Course Title: The Psychology of Training the Individual

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: The Psychology of Training the Individual

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1074

City Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007

Course Coordinator: Dr Diane Mead Niblo

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7375

Course Coordinator Email: diane.niblo@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This elective is designed to introduce students to the study of groups and group dynamics. It aims to help students become more aware of their own interactive modes and to understand how these influence and are influenced by group processes. It helps students build an experientially informed, coherent, theoretical understanding of:

  • the ways in which groups develop and function
  • the factors that constrain and improve group performance


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

By the end of the course students are expected to be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of theory and research in the formation, development, and structure of small groups; group decision making and performance; leadership; intragroup conflict; and power.
  2. Articulate an organised and coherent understanding of group behaviour informed by their own experience of small group interaction.
  3. Provide evidence of small group observation skills.
  4. Develop, prepare, and present a piece of psychological research related to group dynamics.
  5. Work effectively in a small group.
  6. Understand their preferred mode of operating in small groups.
  7. Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate ideas in a range of media



Overview of Learning Activities

Lectures are designed to help students acquire a theoretical framework of social psychological knowledge. Lecture outlines will be available on the WWW for one week following the lecture. It is important that students read the set chapters prior to the lecture.

Tutorials enable students to engage in synthesis, critical analysis and further exploration of the lecture material, forging practical links to their areas of interest. Emphasis is on collaborative learning; students are required to play an active role in tutorial activities.
Students build on their skills of psychological research in the key research summary and observational field study.

The end of semester test provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate the consolidation of their theoretical and experiential learning.


Overview of Learning Resources

Combination of text and library resources.


Overview of Assessment

Combination of individual and group assessment.