Course Title: Psychology of Social Life

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Psychology of Social Life

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BESC1072	City Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016
BESC1072	City Campus	Undergraduate	173H School of Health and Biomed	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022
BESC1393	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016
BESC1393	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	173H School of Health and Biomed	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021
BESC1528	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	173H School of Health and Biomed	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2022, Viet1 2023
BESC1560	RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus	Undergraduate	173H School of Health and Biomed	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2023

Course Coordinator: Mervyn Jackson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7367

Course Coordinator Email: merv.jackson@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 202.04.034

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce you to the discipline of social psychology: the scientific study of the ways in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by the real or implied presence of others. You will examine key topic areas  ranging from the self, to interpersonal relations and group processes. Major research methodologies will also be explored. A significant component of the course will be the application of social psychological theory to your own experience.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP154 Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology):

• PLO 1:  Understand appropriate and relevant fundamental and applied evidence based knowledge and undertake lifelong learning to improve personal and professional practice 
• PLO 2: Demonstrate a capacity to employ a variety of approaches and procedures to research to permit judgements and decisions to be supported by appropriate evidence that places practice within a global and local context.
• PLO 4: Engage in dialogue with a diverse range of people and communicate in a broad range of forms (written, electronic, graphic, oral) to meet the circumstances of the situation and the capabilities of the audience.
• PLO 5: Maintains tolerance and respect for individuals and  groups from diverse backgrounds, holding diverse values, adhering to professional expectations and demonstrating ethical behaviour.

On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Distinguish the parameters of social psychology as a sub-discipline.
2. Demonstrate in an applied context a systematic understanding of the behaviour of the individual in social interaction.
3. Critically discuss explanations for the occurrence of certain kinds of social behaviour.
4. Review the principal research methods used in social psychology.
5. Apply social psychological principles to an analysis of specific social problems and issues.
6. Investigate and present information in a range of media and fora

Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities associated with this course will comprise of lectures and online activities. From your lectures you will acquire a theoretical framework of psychological knowledge associated with social psychology whilst the online learning material will provide an opportunity to engage in critical analysis of lecture material and apply this material to practical areas of interest. This course is may be undertaken as an online course where the primary mode of learning is online webinars and linked content.

Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources.   A combination of text books, databases and other online reference material will be used and you are encouraged to make use of electronic databases of psychological articles and other relevant material available on the “world wide web.”  Material chosen may be digitally available to you. Lecture material will be delivered via Canvas, Discussion Board interaction and Collaborate workshops. Practice learning activities will be provided in a variety of ways, including simulated learning activities. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A Library Subject Guide is available at http://rmit.libguides.com/psychology

Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Pre-lecture reading activities

Weighting 20%

This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 2: Major Assessment - 5 x tutorial tasks

Weighting 50%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 6

Assessment Task 3: Formative Problem based assessment task

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6