Current Topics in Social Psychology

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards of Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit Website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is designed to cover recent theoretical and empirical developments in social psychology, to provide students with an opportunity to examine up-to-date research critically, and to develop new research ideas. Topics will be selected from social cognition, attitudes, self and identity, personality and individual differences, interpersonal and group processes, social networks, and also applications of social psychology.

The subject aims to:

• give a critical account of some of the current topical areas in personality and social psychology
• derive testable predictions from current theories of personality and social psychology
• assess the adequacy of current theories in personality and social psychology in relation to empirical findings
• summarise data in a way that is appropriate to the empirical text of current theories in personality and social psychology, and
• communicate clearly theoretical and practical implications the theories and empirical findings in personality and social psychology

A 30-minute oral presentation to be given in week 2 to 8 (25%). Each presentation is normally given by a group of two to three students.

A take-home examination of no more than 3000 words made up of essay questions set by lecturers involved in the subject (75%). Questions are to be handed out in week 9 and answers are to be submitted in the examination period.

A hurdle requirement of 80% attendance. In case of failure to meet this requirement, additional written work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.

Information Not Available

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have a greater ability to: critically appraise current knowledge and its internal structure; critically evaluate the methods used to acquire the current knowledge; critically analyse the current knowledge within a larger socio-historical and intellectual context; appropriately interpret empirical data in light of the current knowledge and methodological consideration; constructively plan a theoretical and empirical research project to advance knowledge.