analysis and interpretation of data to arrive at a conclusion; apply basic descriptive and inferential statistics in data analysis; communicate the findings of empirical studies.

An examination of not more than two hours comprising multiple-choice questions and covering all four components of the subject (75%).

Laboratory assignments of not more than 2000 words (25%).

Each piece of assessment must be completed (hurdle requirement).

Participation in three hours of experimental work and attendance at 80% or more of laboratory classes (hurdle requirement). In the event that the hurdle requirement is not met, additional work will be required before a passing mark can be awarded.