Current Topics in Social Psychology

Subject PSYC40002 (2014)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2014.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Thirty-six hours of lectures and/or seminars
Total Time Commitment:

Estimated time commitment: 120 hours per semester.

Prerequisites:

No prerequisites are required for this subject

Corequisites:

No corequisites are required for this subject

Recommended Background Knowledge:

An accredited psychology major sequence

Non Allowed Subjects:

There are no non allowed subject

Core Participation Requirements:

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/

Contact

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

12th floor Redmond Barry Building (Building 115 Map)

Telephone: + 61 3 8344 6377

Email: enquiries@psych.unimelb.edu.au

Web: http://www.psych.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

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.

Learning Outcomes:

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
Assessment:

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 8 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.

Prescribed Texts:

There are no prescribed texts

Recommended Texts:

Information Not Available

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

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.

Related Course(s): Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Psychology

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