CQUniversity Unit Profile
PSYC11010 Fundamentals of Psychology 1: Understanding Human Behaviour
Fundamentals of Psychology 1: Understanding Human Behaviour
All details in this unit profile for PSYC11010 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit provides an introduction to the primary philosophies and key theories and frameworks that are fundamental to the study of psychology. You will examine the interplay of biological and social factors that underpin our understanding of people and behaviour. The biological content of the unit explores the structures and functions of the brain and nervous system, sensory and perceptual processes, learning and behaviour, and states of consciousness. The social content of the unit introduces you to motivation and emotion, human lifespan development, social cognition and perception and cross-cultural psychology, personality, psychological disorders, and intelligence. This unit is applicable to students studying a psychology course and those students from a variety of courses.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 3 - 2023

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 60%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student evaluation feedback and in-class comments.

Feedback

Students found the cartoon videos helpful in understanding the mind map.

Recommendation

Continue providing videos to explain the mind map.

Feedback from Student evaluation feedback and in-class comments.

Feedback

Currently, the weekly topics are alternated with one lecturer teaching social foundations of psychology (weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11) and another teaching biological foundations of psychology (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 10, and 12). Several students stated that they would like to not switch topics, and lecturers, each week. Instead, they would prefer to have half the term focused on biological foundations of psychology, and then the other half social foundations of psychology.

Recommendation

Alter the teaching schedule for this unit so that biological foundations of psychology is taught in the first half of the term, and social foundations of psychology during the last half of the term.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
  2. Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.
  3. Reflect on, and engage with, key psychological concepts in an objective manner.


Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Written Assessment - 40%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Psychology 6th Australian and New Zealand Edition

Edition: 6th (2022)
Authors: Lorelle Burton, Drew Westen, Robin Kowalski
John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd
Brisbane Brisbane , Queensland , Australia
ISBN: 9780730396642
Binding: eBook

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • CQUniversity Library
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Sidney Irwin Unit Coordinator
s.irwin@cqu.edu.au
Cassy Dittman Unit Coordinator
c.dittman@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 - The big picture Begin Date: 06 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

The big picture - An overview of psychology

Chapter

Chapter 1 - Psychology: The study of mental processes and behaviour

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 - From cells to consciousness Begin Date: 13 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

From cells to consciousness

Chapter

Chapter 6 - Biological bases of mental life and behaviour

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 - Sensational Begin Date: 20 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

Sensational

Chapter

Chapter 7 - Sensation and perception

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 - Change is the only constant Begin Date: 27 Nov 2023

Module/Topic

Change is the only constant

Chapter

Chapter 9 - Learning

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 04 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 - Altered states Begin Date: 11 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

Altered states

Chapter

Chapter 8 - Consciousness

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 - It's a mad world Begin Date: 18 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

It's a mad world

Chapter

Chapter 18 - Psychological disorders

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz Due: Week 6 Friday (22 Dec 2023) 11:45pm AEST

Vacation Week Begin Date: 25 Dec 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 - Intelligence is what intelligence tests measure Begin Date: 01 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

Intelligence is what intelligence tests measure

Chapter

Chapter 12 - Intelligence

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 - What moves you? Begin Date: 08 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

What moves you?

Chapter

Chapter 13 - Motivation and emotion

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 - It takes a village Begin Date: 15 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

It takes a village        

Chapter

Chapter 16 - Social development

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 - Growing pains Begin Date: 22 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

Growing pains

Chapter

Chapter 15 - Physical and cognitive development

Events and Submissions/Topic

Concept Map Due: Week 10 Monday (22 Jan 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Week 11 - Let me stress Begin Date: 29 Jan 2024

Module/Topic

Let me stress

Chapter

Chapter 17 - Health stress and coping

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 - Who am I? Begin Date: 05 Feb 2024

Module/Topic

Who am I?        

Chapter

Chapter 14 - Personality

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz Due: Week 12 Friday (9 Feb 2024) 11:45pm AEST

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Feb 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quizzes

Task Description

You will complete two online quizzes due in Week 6 and Week 12.

  • Assessment 1A - Online Quiz - Week 6 - opens midday Thursday, closes 11:45 pm Friday
  • Assessment 1B - Online Quiz - Week 12 - opens midday Thursday, closes 11:45 pm Friday
  • Both quizzes are multiple-choice and are completed via the Moodle site.
  • Once you start the quiz, you have 60 minutes to complete all 60 questions.
  • There are 60 questions in each quiz.
  • It is usually best to skip questions you do not know and come back to them if you have time.
  • At the end of the 60 minutes, the quiz will close and the system will submit all answered questions for grading.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Assessment 1A - Online Quiz due in Week 6: opens midday Thursday, closes 11:45pm Friday; Assessment 1B - Online Quiz due in Week 12: opens midday Thursday, closes 11:45pm Friday


Return Date to Students

Online grading.


Weighting
60%

Assessment Criteria

There are two quizzes.

  • Each quiz is worth 30% of the final grade.
  • Each quiz has 60 multiple choice questions.
  • Each question is worth 0.5 marks per correct answer.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Complete both quizzes online through Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
  • Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Concept Map

Task Description

RATIONALE

  • Concept maps enable us to make meaningful connections between items of information.
  • Concept maps also help us apply our learning to real-world situations.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

  • Select a primary core topic from a lecture or book chapter.
  • Identify at least 10 concepts directly related to the selected core topic (taken from the selected lecture or book chapter).
  • Link each of the 10 concepts to the core topic or another concept by using arrows and linking words or phrases.

