Overview
The concept of wellbeing is central to Positive Psychology and it has been explored across many disciplines, cultures and spiritual traditions. In this unit, you will take a critical approach to cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural and spiritual theories and research on wellbeing. Through this exploration you will develop a holistic understanding of wellbeing concepts and practices. You will gain an understanding of how wellbeing is determined in different cultural and spiritual settings and across a range of academic disciplines and the implications for Positive Psychology.
Details
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 1 - 2022
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate 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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Moodle Have Your Say evaluation
Students appreciated the verbal, videoed assessment feedback, finding it a safe and supportive way to gain detailed feedback.
Continue to use this format to provide feedback.
Feedback from Moodle Have Your Say evaluation
Students found the content engaging and relevant, as well as stretching them to develop new insights and deeper knowledge.
Continue to refine the material to engage students learning.
Feedback from Moodle Have Your Say evaluation
Most students enjoyed the opportunity to speak with another student as part of the first assessment.
Maintain the inclusion of working with another student in the first assessment.
Feedback from Moodle Have Your Say evaluation
A student suggested that the assessment on spirituality/religion and wellbeing include an option to explore a different aspect of culture rather than religion.
Review the assessment to explore including another option/s for what students can cover/explore in this assessment.
- Evaluate wellbeing theories, research and practices in different disciplinary, spiritual and cultural systems
- Apply knowledge of different approaches to wellbeing to generate comprehensive, holistic models of wellbeing
- Apply communication skills to translate complex knowledge and ideas about wellbeing to a variety of audiences.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
| 2 - Presentation - 35% | |||
| 3 - Creative work - 35% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - 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 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
| 2 - Presentation - 35% | ||||||||
| 3 - Creative work - 35% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
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.
d.every@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Positive Psychology and wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial: Week 1 Thursday (10 March 2022) 6.30-8.00pm AEDT
Module/Topic
Philosophical perspectives on wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Economic perspectives on wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1: A comparative analysis of cross-cultural perspectives on wellbeing Due: Week 3 Monday (21 Mar 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Sociological perspectives on wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Existential psychology and wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial: Week 5 Thursday (7 April 2022) 6.30-8.00pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review week
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2: An evaluation of spiritual and religious perspectives on wellbeing Due: Week 6 Tuesday (19 Apr 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Cultural perspectives on wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cross-cultural frameworks: The ADDRESSING framework
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial: Week 8 Thursday (5 May 2022) 6.30-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
Indigenous Australian perspectives on wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sexual orientation, gender identity and wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Spiritual and religious perspectives on wellbeing
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review week
Chapter
Please see selected readings and activities on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
There are no examinations for this unit
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
There are no examinations for this unit
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Assessment 1 is designed to facilitate understanding of the role of culture in our life circumstances and in our understanding of wellbeing.
Your task has two (2) parts:
1. Self-Assessment using the ADDRESSING framework:
Complete three (3) criteria of the ADDRESSING framework in the ADDRESSING Self-Assessment tables
- One of these criteria must be Indigeneity
- Choose another two (2) you’d like to explore
- Complete the sections of the relevant table for each of these criteria
2. Comparative analysis: Write a 1,000 word (+-10%) omparative analysis of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perspectives on wellbeing:
a. How is wellbeing defined from the perspective of:
- Aboriginal Australians
- Non-Aboriginal Australians
b. What are the differences and similarities between these perspectives on wellbeing? Consider these differences at both the surface and ideological levels.
3. Reflection: Write a 500 (+/-10%) reflection on:
a. The thoughts/feelings/issues that arose from the self-assessment and comparative analysis
b. How your thinking about culture changed through the self-assessment and comparative analysis
Week 3 Monday (21 Mar 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 5 Monday (4 Apr 2022)
Your work will be assessed on:
- Clarity and depth of self-reflection on cultural influences, including ability to examine the role of privilege in limits to knowledge
- Clarity, depth and quality of understanding of wellbeing from different cultural perspectives, including use of high quality sources
-
Comparative analysis skills including meaning-making and critical thinking
Detailed information regarding assessment requirements and criteria can be found in the Unit Assessment Guide on Moodle.
The maximum word count for the comparative analysis and reflection is 1,500 words (+/- 10%) and the suggested maximum number of pages for the self-assessment is 5 page. Meeting the word count is included as a part of the marking criteria in your marking rubric on Moodle. See the Psychology Word Count Information document on Moodle for a rationale for using this type of word limit restriction
- Evaluate wellbeing theories, research and practices in different disciplinary, spiritual and cultural systems
- Apply knowledge of different approaches to wellbeing to generate comprehensive, holistic models of wellbeing
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Presentation
This assessment explores spirituality, religion and wellbeing.
Your task:
For this assessment you will choose a religious/spiritual tradition which is different from your own. A sect of your own religion (e.g. Anglican if you are Christian for example) does not meet this criteria. You need to explore a different religion (e.g. Hinduism if you are Christian).
