Mind, Brain & Behaviour 1

Subject 512-125 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Summer Term, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday for 3 weeks
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: 512-121 Introductory Experimental Psychology and 880-001 Mind, Brain & Behaviour 1
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Dr Simon Cropper
Subject Overview:

Mind, Brain and Behaviour 1 focuses on the workings of the individual from a psychological perspective. It includes detail of the neural components constituting the brain, the operation of the sensory system underlying interaction with the external environment and the cognitive processes that construct the internal world experienced by the individual. Careful consideration will be given to the nature of this internal world and the importance of its relationship to the external world.

The course is designed to raise significant questions prompting students to think about behaviour and to explore possible answers. Students will be introduced to the tools used in psychology to find answers to these questions. A common research-centred framework is adopted and the statistical tools that support this framework are introduced and developed as an integral part of the course. Psychology derives its approaches and questions from both science and the arts.

Objectives:
  • To introduce the broad areas and varied approaches that comprise the field of psychology;
  • To develop an understanding of some key psychological concepts and theories from several areas of psychology;
  • To develop skills in the use and evaluation of scientific methodology and enquiry, including research design and data analysis;
  • To develop basic skills in the critical evaluation of psychological literature;
  • To develop skills in report writing as it applies to the study of psychology.
Assessment: 3 short essays of approximately 1000 words each
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:

Eysenck, M.W. (2004) Psychology: An International Perspective Hove, Sussex, UK: Psychology Press/Palgrave Macmillan

Smyth, T.R. (2004) The principles of Writing in Psychology Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan

Gravetter, F.J. & Allnau L.B. (2004) Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences (6th ed.). Belmont CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of Mind, Brain and Behaviour 1 students should be able to:

  • apply analytical skills to new issues;
  • apply a hypothesis testing approach to new questions, including formulation of a research question, collection of relevant onservations, analysis and interpretation of data using basic descriptive statistics to arrive at a conclusion; communicate the findings of empirical studies.

Download PDF version.