Step 2

  • Select a second core topic from a lecture or book chapter.
  • Identify at least 8 concepts directly related to the second core topic.
  • Link each of the 8 concepts to the second core topic or to any another concept by using arrows and linking words or phrases.

 

Step 3

  • Select one real-world application that relates to the concepts you have used above.
  • Identify at least 8 concepts that relate to the real-world application.
  • Link each of the 8 concepts to the real-world application or to other concepts by using arrows and linking words or phrases.

 

Format

  • Your map must be presented on an A4 page, you can use either a portrait or landscape.
  • You can use different geometric shapes and colours for core topics and related concepts.
  • Use lines or arrows to show connections between topics and concepts.
  • Submit either as a Word document or a PDF.

 

SOFTWARE

  • You can use any software you like to generate a concept map, so long as you can submit as an A4 PDF. 

Often the simplest strategy is to use Microsoft Word:

  • Click on Layout/Orientation and choose your orientation.
  • Then click on Insert/Shapes to choose a shape.
  • Left click on the page and drag to locate and size the shape.
  • Text can be inserted in the shapes to provide details about the concept.
  • Next click on Insert/Shapes and choose an arrow which will be used to link concepts.
  • All elements (shapes, lines, text) can be modified, copied, etc.
  • It pays to save a few copies of the concept map (just in case).

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • There are several ways a concept map may be constructed: hierarchical, spider web, flowchart, system maps, etc.
  • However, the key elements above must be included (core topics, concepts, linkages)
  • You can add additional concepts, but the map should not have more than 50 concepts in total.
  • As you progress, compete the Concept Map Assignment Detail Form
  • Download the form from the Assessment - Concept Map section in Moodle.
  • This form must be submitted along with your concept map.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Monday (22 Jan 2024) 9:00 am AEST

Submit online via the PSYC11010 Moodle site.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Monday (12 Feb 2024)

Online grading and comments.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Total grade out of 40 marks - the breakdown of marks for each section is outlined below:


Assessment detail form and presentation - 2 marks

  • Relevant detail form not submitted – 0
  • Assessment detail form submitted but incomplete/inaccurate - 1
  • Assessment detail form submitted, fully complete and accurate - 2

Overall layout – 5 marks

  • No organisation or consideration is given to the layout of concepts –1
  • Poor organisation of items, difficult to identify core topics – 2
  • Concept map is reasonably organised and legible. Core topics and concepts are mostly coherent – 3
  • Concept map is well organised, with clear connections between core topics and concepts – 4
  • The entire map is expertly organised and legible. The intended purpose is achieved skillfully and creatively – 5

Graphics – 4 marks

  • Poor and inconsistent use of colour/shapes/fonts/connecting arrows. No legend - 1
  • Colour/shapes/fonts/connecting arrows somewhat consistent. Legend included but has errors – 2
  • Colour/shapes/fonts/connecting arrows used consistently. Clear legend included – 3
  • Colour/shapes/fonts/connecting arrows used consistently and creatively. Clear legend included - 4

Connecting words/phrases – 4 marks

  • Minimal and irrelevant words/phrases used connect core topics and concepts – 1
  • Less than half of the connecting lines have relevant linking words/ phrases – 2
  • Majority of connecting lines have relevant words or phrases to demonstrate relationships - 3
  • All connecting lines have relevant words or phrases to demonstrate relationships - 4

Core topic and concept focus - 5 marks

  • Over half but less than the required number of appropriate concepts identified, or more than 50 concepts included – 1
  • Required number of concepts (min 26) and core topics identified, but half or more inappropriately used – 2
  • Required number of concepts (min 26) and core topics identified, but less than half inappropriately used – 3
  • Required number of concepts (min 26) and core topics identified, few inappropriately used – 4
  • Required number of appropriate concepts (min 26) and core topics identified and used appropriately and creatively - 5

Levels of hierarchy and linkages - 5 marks

  • No hierarchy demonstrated. No linkages between core topics – 1
  • Basic relationships between concepts and core topics identified. No clear hierarchy demonstrated – 2
  • Use of secondary level hierarchy but lack of coherent linkages across all levels – 3
  • Multiple level hierarchy used but lack of cross-links to identify complex relationships -4
  • Multiple level hierarchy used with clear, cross-links used to identify complex relationships - 5

Understanding selected core topics and concepts - 5 marks

  • Very little understanding of selected core topics / concepts – 1
  • Basic understanding of selected core topics / concepts – 2
  • Good understanding of selected core topics / concepts – 3
  • Very good understanding of selected core topics / concepts – 4
  • Excellent understanding of selected core topics / concepts - 5

Understanding connections between core topics and concepts - 5 marks

  • Connecting words/phrases used correctly but simple and repetitive – 1
  • Connecting words/phrases demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between core topics and concepts – 2
  • Connecting words/phrases demonstrate substantive understanding of connections between core topics and concepts – 3
  • Connecting words/phrases demonstrate a deep understanding of the relationships between core topics and concepts – 4
  • Propositions used effectively and creatively to demonstrate relationships between core topics and concepts - 5

Presentation - spelling and grammar - 5 marks

  • Basic presentation with several errors in spelling and grammar – 1
  • Good overall presentation with several errors in spelling and grammar – 2
  • Good overall presentation with few errors in spelling and grammar – 3
  • Very good overall presentation with very few errors in spelling and grammar – 4
  • Excellent presentation no spelling or grammar errors - 5


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit through Moodle in A4 PDF format.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the biological and social contributors to human behaviour.
  • Discuss the major principles and theories related to the study of human behaviour.
  • Reflect on, and engage with, key psychological concepts in an objective manner.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?