Models of Psychological Processes

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Estimated total time commitment 170 hours per semester.

There are no pre-requisites for this subject.

There are no co-requisites for this subject.

An accredited psychology major sequence.

There are no non-allowed subjects.

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

This subject is designed to introduce student to the development and testing of models for psychological data. Quantitative data is a feature of all areas of psychology. Such data can only be interpreted by use of an appropriate model. Modelling in psychology has two main aims. The first is to find a quantitative description that accurately captures and expresses the underlying regularities of the data. The second is to test competing hypotheses about the psychological processes that generated the data. The methods of psychological modelling will be introduced and illustrated in selected areas of psychology.

This subject aims to

• To introduce students to the concepts and methods involved in the development and testing models for psychological data.
• To illustrate the relationship between psychological theories and quantitative modelling using selected examples from the psychological literature.
• To provide students with experience in fitting quantitative models to psychological data using appropriate modelling software.

• Weekly modelling exercises completed as homework. Due each week during semester (50%)
• 1,500 word essay. Due at the end of the semester (50%)

A reading pack and lecture notes will be provided.

No recommended texts.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject aims to:

• Thinking critically and analytically about quantitatively expressed theories and models.
• Drawing inferences about the relationship between unobserved structures and processes and their observed manifestations or expressions.
• Quantitative, evidence-based evaluation of scientific theories.
• Use of modelling software for quantitative data.