Students

PSY 399 – Psychological Science: Putting Theory into Practice

2019 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Wayne Warburton
Contact via wayne.warburton@mq.edu.au
C3A408
make appointment by email
Assistant Convenor and Head Tutor
Niree Kraushaar
Contact via email
Lecturer
John Franklin
Contact via email
n/a
tba
Lecturer
Julia Irwin
Contact via x8006
C3A506
tba
Lecturer
Maria Amigo
Contact via x8825
W6A340
tba
Lecturer
Shireen Bernstein
Tutor
Chanelle Tarabay
Contact via email
C3A432
tba
Tutor
Leah Dudley
Contact via email
NA
Tutor
Karen Gould
Contact via Email
NA
Tutor
Deborah Fear
Contact via email
Tutor
Ellaina Andersson
Contact via email
Faculty PACE Officer
Jenny Stafford
Contact via x 4590
Faculty PACE Officer
Emily Hunter
Contact via x 4590
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
[18cp from PSY units at 200 level and admission to BA-Psych or BA-PsychBEd(Prim) or BSc-Psych or BPsych(Hons) or BA-PsychBHlth or BPsych(Hons)BHlth or BA-PsychLLB or BPsych(Hons)LLB or BA-PsychBHumanSc or BPsych(Hons)BHumanSc or BBABA-Psych or BBABPsych(Hons) or BComBA-Psych or BComBPsych(Hons) or BA-PsychBSpHLSc or BPsych(Hons)BSpHLSc] or [(6cp from (PSY234 or PSY235 or PSY236 or PSY246 or PSY247 or PSY248) and (3cp from PSY or PSYC units at 300 level)) and admission to (BActStudBSc or BA or BABCom or BABEd(Prim) or BALLB or BABSc or BBABA or BComBSc or BEng(Hons)BA or BEng(Hons)BSc or BSc or BScLLB or BSocSc or BSocScLLB)]
Corequisites Corequisites
3cp in PSY units at 300 level
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit encourages students to reflect on their undergraduate degree, and to integrate their knowledge from the sub-disciplines of psychology into a more holistic understanding of psychology. This unit also assists students to understand their options with a psychology degree, the standards of professional practice that will be required of them as psychologists, and pathways to higher study or employment. In order to help students gain a more practical understanding of the psychology profession, and to make informed decisions about their own future, this unit includes a mandatory 32 hour placement with an organisation that deals with issues relevant to psychology.

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:

  • • Use skills and knowledge acquired over the psychology degree in a ‘real world’ context and develop new practical skills and knowledge over the course of a volunteer placement
  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Demonstrate effective oral, written and visual communication skills that are appropriate to the purpose, medium and audience
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Literature Review 20% No 30 August COB
Project Report 40% No Part 1 COB 23/8; Parts 2-5 COB 14/10
Final Examination 40% No Examination period
Volunteer Placement 0% Yes 8 November COB
Ethics and WHS Modules 0% No end of semester
Reflection 0% No end of semester
Reflection - Analysis, Writing 0% No n/a

Literature Review

Due: 30 August COB
Weighting: 20%

This task involves identifying a significant social issue, and integrating existing knowledge from various disciplines in psychology to understand the issue.

In this assessment task you have just 700 words to write an integrated and critical analysis that will showcase your research, integration, critical analysis and writing skills.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Demonstrate effective oral, written and visual communication skills that are appropriate to the purpose, medium and audience

Project Report

Due: Part 1 COB 23/8; Parts 2-5 COB 14/10
Weighting: 40%

The Project Report is 1500 words in length in total. IT IS SUBMITTED IN TWO PARTS. Part 1, worth 8 marks, is submitted in Week 4. The balance (Parts 2-5), worth 32 marks, are submitted in Week 10  (Exact dates in due date column; must be submitted by close of business on that day).

The Project Report is 1500 words in length. You have a choice of three report formats:

  1. a standard project report in 5 parts:

    1. planning for the placement;

    2. development of professional skills during placement;

    3. using academic skills during placement;

    4. reflecting on undergraduate experience and the placement; and

    5. devising practical solutions to the relevant social issue.

      OR

  2. a critical experience analysis of in 5 parts

    1. planning for the placement;

    2. the critical experience: context, events, thoughts, feelings and actions;

    3. what did you learn from the critical experience?;

    4. reflecting on undergraduate experience and the critical experience at placement; and

    5. devising practical solutions to the relevant social issue.

                 OR

3. A research internship format, in 5 parts. This format is ONLY for students who completed a research internship as their PSY399 placement.

  1. planning for the placement
  2. the research internship: context, research questions, what you did, and how your psychology undergraduate skills and knowledge informed your work during the internship;
  3. what did you learn from the research internship?;
  4. reflecting on undergraduate experience and the research internship; and
  5. discussing an original idea you had around the research questions and research area that was the focus of your research internship.

