Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
2022 teaching periods
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 2 |
||
---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Prerequisites
NilCorequisites
Aims and objectives
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe the structure of the criminal justice system in Australia and internationally
2. Understand the principles of interviewing suspects and witnesses used by the police, by psychologists and in the courtroom and other forms of eyewitness testimony
3. Outline the strategies used in deception and detecting lies
4. Describe the process of risk assessment for violence and re-offending
5. Explain how crime is defined and measured and describe the different perspectives in criminology
6. Understand the developmental risk factors related to criminal behaviour
Courses with unit
BA-HSCPROF Bachelor of Health Science (Professional)
BB-HSCBUS Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Business
BB-HSCMCMN Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Media and Communication
BB-HSCSCI Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Media and Communication
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
This unit involves up to 150 hours of work including:
On campus
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Face to Face Contact Lecture |
3 |
12 |
36 |
Online Contact | N/A |
|
|
Specified Learning Activities Online tutorial activities Prescribed readings |
1 3 |
12 12 |
12 36 |
Unspecified Learning Activities Exam/test preparation Assignment preparation Self-directed study |
12 |
1 |
30 24 12 |
TOTAL |
|
| 150 hours/12.5cp |
Swinburne Online [SOL]
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Face to Face Contact | N/A |
|
|
Online Contact Weekly Collaborate sessions or other synchronous activities |
Up to 1 |
12 |
12 |
Specified Learning Activities Weekly Online Discussion board activities Prescribed readings |
5 |
12 |
60 |
Unspecified Learning Activities Independent study, assignment preparation, revision |
| 78 | |
TOTAL |
|
| 150 hours/12.5cp |
Assessment
Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
Midterm Examination | Individual | 20% | 1, 2, 6 |
Essay | Individual | 40% | 3, 4 |
Final Examination | Individual | 40% | 4, 5, 6 |
General skills outcomes
• Analysis Skills
• Communication Skills
• Ability to work independently
Content
• Theoretical perspectives in criminology (psychological, sociological, psychiatric)
• Defining and measuring crime (the uniform crime reporting system)
• Interviewing and detection of deception techniques
• Research methods in forensic psychology
• Risk assessment
• Eyewitness testimony and false memories
• Developmental risk factors for criminal behaviour, social risk factors, parental and family risk factors, and psychological risk factors
Study resources
- Reading materials.