This unit of study focuses on personality and social psychology, and includes further training in research methods to build upon the knowledge and skills developed in APP2013 Psychology 2A. The aim of the personality and social psychology content is to present these topics in such a way as to illustrate their relevance to situations encountered in everyday life. Students will become familiar with some of the central conceptual frameworks and models developed by social psychologists to account for individual behaviour in social settings, and to explain how social phenomena are cognitively represented by the individual. The unit also focuses on contemporary personality theory and research, and introduces issues of personality assessment and measurement. Students are also introduced to more advanced statistical techniques than those covered in Psychology 2A, and these are presented in the context of research methods typically employed in personality and social psychology.

Unit details

Location:
Footscray Park
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
12
Unit code:
APP2014

Prerequisites

APP2013 - Psychology 2A

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Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and critique core concepts and models in social psychology and their relevance in everyday life;  
  2. Review and appraise core personality theory and research and selected applications;  
  3. Evaluate and apply a variety of advanced quantitative methods; and  
  4. Collect, analyse and report on quantitative data.  

Assessment

Assessment type Description Grade
Report Personality discussion paper (850 words) 25%
Test Online tests x 2 (45mins each) 20%
Project Social psychology group research project and presentation (1300 words, 20mins for presentation plus Powerpoint slides) 55%

Required reading

Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics 5th ed. revised
Field, A. (2018)
London: Sage

SPSS survival manual 6th ed.
Pallant, J., (2016)
Sydney: Allen and Unwin

These texts are used in two other 2nd year units, one 3rd year unit, and one 4th year unit.

Where to next?

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following courses. Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course.

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