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Demonstrate effective oral, written and visual communication skills that are appropriate to the purpose, medium and audience
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Final Examination

Due: Examination period
Weighting: 40%

The final examination is a formal examination in the examination period that consists of 80 multiple choice questions. Students have 90 minutes plus 10 minutes reading time to complete the exam.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines

Volunteer Placement

Due: 8 November COB
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

This task involves engaging as a volunteer with an organisation in the wider community to find out, first hand, about a significant social issue. This task receives a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory but is not given a mark. As this is a hurdle task, students must be marked as Satisfactory to pass the unit, irrespective of other results.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Use skills and knowledge acquired over the psychology degree in a ‘real world’ context and develop new practical skills and knowledge over the course of a volunteer placement
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Ethics and WHS Modules

Due: end of semester
Weighting: 0%

All students are expected to undertake the Ethics Module and all four parts of the Workplace Health and Safety Module. These two modules are fully examinable but the tasks themselves do not count towards the final grade. Students should note that even when WHS modules are completed they do not show up on iLearn as complete.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)

Reflection

Due: end of semester
Weighting: 0%

Students will be expected to spend at least 30 minutes per week (or equivalent) reflecting on their undergraduate coursework, on how the different subdisciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, and on ways that they will use their psychology major in their future endeavours. Some guidance on setting up a personal reflection time will be provided in tutorial 1. Please note that the project report has an assessed section in which students describe their personal reflection practices during the semester


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)

Reflection - Analysis, Writing

Due: n/a
Weighting: 0%

Self-Reflection on Critical Analysis and Writing Skills: Essay marking grids are provided to students, outlining the standards against which their Literature Review and Project Report will be assessed. Students are encouraged to examine carefully these criteria and bring any questions to tutorials, where further guidance will be given. Students will also engage with the tutors fortnightly to discuss their progress with their placement and major projects, and to receive feedback about how they are progressing, along with practical advice


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines

Delivery and Resources

Classes

Tutorial Attendance: There are no marks allocated for tutorial attendance, but, in line with Psychology Department policy, tutorial attendance is compulsory.

Volunteer Placement Attendance: This is a compulsory hurdle requirement. Students will be expected to facilitate and attend their volunteer placement, to keep a log book for that placement, and to perform satisfactorily as volunteers. Students who do not get an eventual grade of satisfactory for the placement component of their course will FAIL the unit. As a hurdle task, students who make a serious attempt at a satisfactory placement but gain an initial grade of unsatisfactory will receive one further chance to satisfactorily complete the placement. Detailed instructions are provided in a separate PSY399 Student Placement Handbook. STUDENTS MUST READ THE PSY399 STUDENT PLACEMENT HANDBOOK CAREFULLY PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE PLACEMENT PROCESS.

Managing Classes: Changes to all units can be done on-line via eStudent.  After the designated last day to add units, no further changes will be allowed unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and there is space in the tutorial you wish to change into. All requests for changes after the last day to add units should be directed to the concerned tutors.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

There is no required text for this course. However a set of readings is listed and available through the Leganto link in the PSY399 iLearn page. Only the starred readings are mandatory. These mandatory readings are:

Cranney, J. & Dunn, D.S. (2012) The Psychologically Literate Citizen. New York: Oxford University Press. Chapter 1 Psychological Literacy and the Psychologically Literate Citizen (pp. 3-12). Library call number BF77 .P754 2012

Job, S. R. F. (1999). The road user: The psychology of road safety. In J. Clark [Ed.], Safe and mobile: Introductory studies in traffic safety (pp. 21-55). Armidale: Emu Press.

Lim, M. S. C., Agius, P. A., Carrotte, E. R., Vella, A. M., & Hellard, M. E. (2017). Young Australians’ use of pornography and associations with sexual risk behaviours. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 41(4), 438-443. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12678.

Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, as adopted 2007. Available from: http://www.psychology.org.au/about/ethics/#s1

Ethics Module: The Ethics Module is in Section 14 of the iLearn website and has the function of educating students about what constitutes good ethical practice (with a focus on research ethics), in order to inform their behaviour on placement. In this module students must complete a key reading, watch some videos, and think about and respond to some ethical dilemmas. The Ethics Module is mandatory and examinable and ideally should be completed PRIOR to placement. If you have any concerns about the way research is being conducted on placement, Section 15 provides instructions about how to seek assistance or make a report.

Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Module (4 parts): The four parts of this module are in sections 16-19 of the iLearn website and contain a series of readings, videos and activities designed to assist students to undertake their volunteer placement safely. This Module contains important information on safe professional practice, is fully examinable, and should be completed PRIOR to starting placement.

