Students

PSYU3501 – Advanced Topics in Psychological Science 1

2026 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Dick Stevenson
Charlie Topping
Travis Wearne
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to BPsych or Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) and 130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit offers specialised training in psychology, providing you with the opportunity to engage with advanced content across a range of psychological disciplines. The selection of specific topics will be guided by the expertise of the convenors delivering the unit, including but not limited to health, personality, clinical and clinical neuropsychology, reflecting cutting-edge research, contemporary perspectives, and emerging trends in the field. Designed to enhance advanced analytical, applied and research skills, this unit focuses on critical analysis of theories, models and methods employed when exploring psychology, evaluation and interpretation of research evidence to address real-world challenges across health, community, and organisations, as well as the development of innovative research designs that apply this evidence to addressing those real-world challenges. During the session, you will select three topics from a range of available options to gain a deep understanding of the methodologies and conceptual frameworks shaping modern psychological inquiry, equipping you with the skills necessary for advanced educational training, research and professional application. 

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 coherent knowledge and critical evaluation of the principles, theories, methods and skills across specialised areas within psychological science, drawing on empirical evidence from multiple sources. (Scientist and Scholar)
  • ULO2: Apply interdisciplinary methods and knowledge from across psychological science to develop strategies that address individual, community or organisational challenges. (Practitioner)
  • ULO3: Create evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions that address the unique needs and challenges of individuals, communities or organisations. (Citizen)
  • ULO4: Assess and reflect on the effectiveness of current applications and interventions designed to enhance outcomes for individuals, communities or organisations, incorporating ethical considerations and evidence-based practices. (Professional)

General Assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128 and 129).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day an assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

 For example:

Number of days (hours) late

Total Possible Marks

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours)

100

5

75

70

2 days (24-48 hours)

100

10

75

65

3 days (48-72 hours)

100

15

75

60

7 days (144-168 hours)

100

35

75

40

>7 days (>168 hours)

100

-

75

0

 

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Funding Proposal 40% No 27/08/2026 Individual Yes Open
Public Education Demonstration 30% No 04/10/2026 Individual and Group No Observed
Intervention Demonstration 30% No 02/11/2026 Individual No Observed

Funding Proposal

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: 27/08/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will write a brief research proposal to request funds to support research related to a real-world challenge and/or emerging technology in the field of psychological science.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate coherent knowledge and critical evaluation of the principles, theories, methods and skills across specialised areas within psychological science, drawing on empirical evidence from multiple sources. (Scientist and Scholar)
  • Apply interdisciplinary methods and knowledge from across psychological science to develop strategies that address individual, community or organisational challenges. (Practitioner)
  • Create evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions that address the unique needs and challenges of individuals, communities or organisations. (Citizen)
  • Assess and reflect on the effectiveness of current applications and interventions designed to enhance outcomes for individuals, communities or organisations, incorporating ethical considerations and evidence-based practices. (Professional)

Public Education Demonstration

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: 04/10/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

With an audience of public groups or organisations, you will develop and present an overview of an evidence-based training program or workshop to address real-world challenges within communities or organisations.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate coherent knowledge and critical evaluation of the principles, theories, methods and skills across specialised areas within psychological science, drawing on empirical evidence from multiple sources. (Scientist and Scholar)
  • Apply interdisciplinary methods and knowledge from across psychological science to develop strategies that address individual, community or organisational challenges. (Practitioner)
  • Create evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions that address the unique needs and challenges of individuals, communities or organisations. (Citizen)

Intervention Demonstration

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: 02/11/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

You will design and present an evidence-based intervention to improve individual, community, or organisational outcomes.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate coherent knowledge and critical evaluation of the principles, theories, methods and skills across specialised areas within psychological science, drawing on empirical evidence from multiple sources. (Scientist and Scholar)
  • Apply interdisciplinary methods and knowledge from across psychological science to develop strategies that address individual, community or organisational challenges. (Practitioner)
  • Create evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions that address the unique needs and challenges of individuals, communities or organisations. (Citizen)
  • Assess and reflect on the effectiveness of current applications and interventions designed to enhance outcomes for individuals, communities or organisations, incorporating ethical considerations and evidence-based practices. (Professional)

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online learning activities, including readings, tutorial workbook activities, videos, and weekly content. Further details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

No textbook is prescribed for this unit, instead you will see any weekly readings in iLearn. 

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. 

Unit Schedule

Week Stream A Topic Stream B Topic Assessments
Block 1
1 Personality Research and Debates Personality Research and Debates  
2 Evolutionary Psychology Dark Triad/Tetrad  
3 Sex, Gender, and Culture Addiction  
4 Social Interaction Crime  
Block 2
5 Functional Neuroanatomy Functional Neuroanatomy AT1 due
6 Memory & Amnesia The Social Brain & Acquired Sociopathy  
7 Brain Injury & Personality Change Neurodevelopment  
8 Dementia Brain Disorders & Criminal Behaviour  
Break Weeks AT2 due
Block 3  
9 Stress Ingestion basics  
10 Stress and coping Weight gain  
11 Stress and stigmatisation Obesity  
12 Stigmatisation Treatment  
13 No content AT3 due
Exam Period      

*Note: some topics may be subject to change

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk

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.

Artificial Intelligence Tools

Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgment. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately.  You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them.

To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:

AI Open assessments allow you to fully incorporate AI, reflecting authentic tasks where AI would normally be used in professional settings.

Observed with AI Optional assessments involve tasks where you either demonstrate essential knowledge without technology or show how you apply AI under supervision.

Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgment, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.

Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.


Unit information based on version 2026.05 of the Handbook