Faculty of Sciences, Engineering & Health PSYC11008 Biological Foundations of Psychology What is this course about? What are the expected outcomes of the course? This course introduces students to the biological bases of human behaviour. It examines the physiological bases of behaviour, including basic evolutionary processes, and the structures and functions of the human brain and nervous system; sensory and perceptual processes; conditioning and learning; and cognitive processes, including memory, reasoning and problem-solving, and language. It is a requirement of enrolment that students have access to the CQU Website via the Internet. Course learning outcomes Many who show an interest in psychology ask the question 'What do you do when you study psychology?' The answer to this is not simple because psychology is a complex and comprehensive field. During this course (and Social Foundations of Psychology PSYC11009) you will gain a familiarity with the breadth of Psychology taught at CQU. As a student of Psychology you will learn, not only about human (and non-human) behaviour, but also about the methodology and techniques of Psychology. As such on successful completion of this course, you should: 1. have a good, general, knowledge of the major principles and theories of the Biological Foundations of Psychology 2. have a knowledge of the application of these principles to both human and non-human behaviour 3. have developed writing, research and statistical skills. When is it offered? Where is it offered? How is it assessed? What textbooks do I need to obtain? 2011 Term Three For those of you taking the course on campus, the schedule will be published at http://timetabling.cqu.edu.au Flexible Learning, Melior Approved assessment for this course is: Examination 60% Other 40% Assessment 1 10% Online mastery tests ALL Assessment 2 30% Quiz 1 due 2/12/2011 Quiz 2 due 20/01/2012 ALL Prescribed Burton, L., Westen, D. & Kowalski, R. (2009). Psychology (2nd ed.). Milton, Qld, Australia: Wiley. Note: This book comes packaged with an ebook version of the text, Cyberpsych 3.0 and the ZAPS card and workbook. The total package will only be available at the CQUni Bookshop. Reeves, L. (2004). Zaps: Norton Psychology Labs Workbook (1st ed.). New York, NY, USA: Norton & Company. Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 1
Who do I contact? Coordinator: Phillip Donaldson Email: p.donaldson@cqu.edu.au Phone: +61 7 4150 7136 Additional contact details may be found at: http://lecturer.cqu.edu.au/lecturer.jsp?term=2113&course=psyc11008 Copyright CQUniversity Study Schedule Information for Students for this Offering Week Begin Date Module/Topic Chapter Events and submissions Week 1 31 Oct 11 Psychology: the study of mental processes and behaviour 1 Week 2 07 Nov 11 Research methods in Psychology 2 Week 3 14 Nov 11 Biological bases of mental life and behaviour 3 Week 4 21 Nov 11 Sensation (pp 118-152) 4 Week 5 28 Nov 11 REVIEW WEEK: No Topic / No Lecture Quiz 1 - (due Fri-Sat: see website) Week 6 12 Dec 11 Perception (pp 152-174) 4 Week 7 19 Dec 11 Consciousness 5 Week 8 02 Jan 12 Learning 6 Week 9 09 Jan 12 Memory 7 Week 10 16 Jan 12 REVIEW WEEK: No Topic / No Lecture Quiz 2 - (due Fri - Sat: see website) Week 11 23 Jan 12 Thought and Language 8 Online Mastery Tests: Deadline - Friday 27th of January Week 12 30 Jan 12 Cross-Cultural Psychology (pp 764-787) 19 Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 2
Assessment Submission Students are required to familiarise themselves with the policies and procedures of the University & Faculty, such as: Referencing Style http://facultysite.cqu.edu.au/fcwviewer/view.do?page=3949 Copyright Guidelines http://content.cqu.edu.au/fcwviewer/view.do?site=302 Assessment of Coursework Policy http://policy.cqu.edu.au/policy/policy.jsp?policyid=701 Student Misconduct and Plagiarism Policy http://policy.cqu.edu.au/policy/policy_file.do?policyid=1245 Student User Guide http://www.cqu.edu.au/studentguides Please refer to the Faculty Guide for Students for general assessment information pertaining to Faculty courses. Faculty Guide Students are required to familiarise themselves with the various requirements outlined in the annual Faculty Guide. http://fseh.cqu.edu.au/fcwviewer/view.do?page=9529 Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 3
