Students

PSYX3337 – Psychopathology

2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Melissa Norberg
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
20cp from (PSYX or PSYU or PSY units at 2000 level) including PSYX248 or PSYX2248 or PSY248 or PSYU2248
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This online unit focuses on so-called abnormal behaviour. Following a general introduction to the nature and study of abnormality, each of the main forms of psychopathology is discussed, along with theories of psychopathology and their evidence (when available) as well as science-based interventions. Tutorials are online. An intermediate level of research methodology and statistical knowledge is a pre-requisite for this unit, as this knowledge is required to understand the scientific basis of psychopathology and its theories.

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:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the multiple definitions of abnormal behaviour and how to assess it.
  • ULO2: Identify the signs, symptoms and science-based treatments of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate awareness of the prevalence and demographics typical for the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate a basic understanding and appreciation of theory and typical research findings relating to cause and maintenance of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • ULO5: Display communication and critical analysis skills: in particular, analyse the theoretical and empirical literature and professionally communicate research findings.

General Assessment Information

*NOTE: All assessment times and other times in this unit BEFORE 4 April 2021 are GMT+11 (AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time, SYDNEY) and AFTER 4 April 2021 are GMT+10 (AEST, Australian Eastern Standard Time, SYDNEY)

 

Online Quizzes

This unit contains 3, 15-item multiple-choice quizzes. These quizzes assess the information provided in the lectures, tutorials, and textbook. Together, these quizzes amount to 10% of your final grade. Quizzes will open 24 hours before the deadline. Once you open a quiz, you will be given 15 minutes to complete it. As such, you are advised to study relevant material before beginning a quiz. After you complete a quiz, you will be given feedback regarding your performance.

The online quizzes will be delivered via the iLearn webpage for the unit. Therefore, access to a reliable computer that connects to the Internet is required. Technical difficulties will not be accepted as a reason for special consideration.

These quizzes are administered under the honour system: Although you can use your notes and textbook to complete these quizzes, you should not work with classmates to complete them.

Students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption, and hence are unable to complete a quiz within the 24-hour timeframe, can apply for special consideration via ask.mq.edu.au for an extension. Students who have not been granted special considerations will not be given an extension.

 

Case Study

This unit requires you to submit a case study, which is worth 40% of your final grade. The case study will require you to 1) diagnose a case, 2) describe a science-based theoretical model for the principal diagnosis and use it to support the case’s principal diagnosis, and to 3) propose and support a science-based treatment for the case. You also must write clearly and succinctly and comply with APA style guidelines. More information is provided on iLearn.

Your case study must contain less than 1500 words; however, you will be given a 5% leeway (e.g., 75 words) before penalties are applied. Every 100 words over the limit will receive a 5% penalty off the original mark (e.g., 1575 words = no penalty; 1576 words = 5% penalty; 1676 words = 10% penalty). In-text citations are included within the word count, but references do not count towards the word limit. Ensure that you use the header “References” as required by the APA style guide so that Turnitin will not assess your references for plagiarism.

A penalty of 5% of the maximum mark per day will be applied to late assignments. For example, if a student submits their Case Study one day late, then 2 marks [= 5% x 40 (worth 40% of the final grade)] will be subtracted from the original mark. Assignments one minute late are considered 1 day late. Assignments will not be accepted after they are 5 days late.

Requests for extensions on the Case Study are done via ask.mq.edu.au. All extensions must be made prior to the due date for the assignment. A decision will be made by the staff in the Student Centre. PSYU/X3337 staff do not have the ability to grant extension nor will they be notified that you have applied for an extension or told if an extension is approved or denied. Thus, if you receive an extension, you must attach the paperwork after the Reference section of your Case Study.  If you have not received a decision regarding your extension before the assessment deadline, and your request is denied, the official deadline will remain and the official late penalty will be applied.

