Current Topics in Social Psychology (PSYC40002)
HonoursPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
Contact information
July
Prof Yoshihisa Kashima
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | July |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is designed to cover recent theoretical and empirical developments in social and personality psychology, to provide students with an opportunity to examine up-to-date research critically, and to develop new research ideas. Topics will be selected from social cognition, attitudes, self and identity, personality and individual differences, emotion, interpersonal and group processes, and applications of social and personality psychology.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge: On completion of this subject students should demonstrate an understanding of:
- research methods and data analytic techniques used in personality and social psychology and how they are used to investigate and explain processes at different levels of analysis;
- current theories, models, methods, and debates in social and personality psychology;
- The strengths and limitations of the different research methods and analytic techniques used in personality and social psychological research.
Skills: On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Critically evaluate current perspectives on various topics within personality and social psychology;
- clearly communicate theoretical and practical implications of theories and empirical findings in personality and social psychology
- identify appropriate research methods and analytic techniques to test personality and social psychological research questions;
- derive testable predictions from current theories of personality and social psychology
Application of knowledge and skills: On completion of this subject students should be able to apply their knowledge and skills to:
- Write essays and research proposals that demonstrate an understanding of (i) the theoretical basis of research questions in personality and social psychology, (ii) appropriate methods for empirically testing research questions in personality and social psychology, and (iii) how to interpret results of research in personality and social psychology research in the context of current theories.
- Critically evaluate personality and social psychology research studies and techniques;
Generic skills
Students in this subject will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills in:
- analysis and construction of arguments
- written communication in academic assignments and reports
- verbal communication in presenting information in small group formats
- workload planning and task management
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required for this subject
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
There are no non allowed subject
Recommended background knowledge
An accredited psychology major sequence
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An oral presentation. Each presentation is normally given by a group of two to three students
| From Week 2 to Week 8 | 25% |
Take-home examinations of no more than 3000 words in total made up of essay questions set by lecturers involved in the subject
| Questions are to be handed out after each lecture component, and answers are submitted within two weeks | 75% |
| Hurdle requirement: 80% attendance. In case of failure to meet this requirement, additional written work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Dates & times
- July
Principal coordinator Yoshihisa Kashima Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Thirty-six hours of lectures and/or seminars Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 16 October 2020 Last self-enrol date 18 August 2020 Census date 9 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 28 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 July contact information
Prof Yoshihisa Kashima
Time commitment details
Estimated time commitment: 170 hours per semester.
Last updated: 21 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) Informal specialisation Psychology
Last updated: 21 March 2025