Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- External
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Psychology School
This course covers key topics in psychology, understanding both individual and social factors relating to human behaviour, including emotion and motivation, intelligence, psychological disorders, and social and interpersonal processes. The course has a scientific focus on analysis and interpretation of evidence and critical evaluation of research claims. As a core course for the Psychology Education field-of-study, the course covers theoretical background and research skills in line with the QCAA (QCE) Psychology curriculum. More broadly, this course provides a thorough overview of psychology, in terms of individual, clinical and social factors, as the scientific study of human behaviour.
The intention of this course is to give a foundation in key areas of psychology relating to clinical, social, and developmental psychology. The course covers topics on intelligence, human development, emotion and motivation, personality, social psychology, and psychological disorders. You will also develop your scientific critical thinking skills, evaluating the real evidence for common claims about psychology and human behaviour.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The goal of this course is to introduce you to foundational areas of psychology relating to human development, social psychology, and psychological disorders. Experimental psychology is the scientific study of the causes of human behaviour, and through this course you will be able to explain foundational concepts of intelligence, personality, emotion and motivation, social processes, and psychological disorders that are crucial to understanding human behaviour. You will be able to explain how these psychological processes are understood through experiments measuring behaviour, and you will develop your scientific critical thinking skills to evaluate and explain the evidence behind research claims about human behaviour.
The goal of PSYC7902 is for you to gain a firm foundation of understanding of the terms and concepts, methodologies, basic findings and theories within psychology's behavioural, developmental, and clinical perspectives.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain foundational concepts in the areas of developmental, social, and clinical psychology
LO2.
Explain how psychological processes are understood through measurement and evaluation of human behaviour
LO3.
Evaluate and explain the validity of research claims in psychology
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Module Quizzes
|
60% |
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025 |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set | Tutorial Worksheets | 6% |
Week 8, Thu 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Research Claim Essay | 34% |
Week 12, Fri 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Module Quizzes
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
The course is divided into 5 topic modules, each assessed via Module Quizzes. There are 6 quizzes in total, held approximately every 2 weeks throughout the semester (1 quiz each for Modules 1-4 and 2 quizzes for Module 5). Online quizzes will be open on Blackboard from 9am Thursday to 2pm Saturday and will cover content from the online course videos only for the relevant topic module set for that time (see the Learning Activities page for dates).
The quiz must be completed individually, on your own, and can be taken via Blackboard anytime over the 3-day time period set. The quiz will be strictly timed so that, once you open the quiz on Blackboard, it must be completed within the set time limit. Each quiz will comprise 20 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within 40-minute time-limit.
Students should be aware that the due time listed is the last time to submit their quiz. While Blackboard may let you commence the quiz prior to the due time, any quizzes found to have been completed after the due time will be excluded from your final mark. For example, if a 20 minute quiz is due at 5pm, students should aim to start the quiz by 4:30pm, at the latest. This allows adequate time for completion and submission.
Submission guidelines
Online via Blackboard
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.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
Tutorial Worksheets
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 6%
- Due date
Week 8, Thu 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L03
Task description
There will be worksheets to complete for the three final tutorials on Strengths and Limitations, Critical Evaluation of Research, and Interpretation of Evidence. These worksheets have short-answer questions that will be discussed in small group or class discussions in the Zoom Webinar. These are designed to have you working through evaluation of published scientific journal articles, developing skills that are also necessary for the Research Claim Essay assignment. If you are not able to attend the Zoom Webinar, you may watch the recorded version and complete the tutorial worksheets individually from the online resources on Blackboard.
Submission guidelines
Learn.UQ via Turnitin on Blackboard
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.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
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.
Research Claim Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 34%
- Due date
Week 12, Fri 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L03
Task description
The tutorial series will lead through scientific critical thinking skills for evaluating research claims from experiment studies. You will use those skills to critically evaluate published research papers that provide evidence for a research claim, including discussion of strengths and limitations and their implications for the research claim. All details for the assignment structure and requirements, and the essay topic, will be provided in the tutorials and posted on Blackboard. Word count: 1500 words maximum.
Submission guidelines
Learn.UQ via Turnitin on Blackboard. NOTE: You will not receive an automatic submission receipt from Turnitin. You should download a copy of the submission 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.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
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.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 46.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course 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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Personality and Intelligence Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Course Introduction
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Scientific Critical Thinking
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Human Development Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Deconstructing Journal Articles
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Strengths and Limitations
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Emotion and Stress Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Critical Evaluation of Research
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Interpretation of Evidence
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Psychological Disorders Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Research Claim Essay and Thesis Statements
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Research Claim Essay Papers
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID SEMESTER BREAK Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Social Psychology A Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Research Claim Essay Consultation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Social Psychology B Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
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 - 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: