Overview

This unit is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the main theories and methods of psychology.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-February-2026
29-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
08-March-2026
Census date
24-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-April-2026
Results released date
09-June-2026
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
25-September-2026
Last self-enrolment date
05-July-2026
Census date
21-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
11-August-2026
Results released date
06-October-2026
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
19-October-2026
29-January-2027
Last self-enrolment date
01-November-2026
Census date
17-November-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
15-December-2026
Results released date
09-February-2027

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain the general methods of investigation employed in psychological research, and show an appreciation of the main issues in research ethics
  • Explain key concepts from major content areas in psychology. These may include: biological underpinnings of psychology; sensory processes, perception, and consciousness; learning, memory, and cognition; developmental psychology; social psychology; personality, intelligence, and other individual differences; health, clinical, and abnormal psychology.
  • Locate, organise and integrate information from various sources concerning topics and problems relating to psychology
  • Communicate in a logical and clear manner the results of investigating a topic or problems relating to psychology
  • Apply psychological theories, methods, and data to explain aspects of your everyday experiences and behaviours

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
(Lecture)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Class)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Lab)		 2 12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
(Independent Learning)		 6.5 12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

NCHS - Colombo

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
(Lecture)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Class)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Lab)		 2 12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
(Independent Learning)		 6.5 12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Assignment Individual  15%  1,2,3,4 
Assignment Individual/Group 35%  1,2,3.4.5
Assignment Individual  30%  1,2,3,4,5
Online Tests Individual 20% 1,2,3,4

Content

  • Sensation and Perception
  • Biological bases of psychology.
  • Consciousness, Learning, Memory and Cognition
  • Motivation, Personality, Intelligence
  • Abnormal, clinical, developmental, social, and health psychology

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.