Unit Outline
PSY207
Social Psychology
Semester 2, 2024
Alexander O'Donnell
School of Psychological Sciences
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Alexander O'Donnell
Email: alexander.odonell@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
The lectures examine aspects of overt social behaviour, such as two-person encounters, behaviour in small and large groups and inter-group relations. Research in social cognition, which studies people’s perceptions and interpretations of the social world, will also be presented. Lecture topics include: attribution theory, decision-making, and social dilemmas; social aspects of emotion; the development and measurement of attitudes; aggression; pro-social behaviour; and prejudice. Practicals provide experience in social psychological research, placing an emphasis on the areas covered in lectures, and the applied nature of social psychology is emphasised throughout the unit.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1
Identify and explain social psychology phenomena and research
2
Apply social psychology theories and concepts to explain cognitions, emotions, and behaviours, and how these may be influenced by culture
3
Apply skills in research design, critical thinking, and analysis to investigate social psychology constructs
4
Communicate social psychology concepts and research to lay and academic audiences
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
PSY111 AND an additional 12.5 points at introductory level
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
KHA207
Alterations as a result of student feedback
In response to the feedback from previous student cohort, changes have been made which include minor adjustments to assessments and alignment of some of the timelines. Additional content will be applied to showcase how the principles of social psychology can be used to address contemporary social issues. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2024, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit.
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Practical
11 x 2 hour practical classes
2
StudyPeriod 11 times
Lecture (Online)
Online Lecture modules
2
StudyPeriod 12 times
Independent Learning
Independent reading, studying, and assessment preparation.
6
Weekly
Online
Lecture (Online)
Online Lecture modules
2
StudyPeriod 12 times
Individual Study
11x 2 hour asynchronous practical workbook
2
StudyPeriod 11 times
Independent Learning
Independent reading, studying, and assessment preparation.
6
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
One of the challenges for Social Psychology is that it tries to empirically study social and cognitive processes that are impossible to directly observe. For this reason, in almost every module, there will be explanations of examples of research that try to solve this challenge. Your capacity to understand and retain this information will be greatly improved if you have read the relevant chapter from the set text before viewing each module. The practical program for the unit has been designed with two purposes in mind. One is to support the material covered in lectures and the other is to help develop academic skills that will be of use in completing the set assessment tasks and, in the future, conducting applied social psychology research. Therefore, active engagement in the practical activities will enhance both performance in the assessment tasks and in future units and employment that require the conduct of research.
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online Quizzes
Week 4
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Applied Responses
Week 5
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Research Proposal
Week 10
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Online Quizzes
Task Description:
3 x Online, multiple choice quizzes assessing content from the modules and textbook content.
Quiz 1: 25 Questions assessing module and textbook content - Due Week 4
Quiz 2: 25 Questions assessing module and textbook content - Due Week 9
Quiz 3: 25 Questions assessing module and textbook content - Due Week 13
Task Length:
3 x 25-item multiple choice quizzes with an enforced time limit of 1 hour per quiz.
Due Date:
Week 4
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify, define, and explain social psychology concepts
LO1
2
Apply social psychology theories, constructs, and research to explain cognitions, emotions, and behaviours, and solve problems
LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Applied Responses
Task Description:
Applied Responses
Prepare written responses for 4 set questions related to unit content between Weeks 3 and 13 (questions are subject to change each semester and are provided to students on MyLO in Week 1). 500 words absolute maximum per response (title page, citations, and references not required).
3 (THREE) of the 4 submitted responses will be marked, worth 10% each. The first of these will be marked upon submission during semester. The remaining two (selected as below) will be marked during the examination period, with marks returned following the formal release of the overall PSY207 unit grades.
(1) The first submitted question, due in Week 5, will be marked for all students, constituting 10% of the marks for this assessment.
(2) When students submit their 4th response (in week 13) they will be asked to choose one of the remaining three responses to be marked for 10% of this assessment.
(3) One remaining response will be chosen randomly by staff, constituting the final 10% of this assessment.

Four applied responses will be due in Week 5, Week 8, Week 11, and Week 13
Task Length:
Absolute maximum of 500 words per response. Citations, references, and title page not required for this assessment.
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
 

1
Define and describe and effectively communicate relevant social psychology concepts
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2
Apply relevant social psychology concepts and methods to analyse and explain real-world scenarios
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Reflect, problem solve, and devise recommendations in the context of real-world scenarios
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Research Proposal
Task Description:
Write a research proposal for an original experimental or quasi-experimental study dealing with some aspect of a set social psychology topic (topic subject to change each semester).’
1500 words absolute maximum (excluding title page, references, and appendices).
Task Length:
1500 words absolute maximum
Due Date:
Week 10
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Integrate evidence to provide a rationale for the study, within the context of existing empirical research.
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Develop and state research aims and hypotheses, which logically follow the rationale.
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Apply knowledge of research methods in social psychology to explain an appropriate design to address your hypotheses.
LO1, LO2, LO3
4
Scholarly communication and formatting
LO4
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 

 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Reading Lists provide direct access to all material on unit reading lists in one place. This includes eReadings and items in Reserve. You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.
 
Recommended reading materials
Recommended reading materials will be listed online, as detailed above.
 
Other required resources