Overview

The unit introduces students to basic and applied principles, concepts, theories and research in social psychology, and to explore how this knowledge can be applied in real-world contexts such as the law, health, sports, the environment, education, and work.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Students are assumed to have basic knowledge about psychology and research methods.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
01-March-2027
30-May-2027
Last self-enrolment date
14-March-2027
Census date
30-March-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
20-April-2027
Results released date
06-July-2027

Unit learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Critique methods used in social psychology for the development of basic and applied knowledge
  2. Explain how social psychology theories apply to social issues and contexts
  3. Apply social psychological knowledge critically to real world problems
  4. Analyse social problems with the use of concepts and theories from social psychology
  5. Identify cultural and cross-cultural differences in the understanding of social issues

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Class 24 12 weeks 2
Specified Activities Various 12 12 weeks 1
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 114 12 weeks 9.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Swinburne Online

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 36 12 weeks 3
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 114 12 weeks 9.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  35%  1,2,3,4,5 
Project Individual/Group 50% 2,3,4
Online Quizzes Individual  15%  3,4,5

Content

  • Introduction to Applied Social Psychology
  • Theories and methods in social psychology
  • How social psychology applies to a range of contemporary and applied topics such as work, health, consumerism, crime, sport etc
  • Intervention design based on social psychological research and theory

Study resources

Reading materials

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