Students

PSY 440 – Psychology of Driving

2014 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Eugene Chekaluk
Contact via eugene.chekaluk@mq.edu.au
C3A 527
Tues 9-11am; Fri 10-11am
Other Staff
Julia Irwin
Contact via julia.irwin@mq.edu.au
C3A 506
Monday 10-11
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
PSY490 or PSY495
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is concerned with the application of psychology theories in the context of driving. How do theories of perception, attention and risk-taking explain why some road accidents occur? What effect does a driver's age have on their risk of having an accident, and why? How can we develop methods to change risky attitudes and behaviours?

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • At the completion of the unit, students will be able to understand the different categories of factors that influence road user behaviour with an emphasis on human factors and the theoretical approaches that explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Coursework Essay 60% 27th October 2014
Seminar Presentation 30% 20th October 2014
Class Participation 10% During class time

Coursework Essay

Due: 27th October 2014
Weighting: 60%

Find two journal articles that are relevant to one of the topics covered in the course, e.g. "driving and age". Summarise each article in your own words, and then compare and contrast them, in terms of their rationales, methods, statistics, conclusions, and discuss related articles and the studies’ broader implications. We are looking for evidence that you can understand the articles, describe clearly what they have shown, and - most importantly - that you are able to evaluate them. Criticisms might include problems of interpretation of the results, problems of design, or problems concerning the ecological validity of the research - the extent to which it can validly be generalised to real life.  Copies of the chosen articles should be attached to the essay when it is submitted.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • At the completion of the unit, students will be able to understand the different categories of factors that influence road user behaviour with an emphasis on human factors and the theoretical approaches that explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Seminar Presentation

Due: 20th October 2014
Weighting: 30%

 Choose one of the lecture topics, or select a topic of your own choice following consultation with one of the unit chairs. . The PowerPoint file and any accompanying notes will be submitted on the day of your presentation. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • At the completion of the unit, students will be able to understand the different categories of factors that influence road user behaviour with an emphasis on human factors and the theoretical approaches that explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Class Participation

Due: During class time
Weighting: 10%

It is expected that students will actively engage in discussion of the subject matter, and to pose and/or answer questions as appropriate.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • At the completion of the unit, students will be able to understand the different categories of factors that influence road user behaviour with an emphasis on human factors and the theoretical approaches that explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.

Delivery and Resources

The unit is taught as a block of lectures, that are not recorded so attendance is essential. Relevant resources will be made available on the iLearn website.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation
  • Class Participation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation
  • Class Participation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • At the completion of the unit, students will be able to understand the different categories of factors that influence road user behaviour with an emphasis on human factors and the theoretical approaches that explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation
  • Class Participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation
  • Class Participation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • At the completion of the unit, students will be able to understand the different categories of factors that influence road user behaviour with an emphasis on human factors and the theoretical approaches that explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Describe and apply theoretical models to explain human behaviour on the road.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation
  • Class Participation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify the human factors that contribute to, or exacerbate, road crashes among different road users; and discuss their contribution to the relative risks that road users are exposed to.
  • Demonstrate oral, written and reflective skills to explain road safety issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Coursework Essay
  • Seminar Presentation
  • Class Participation