Procedure for Requesting Remarking:

  1. Read over your marker's feedback.
  2. Wait 48 hours and reread your marker's feedback.
  3. If you continue to identify a marking error, contact your marker and organise a time to discuss your Case Study with them in-person. Generally, this process does not result in a change of grade but an increase in clarity as to why you received your grade.
  4. If you continue to disagree with your marker, you will need to lodge a formal request for a remark. Remarking is done by the unit convenor and their grade will be final. If they mark you lower than your original marker, you will receive the lower grade. In many cases this is the outcome as the convenor is an expert in the topic you have been assessed upon and has trained the tutors to mark to a gold standard.
  5. For more information, click here.

 

Final Exam

During the final exam period, students will complete a 1 hour multiple choice exam, which counts for 50% of your final grade. It assesses all material covered during the unit (lectures, tutorial, and textbook) throughout the whole semester. 

 

Special Considerations for the Final Exam

  • You are expected to present yourself for the examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable (available at timetables.mq.edu.au/exam). The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the exam period and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the exam period.
  • The only exception to not sitting an exam at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances, you may wish to consider applying for special considerations. Information about unavoidable disruption and the special consideration process is available in the Disruption to Studies policy (mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html)
  • To be eligible for special considerations, a student must notify the university of a serious and unavoidable disruption no later than five (5) working days of the assessment task date or due date. Notifications of Disruption of Studies after 5 days will still be assessed, however they are more likely to have a remedy of Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty applied if they are deemed serious and unavoidable.
  • If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the special consideration process, the exam will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. The format of a supplementary exam is at each unit convener's discretion and is subject to change from the original final examination.
  • Supplementary exams are only offered to students who have satisfactorily completed all other assessments for the unit and were unable to sit the final exam because of documented illness or unavoidable disruptions
  • Instructions on applying for sitting a supplementary exam are available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration
  • If you are approved to sit a supplementary final exam, you will receive an email with information from the Faculty office. Students who are granted to sit for a supplementary exam must make themselves available to sit for the supplementary exam on the specified date. There will only be one time. It is the student's responsibility to email Student Centre to confirm attendance at the supplementary exam.
  • You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early exams for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching session, which is the final day of the official examination period.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quiz 10% No Friday at 8pm* Weeks 4, 8 & 12
Final examination 50% No University Exam Period
Case Study 40% No Friday at 8pm* Week 9 (May 7)

Online Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Friday at 8pm* Weeks 4, 8 & 12
Weighting: 10%

Three online multiple-choice quizzes testing unit content.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the multiple definitions of abnormal behaviour and how to assess it.
  • Identify the signs, symptoms and science-based treatments of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • Demonstrate awareness of the prevalence and demographics typical for the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding and appreciation of theory and typical research findings relating to cause and maintenance of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: University Exam Period
Weighting: 50%

Final examination held within the University’s formal exam period, in accordance with relevant requirements.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the multiple definitions of abnormal behaviour and how to assess it.
  • Identify the signs, symptoms and science-based treatments of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • Demonstrate awareness of the prevalence and demographics typical for the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding and appreciation of theory and typical research findings relating to cause and maintenance of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.

Case Study

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: Friday at 8pm* Week 9 (May 7)
Weighting: 40%

A 1500 word written report, in APA format, that diagnoses a case vignette, and uses a science-based theory to describe the case’s condition and recommended treatment.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify the signs, symptoms and science-based treatments of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding and appreciation of theory and typical research findings relating to cause and maintenance of the psychological disorders covered in this unit.
  • Display communication and critical analysis skills: in particular, analyse the theoretical and empirical literature and professionally communicate research findings.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit includes weekly online lectures and fortnightly tutorials. Each lecture has a set reading from the textbook, typically between 30-50 pages, to reinforce its content and solidify your learning. The Unit Schedule on iLearn will provide you with a week-by-week agenda for the lectures, textbook chapters, and tutorial topics. In general, weekly lectures range from 1-3 hours in duration, while the required tutorials are 2 hours in duration. To help you pace yourself in this unit, it is recommended that you spend 12 hours a week utilising the unit's resources and working on your assessments. The more that you participate in this unit and its assessments, the more you will derive benefits.

Barlow, Durand, & Hofmann (2018). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach from Cengage learning is the required textbook for this unit.

The Seventh Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2019) is required to format your case report.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
12/02/2021 text edits for the final exam

Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook