Course Title: Social Psychology

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Social Psychology

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1183

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

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

BESC1185

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

BESC1186

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

BESC1186

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,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

BESC1372

City Campus

Postgraduate

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

BESC1529

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Viet3 2022,
Viet2 2023,
Viet3 2023,
Viet3 2024

BESC1564

RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Viet3 2023,
Viet3 2024

Course Coordinator: Mervyn Jackson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

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


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.


Course Description

This course introduces you to the area of psychology that studies social behaviour: the way people think and feel about each other, relate to one another and influence each other. The course will demonstrate the application of social psychological principles to social problems and issues. You will explore the extensive applications of social psychological principles to real world problems such as prejudice, safe sex behaviour, divorce, media violence and environmental problems. Theories and research findings are used to increase the understanding of settings and problems in the real world. You will acquire both a theoretical and practical understanding of a number of methodological issues central to social psychological research. This course will provide an appreciation of the mutual influence between basic and applied research. A common thread connecting these various content areas will be an examination of the main methodological techniques used in social psychological research.


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 3:  Applies knowledge to diagnose and solve problems in a wide range of diverse situations, with an ability to work independently or with others and incorporate the analysis of evidence based scientific literature to solve psychological problems.
  • 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.


Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate in an applied context a systematic understanding of the behaviour of the individual in social interaction.
  2. Examine critically the explanations for the occurrence of certain kinds of social behaviour.
  3. Critically apply social psychological principles to social problems and issues.
  4. Identify both theoretical and practical methodological issues central to social psychological research.


Overview of Learning Activities

 

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks 

Assessment Task 1: Pre-lecture reading activities
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2 & 4  

Assessment Task 2: Pre Lab Activity (10%) and Lab report (40%)
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 3: Problem based Assessment Task
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.