The Psychology of Communication (PSYC1100)

Course overview

Communication is sort of everything, but that does not mean it is easy. Whether in relationships, at work, or on a dating app, we make lots of communication errors that can be overcome. This course will give you a theoretical and practical understanding of the psychology of communication skills and their application in everyday life, conflict management, dating, the workplace, intergroup situations, and even in how you talk to yourself! The course is designed to give you an exciting scientific overview of, and basic working competence in, communication skills.

Communication is EVERYTHING! The caps are necessary. We use communication in pretty much every aspect of our lives, and the skill with which we communicate will often determine how we get on in friendships and romantic relationships, whether or not we succeed at work, and through all of this, whether we are happy.

And because communication is so vital, this course is one of the core courses in the Bachelor of Psychological Science degree program (but anyone can do it, and if you are considering it, you should!). We will travel the world of communication together, and content covers (among other things):

Communication and social skills; listening and the difficulty of doing so; conflict escalation and resolution; mating, dating, and relationships; communication across group boundaries; trolling and romance scamming; persuasion; cross-cultural communication norms; sex and/or gender differences in communication patterns; public speaking; organizational communication and leadership; and self-communication (ah, the tricky and sometimes maladaptive ways we speak to ourselves).

You will learn about all of this through videos and content online, and in tutorials. Knowledge will be assessed through quizzes. In tutorials you will also learn why the **** we need to do group work, as well as design a study to test an idea about communication. You will present that idea to the class, in a supportive environment. You will also practice communication skills, debate studies and findings, and solve problems in tutorials. A final essay will get you to critically reflect on how you could improve as a communicator.

It is your responsibility to watch lectures and attend tutorials and consult this document and the course Blackboard page as well as UQ Extend for correct and up to date information regarding this course.

Lectures and tutorials are specifically designed to provide youﾠwith the tools to complete all assessment for this course.

Course requirements

Assumed background

No assumed knowledge of the psychology of communication.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

COMU1030

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Note that the bulk of the course content is online, and thus will be accessible through UQ Extend (previously Edge/EdX).

The "lecture" and serves as a time for Q and A, and extra value add sessions.

Tutorials are in person, and much of the assessment is done either in or through tutorials, so attendance is very important!

Aims and outcomes

To learn how we are biased listeners and communicators.

To become better communicators (see above).

To develop a critical understanding of the theory and skills behind effective interpersonal communication skills.

To analyse conflict management processes.

To discuss theory and research in romantic, organizational, online, and intergroup communication.

To foster an understanding of how we communicate with ourselves.

To become better team members and public speakers.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Final Exam

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

30%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L03

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Critical Essay on Improving Personal Communication

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

40%

Due date

7/10/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard. NOTE: You will no longer receive an automatic submission receipt from Turnitin confirming your assignment has been received. You should download a copy of the digital receipt from the Assignment Dashboard and keep this as a record.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Public Speaking Presentation

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

10%

Due date

13/10/2025 - 24/10/2025

Presentations will occur in your assigned Tutorial.

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

The speech is a core part of PSYC1100, and meets one of the core objectives of the course. If you are unable to complete your presentation on a particular date you should discuss this with your tutor and/or course coordinator to arrange for an alternate time to complete your presentation. There is no alternative assessment for the speech, which must be completed in tutorials.

Tutorial Worksheets

Mode

Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

20%

Due date

20/10/2025 - 24/10/2025

Students are required to hand in their work sheets in the final tutorial.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

In tutorial

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

There is no form of extension for submission of the tutorial worksheets

Late submission

No late submissions of the tutorial worksheets will be accepted.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Appealing Assignment Marks

If you are unhappy with your mark for the essay, or would like more feedback, you must talk to your tutor first. We recommend that you take your assignment away for a few days, read the comments and then approach your tutor and discuss it with them. If you are still unhappy with your mark, you can then apply for your assignment to be remarked. The deadline for remark applications is listed in the policy. Also note that this remark is final and your mark (and possibly your grade for the course) can go up or down.

Difficulties Submitting Assessment

If students experience difficulties submitting assessment they should retain proof of their attempt and email py-undergrad@psy.uq.edu.au as soon as possible (preferably before the assessment deadline). For turnitin, this can be the email receipt received or a screenshot of the difficulty encountered should be saved. Please note the properties of your assessment are not proof of submission.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:

• School of Psychology Student Guidelines