PSYCH 109 : Mind, Brain and Behaviour
Science
2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course is designed to introduce students to the experimental study of, and research in, psychology. It offers students experience in psychological experimentation, in particular to the biological, behavioural and cognitive aspects of the discipline. Together with a complementary course PSYCH 108, this course provides an essential grounding in the discipline, and the basis for further study in the School of Psychology.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Be familiar with basic principles of research design and data analysis, and have an appreciation of the practical, ethical and conceptual issues that researchers may face when designing and undertaking psychological research. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Evaluate critically, using the principles of research design, research conducted by others. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe the psychological and neural processes that give rise to important aspects of perception, memory, language, consciousness and thinking. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the major principles underlying learning in both animals and humans, and some of their implications for understanding the relation between behaviour and environment in everyday life. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the major theories of cognitive development throughout the lifespan, together with evidence that tends to support or undermine these theoretical approaches. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Be familiar with the major divisions and structures of the human brain, and be able to describe the main functions of important brain structures. Be able to describe the structure and function of nerve cells. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Adopt a critical stance when evaluating evidence and theory in psychological science. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 10% | Individual Test |
| Canvas Quizzes | 7% | Individual Coursework |
| Laboratory Participation | 3% | Individual Coursework |
| Laboratory Reports | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Examination | 60% | Individual Examination |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Canvas Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Laboratory Participation | ||||||||||
| Laboratory Reports | ||||||||||
| Final Examination | ||||||||||
Plussage operates in this course
Tuākana
Key Topics
Learning Resources
Special Requirements
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures and a 2-hour laboratory. An extra 5 hours per week should be spent reading and thinking about the content of the course and working on assignments and preparing for the test/examination.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.