Unit rationale, description and aim

As part of advanced training in psychology, this unit provides students with the opportunity to be exposed to specialised training in psychology. Topics may be drawn from one or more distinct areas of psychology, including (but not limited to) cognitive, social, developmental, health and applied psychology. The material will be of an advanced nature, offering engagement with cutting edge research and innovation and in-depth examination of contemporary perspectives on, and interpretation of, recent trends in the field of psychology, as well as an awareness of its historical and philosophical underpinnings. The choice of specific topics will be driven by the expertise of the Lecturers assigned to teach the unit. The aims of this unit are to develop advanced skills in (a) critical analysis of theories and models presented to explain observed trends in an area of psychology, (b) the use of research evidence to develop, modify or reject theories and models and (c) the development of research designs that may address an open research question in the area under investigation.

2026 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Demonstrate an ability to critically analyse resea...

Learning Outcome 01

Demonstrate an ability to critically analyse research evidence and theoretical accounts in the psychology topics under study
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC11, GC12

Demonstrate an ability to synthesise and present t...

Learning Outcome 02

Demonstrate an ability to synthesise and present theoretical models and evidence in a logical, structured and eloquent manner, in oral and written format
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Identify the critical predictions of the theoretic...

Learning Outcome 03

Identify the critical predictions of the theoretical models under study, and the methodological approaches used to test those predictions
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC11, GC12

Develop proposed empirical approaches to the inves...

Learning Outcome 04

Develop proposed empirical approaches to the investigation of critical issues in the specific topic under study
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC11, GC12

Content

Topics will include: 

Specific topics or a range of topics may be drawn from the following themes, based on research expertise of the Lecturer in charge of the unit: 

Ageing; Aggression; Altruism and Helping Behaviour; Attachment and Adjustment; Attention; Attitudes; Collective and Group Processes; Attraction; Attributions; Cognition and Ageing; Cognitive Development; Cognitive Disorders; Cognition and Performance; Cognitive Neuroscience; Cognitive Schemas; Community Psychology; Counselling Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cross Cultural Psychology; Developmental Psychopathology; Educational Psychology; Eating Behaviour; Emotion; Evolutionary Psychology; Executive Function; Experimental Psychology; Forensic/Criminal Psychology; Gender Roles and Sexuality; Health Psychology; Indigenous Psychology; Judgement and Decision Making; Language; Learning; Linguistics; Memory; Mental Imagery; Morality; Motor Cognition; Music Cognition; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychology; Organisational Psychology; Perception; Personality; Problem Solving; Psychology and the Law; Reasoning; Relationships; Self-Esteem; Self-Preservation; Self-Concept; Self-Regulation and Self-Determination; Social Cognition; Social Development; Spatial Cognition; Sports Psychology.  

Assessment strategy and rationale

To allow students to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes, assessment in this unit will involve written and oral presentation assessment. The written assessments will include (a) an essay that critically analyses theory and related empirical research, and (b) a research proposal. Students will also deliver an in-person oral presentation, which will include a question-and-answer component. In combination, these tasks will enable students to demonstrate their ability to critically analyse and synthesise research, and to identify appropriate research methodology to test hypotheses. The three assessments will be based around a single topic, with timely feedback provided that will assist students to develop and refine their work.   

 

In order to successfully complete this unit, students must:

  • complete and submit all assessment tasks listed in the table below
  • obtain an aggregate mark of at least 50%
  • demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Essay Students will critical...

Assessment Task 1: Essay

Students will critically analyse theory and empirical evidence and present their critique as an essay. 

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11

Assessment Task 2: R esearch Proposal Students ...

Assessment Task 2: Research Proposal

Students will demonstrate their ability to identify a research question and to apply their knowledge of the methodological approaches in the area to test said question. 

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11

Assessment Task 3: Interactive Oral Presentation ...

Assessment Task 3: Interactive Oral Presentation  

Students will demonstrate their ability to analyse, synthesise and present information via an oral presentation, complemented by a question-and-answer component. 

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The unit will be delivered face-to-face with 2- hour sessions over 12 weeks or equivalent .The sessions will mostly be organised as guided seminar discussions workshops where a topic is introduced and discussed in class. The discussions are guided by the Lecturer so that they focus on the issues that are relevant to the development of the target learning outcomes. This format is chosen as it is the ideal approach to facilitate critical thinking and oral communication skills and because it fosters the role of the student as an active participant in a fundamental part of the research enterprise. 

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

This unit is informed by original research from refereed journals, such as:

  • Cognition  
  • Developmental Psychology 
  • Health Psychology  
  • Journal of Applied Psychology 
  • Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 
  • Psychological Bulletin  
  • Psychological Review 
  • Social Cognition 
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