Assessment submission Assessments for this course are submitted electronically via the course website. Policies and procedures for assessment Students should familiarise themselves with the relevant university and faculty policies and procedures in relation to assessment. In addition, students should familiarise themselves with: "Student Assessment and Referencing Policy and Procedures for Psychology" which can be downloaded via the course website. The Policy covers general assessment information, psychology discipline plagiarism policy, assignment submission guidelines, referencing style, and the extension policy. All students are required to read this Policy prior to the submission of any item of assessment. Please note that for all psychology assessment, the Student Assessment and Referencing Policy and Procedures for Psychology supersedes any other documentation regarding matters relevant to assessment, including: referencing style, assignment preparation and submission, extensions and grading, and plagiarism. However, students must also read the policy in conjunction with assignment instructions presented within the course website. Passing criteria To achieve a passing grade in this course, students must complete all three (3) components of assessment and achieve 50% or more on the aggregate of all assessment items. Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 4
Assessment details for ALL students Assessment item 1 Online Mastery Tests Due date: WEEK 11 Friday January 27 th, 2012 ASSESSMENT Weighting: 10% Length: EIGHT of the 10 mastery tests completed 1 Objectives: This assessment item links with course objective 3. Specific details regarding this assessment are available on the course website. Assessment criteria: Eight of 10 mastery tests must be mastered. Each test consists of 10 multiplechoice questions. A test is considered mastered once a score of 9/10 or better is achieved. Each test may be attempted as often as necessary to achieve mastery. This is a required item of assessment. Failure to successfully complete EIGHT of the 10 Mastery tests by the deadline (see course schedule) will result in a grade of ABSENT FAIL (AF) in the course regardless of performance on any other assessment. Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 5
Assessment item 2 Quizzes Due date: WEEK 5 (Quiz 1 due Friday December 2 nd - Saturday December 3 rd, 2011) Weighting: WEEK 10 (Quiz 2 due Friday January 20 th - Saturday, January 21 st, 2012) 30% [15% each] ASSESSMENT 2 Objectives These assessment items link with course objectives 1 and 2. Specific details regarding this assessment are available on the course website. Assessment criteria: Two online multiple-choice quizzes will be conducted using Moodle (in Weeks 5 and 10), each comprising 15% of the total course grade. The total number of correct answers will be converted to a weight of 30% of the total course assessment (15% for each quiz). Quiz times are available on Fridays and Saturdays as detailed above and in the course website. Participation in these quizzes is a compulsory part of the assessment of this course, i.e., missing either quiz will result in a grade of AF for the course regardless of performance on any other assessment. Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 6
Assessment item 3 Examination Due date: Exam period ASSESSMENT Weighting: Length: 60% Two hours 100 Multiple Choice questions 3 Objectives These assessment items link with course objectives 1 and 2. Specific details regarding this assessment are available on the course website. Examination for ALL students The final exam, which is closed book, will cover all chapters from the assigned readings within the textbook. Course materials specific to the Mastery Tests (see Assessment Item 1) are NOT covered on the final exam. The total number of correct answers will be converted to a weight of 60% of the total course assessment. Any correspondence regarding the exam date/place or requests for deferral of examination must be directed to examinations in the first instance. Lecturers and Course Coordinators cannot approve deferred examinations. See the course website for more details. View examination rules at: http://handbook.cqu.edu.au/handbook/information.jsp?id=152 The examination timetables will be made available later in the term. View examination timetable at: http://facultysite.cqu.edu.au/fcwviewer/view.do? page=3778 Course Profile for: PSYC11008, 2011 Term Three - Page 7