CQUniversity Unit Profile
PSYC13017 Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
All details in this unit profile for PSYC13017 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

The objectives of this unit are: (1) to introduce you to the foundations of abnormal psychology (2) to provide an overview of the major features of abnormal psychology (diagnosis, etiology, assessment, treatment, research, theory) (3) to assist you to begin to integrate theory, research and practice considerations within areas of abnormal psychology It is a requirement of enrolment in the unit that you have access to the CQU website as well as email access.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Minimum of 24 credit points of Psychology units for CA10, CQ01 and CQ91; Minimum of 24 credit points of Level 2 Psychology units for CF59; Minimum of 30 credit points of Level 2 Psychology units for CC43

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 - 2017

Distance

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: 15%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 15%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 35%
4. Examination
Weighting: 35%

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 feedback.

Feedback

Remove the requirement to 'submit' each answer for seperate quiz questions for the Online Quizzes.

Recommendation

This should be removed in order to allow students to complete the quiz in a timely fashion.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the foundations of abnormal psychology
  2. Provide both functional and critical knowledge of major facets of abnormal psychology
  3. Integrate theory, research and practice considerations within areas of abnormal psychology
  4. Reflect a commitment to a scientist-practitioner philosophy.
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 4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15%
3 - Written Assessment - 35%
4 - Examination - 35%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
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

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15%
3 - Written Assessment - 35%
4 - Examination - 35%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Abnormal Psychology: Leading Researcher Perspectives

Edition: 3rd ed (2014)
Authors: Edited by Elizabeth Reiger
McGraw-Hill Education
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781743078020
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

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

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Sharleen Keleher Unit Coordinator
s.keleher@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Conceptual issues in Abnormal Psychology

Chapter

Chapter 1: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and trauma-related disorders

Chapter

Chapter 2: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Mood disorders

Chapter

Chapter 3: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Psychotic disorders

Chapter

Chapter 4: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 04 Dec 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Dec 2017

Module/Topic

Somatic and dissociative disorders

Chapter

Chapter 5: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Dec 2017

Module/Topic

Eating disorders

Chapter

Chapter 6: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz 1 will be open from 9:00am Tuesday December 19 (Week 6) and close at 11:55pm Friday December 22.
Online Quiz 1 Due: Week 6 Friday (22 Dec 2017) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Addictive disorders

Chapter

Chapter 7: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Sexual and relationship problems

Chapter

Chapter 8: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Personality disorders

Chapter

Chapter 9: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Report Due Friday (19 January 2018) 09:00 AM AEST
Case Report Due: Week 9 Friday (19 Jan 2018) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Disorders of childhood

Chapter

Chapter 10: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Aging and psychological disorders

Chapter

Chapter 11: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 05 Feb 2018

Module/Topic

Health psychology

Chapter

Chapter 12: Abnormal Psychology - Leading Researcher Perspectives, E. Reiger.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz 2 will be open from 9:00am AEST Friday February 9 (Week 12) and close at 12:30pm AEST Monday February 12 (Review Week)
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Feb 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz 2 Due Monday (12 Feb 18) 12:30 PM AEST
Online Quiz 2 Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (12 Feb 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Feb 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Examination - refer to official exam timetable available in MyCentre for details
Online Quiz 2 Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (12 Feb 2018) 12:30 pm AEST
Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz 1

Task Description

Online Quiz 1 will assess course content learnt from Weeks 1 to 6 (Chapters 1 to 6 of the textbook).

There will be 60 multiple choice questions (10 from each chapter) with 5 response options for each question.

You will have 60 minutes to complete the quiz online.

Your grade for Quiz 1 is worth 15% of your overall grade.

Online Quiz 1 will be open from 9:00am AEST Tuesday December 19 Week 6 and close at 11:55pm AEST Friday December 22.


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Friday (22 Dec 2017) 11:55 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Friday (22 Dec 2017)

You will receive immediate feedback on your grade on completion of Quiz 1


Weighting
15%

Assessment Criteria

No Assessment Criteria


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the foundations of abnormal psychology
  • Provide both functional and critical knowledge of major facets of abnormal psychology
  • Integrate theory, research and practice considerations within areas of abnormal psychology
  • Reflect a commitment to a scientist-practitioner philosophy.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz 2

Task Description

Online Quiz 2 will assess course content learnt from Weeks 7 to 12 (Chapters 7 to 12 of the textbook).

 

There will be 60 multiple choice questions (10 from each chapter) with 5 response options for each question.


You will have 60 minutes to complete the quiz online.


Your grade for Quiz 2 is worth 15% of your overall grade.


Online Quiz 2 will be open from 9:00am AEST Friday February 9 (Week 12) and close at 12:30pm AEST Monday February 12 (Review Week)


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (12 Feb 2018) 12:30 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Monday (12 Feb 2018)

You will receive immediate feedback on your grade on completion of Quiz 2


Weighting
15%

Assessment Criteria

No Assessment Criteria


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the foundations of abnormal psychology
  • Provide both functional and critical knowledge of major facets of abnormal psychology
  • Integrate theory, research and practice considerations within areas of abnormal psychology
  • Reflect a commitment to a scientist-practitioner philosophy.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Case Report

Task Description

Objectives: The case report is where you are expected to demonstrate your functional and critical knowledge of major facets of abnormal psychology. This requires you to demonstrate a capacity to engage in research that develops your understanding of the aetiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of various major psychological disorders presented in the abnormal psychology literature.

Details: You will be given a list of potential films to review for your case report. It is not an exhaustive list of feature films in the area of psychology, yet it represents a number of films that deal with major themes in abnormal psychology. You are required to watch ONE film from this list, observing and assessing thoughts, feelings, and behaviour in the respective character. The story may be fiction or non-fiction. To potentially receive a high grade, the focus of your paper will be on the individual, not on the plot or theme of the movie. Your report must address questions relating to aspects of the individual and the environment. These questions and a template for the structure of the case report will be provided.

Word limit: 2,000 (not including references) - There is an automatic 10% penalty for going 10% above or below the word limit.

Please note: An APA formatted title page is required. No abstract is required.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (19 Jan 2018) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (2 Feb 2018)


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

You will be provided with the marking guide that will be used to mark your case report. It is recommended to write your report closely following the provided marking guide on Moodle.

Some key criteria include:

1. A demonstrated ability to apply abnormal psychology concepts.

2. The use of succinct, formal and non-judgmental language.

3. Critical use of empirical research (at least 10 references, not including the textbook or references used for definitions of concepts or terms).

4. Consistent and accurate use of APA 6th edition referencing style.

Please note there is automatic 5% penalty per day for late submissions without a prior extension and an automatic 10% penalty for going 10% above or below the word count.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please label your uploaded file as "first name surname PSYC13017 casereport". For example: jessica paterson PSYC13017 casereport.doc

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the foundations of abnormal psychology
  • Provide both functional and critical knowledge of major facets of abnormal psychology
  • Integrate theory, research and practice considerations within areas of abnormal psychology
  • Reflect a commitment to a scientist-practitioner philosophy.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
35%

Length
180 minutes

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
No calculators permitted
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?