Technologies used and required

Students will need access to broadband internet to access iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Tutorial Schedule

 

Day

Time

Room

Monday

2.00pm – 4.00pm

C5A232

12SW232

Monday

4.00pm – 6.00pm

C5A232

12SW232

Monday

4.00pm – 6.00pm

W5A205

23WW205

Monday

6.00pm – 8.00pm

C5A407

12SW407

Tuesday

9.00am - 11.00am

C5A226

12SW226

Tuesday

9.00am – 11.00am

C5A315

12SW315

Tuesday

12.00pm – 2.00pm

C5A310

12SW310

Tuesday

4.00pm – 6.00pm

C5A310

12SW310

Tuesday

6.00pm – 8.00pm

C5A301

12SW301

Lectures

Mondays, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm, 10HA (Y3A) Theatre 1.

Lecture Schedule

Week, Lecture Topic, Related Texts

Lecture

Date

Week 1: Introduction to the Unit. Dr Wayne Warburton

29.7.19

Week 2: Research Ethics at Macquarie University. Dr Maria Amigo

5.8.19

Week 3: Psychological literacy. Dr Wayne Warburton

12.8.19

Week 4: Pathways to registration; Masters/professional programs; Career opportunities in psychology. Dr John Franklin

19.8.19

Week 5: Integrating psychology disciplines. Case Study 1: Aggressive Behaviour.  Dr Wayne Warburton

6.8.19

Week 6: Integrating psychology disciplines. Case Study 2: Mass media influences. Dr Wayne Warburton

2.9.19

Week 7: Integrating psychology disciplines. Case Study 3: Driver Behaviour. Dr Julia Irwin

9.9.19

Week 8: Integrating psychology disciplines. Case Study 4: Internet Pornography and the cultivation of violence against women. Ms Shireen Bernstein.

30.9.19

Week 9: Professional organisations. The Australian Psychological Society. Dr Wayne Warburton

7.10.19

Week 10: Professional organizations and accreditation. National Practice Standards, and professional behaviour in psychology. Dr Wayne Warburton

14.10.19

Week 11: Legislation: The Mental Health Act [2007], Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act [2009], Privacy, Human Rights, Discrimination laws. Dr Wayne Warburton

21.10.19

Week 12: Professional development: Self care in a high burnout profession and maintaining professional competence. Dr Wayne Warburton

28.10.19

Week 13: NO LECTURE

Study and Practice Exam

4.11.19

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

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

Graduate Capabilities

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

  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Reflection

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

  • • Use skills and knowledge acquired over the psychology degree in a ‘real world’ context and develop new practical skills and knowledge over the course of a volunteer placement
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Final Examination
  • Volunteer Placement
  • Ethics and WHS Modules
  • Reflection

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 outcomes

  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Volunteer Placement
  • Reflection

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

  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Final Examination
  • Reflection

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

  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Integrate and synthesise knowledge from various psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Literature Review
  • Project Report
  • Final Examination
  • Reflection
  • Reflection - Analysis, Writing

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

  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Literature Review
  • Project Report
  • Volunteer Placement
  • Reflection

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

  • • Use skills and knowledge acquired over the psychology degree in a ‘real world’ context and develop new practical skills and knowledge over the course of a volunteer placement
  • • Critically evaluate a body of literature on a social issue in relation to relevant psychology sub-disciplines
  • • Demonstrate effective oral, written and visual communication skills that are appropriate to the purpose, medium and audience

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Reflection - Analysis, Writing

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

  • • Use skills and knowledge acquired over the psychology degree in a ‘real world’ context and develop new practical skills and knowledge over the course of a volunteer placement
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Volunteer Placement
  • Ethics and WHS Modules
  • Reflection

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

  • • Use skills and knowledge acquired over the psychology degree in a ‘real world’ context and develop new practical skills and knowledge over the course of a volunteer placement
  • • Critically reflect on how the different sub-disciplines in psychology link within the whole person and apply to wider social contexts, including the placement organisation’s activities
  • • Reflect on their learning in psychology (including practical learning), and its application to professional and ethical practice (including at their volunteer placement)
  • • Identify a social issue and devise practical solutions that are supported by sound psychological theories and evidence

Assessment tasks

  • Project Report
  • Volunteer Placement
  • Ethics and WHS Modules
  • Reflection

Changes from Previous Offering

Since 2015 we have changed the process for ethics approval from the Ethics Protocol, where Ethics approval was obtained within the University, to a new process whereby students undertaking research outside the university use the ethics processes of that organisation, are trained in good research ethics practice, and can report any ethical issues that may arise when on placement. In 2016 there are more early starting placements, including a new scheme for research internships with Psychology Department and CCD researchers.