You will then develop a short (minimum 9, maximum 10 minute) audio-visual presentation on the conceptualisation and practices of wellbeing through the framework of this religion/spiritual tradition.
Your audio-visual presentation will include:
- An initial slide and audio identifying the religion/spiritual tradition you are exploring and briefly outlining the main aspects of this tradition (e.g. its origins, where it is practiced and how widespread it is, whether it represents a particular sect/interpretation)
- An outline of how this religion/spiritual tradition define(s) (there may be more than one definition) wellbeing/a good life (this needs to be reputable sources i.e. not Wikipedia or opinion-based websites but spiritual texts, published interpretations, and academic writing)
- An outline of what beliefs and practices this religion/spiritual tradition sees as integral to wellbeing (this needs to be reputable sources i.e. not Wikipedia or opinion-based websites but spiritual texts, published interpretations, and academic writing)
- A brief analysis of which definitions, beliefs and practices of this religion/spiritual approach have been found in the psychology research literature to be related to wellbeing (you may not find research on ‘Buddhist prayer’ or ‘Christian tithing’ and wellbeing, but you will find research on the general practices of prayer and generosity/giving to others, for example)
-
A discussion of how this approach is similar to and/or different from your own spiritual/religious (including atheism/agnosticism) understanding of wellbeing (you can use the spiritual/religious approach you were raised in, or how you identify now).
- A slide with the reference list
You need to use APA style for referencing, and provide correct in-text citations on your slides as well as a complete reference list of those citations on your final slide.
You are welcome to use creative ways to present your findings – animation, images, music. Any visual or audio material you use in your film must be source cited if not your own.
LENGTH: Your short presentation will be a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 10 minutes in length
Week 6 Tuesday (19 Apr 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 8 Monday (2 May 2022)
Your work will be assessed on:
- Clarity of critical thinking in identifying links between spiritual/religious practices and research evidence, and in the comparative analysis of beliefs
- Quality of resources drawn upon to develop an accurate evidence-based understanding of the link between the spiritual/religious tradition and wellbeing
- Creative thinking in the presentation of the material
- Correct use of APA formatting for the citations and references
Detailed information regarding assessment requirements and criteria can be found in the Unit Assessment Guide on Moodle.
Your presentation will be a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 10 minutes in length. Meeting the time limit for the presentation is included as a marking criteria in your marking rubric on Moodle. See the Psychology Word Count Information document for a rationale for using this type of restriction.
- Evaluate wellbeing theories, research and practices in different disciplinary, spiritual and cultural systems
- Apply communication skills to translate complex knowledge and ideas about wellbeing to a variety of audiences.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
3 Creative work
This assessment brings together perspectives on wellbeing from different academic disciplines to develop a holistic view of wellbeing. The aim is to gain a perspective on wellbeing that highlights the different ways it is conceptualized and practiced.
There are two (2) options for completing this assessment. Please choose one of the following options.
Option 1
- Create a mind map of wellbeing incorporating 2 (two) theories of wellbeing from different academic disciplines
- Use this map to develop a written critical reflection (750 words +/- 10%) of the similarities and differences between the theories, and the research support for each.
Option 2
Write a 1,500 word (+/- 10%) critical reflection on the similarities and differences between two theories of wellbeing and the research support for each.
The mind map
For each theory, identify the practices (e.g. engaging with the community, exercise, spending money on others) that each deems is essential for wellbeing.
Your mind map will include:
- The central concept, which is wellbeing
- Two main branches each representing a theory
- Child branches for each of the main branches showing the practices of wellbeing identified by that theory
An example mind map is available on Moodle, as well as a link to a useful article on mind mapping which includes online tools if you would like to use these.
The critical reflection
In the critical reflection, you will:
- Compare and contrast definitions and practices of wellbeing
- Provide research evidence for the relationship between the theory/practices and wellbeing
- Bringing the theories together to explore a holistic model
You need to reference the critical reflection and provide a separate References page. The references are academic references, i.e. peer-reviewed journal articles.
Week 10 Monday (16 May 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Monday (30 May 2022)
Your work will be assessed on:
- Clear comprehension and summarising of the research evidence for the theories and their components
- Summarising similarities and differences between different theories
- Critical thinking in bringing together theories, practices and research to identify a holistic, evidence-based model of wellbeing
- Clarity in the organisation and presentation of the mind map (if you undertake Option 1)
- Written comprehension
The maximum word count for the critical reflection is 750 words (+/- 10%) for Option 1 and 1,500 words (+/- 10%) for Option 2. Meeting the word count is included as a part of the marking criteria in your marking rubric on Moodle. See the Psychology Word Count Information document on Moodle for a rationale for using this type of word limit restriction.
Detailed information regarding assessment requirements and criteria can be found in the Unit Assessment Guide on Moodle.
- Apply knowledge of different approaches to wellbeing to generate comprehensive, holistic models of wellbeing
- Apply communication skills to translate complex knowledge and ideas about wellbeing to a variety of audiences.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
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?
