PSYCH 109G : Mind, Brain and Behaviour

Science

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Topics covered may include: the nature of sensory and perceptual processes, the cause of perceptual illusions, the structure and function of the human brain, approaches to animal and human learning, models of human language and memory, and the design of psychological experiments. A laboratory component, in which students are required to participate as subjects, forms part of the course.

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. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

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
Graduate Profile: University

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe and explain the basic principles of research design and data analysis, and the practical, ethical and conceptual issues that researchers may face when designing and undertaking psychological research. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Evaluate critically, using the principles of research design, research conducted by others. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Describe the psychological and neural processes that give rise to important aspects of perception, memory, and language. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  4. 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)
  5. 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)
  6. Identify and describe 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)
  7. Adopt a critical stance when evaluating evidence and theory in psychological science. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  8. Describe how an evolutionary approach can inform our understanding of animal and human minds. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Canvas Quizzes 7% Individual Coursework
Laboratory Participation 3% Individual Coursework
Laboratory Reports 20% Individual Coursework
Canvas Online Test 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 60% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Canvas Quizzes
Laboratory Participation
Laboratory Reports
Canvas Online Test
Final Exam

Tuākana

The Tuākana in Science Programme began over 27 years ago! It is an Equal Opportunities initiative that acknowledges the importance of the success and retention of Māori and Pacific students. The foundation of the Tuākana Programme is the Tuākana-Teina principle an integral relationship in which older or more expert Tuākana (traditionally brother, sister or cousin) guides a younger or less expert Teina (traditionally younger sibling or cousin). This is a reciprocal relationship which fosters safe learning and teaching environments.
The Tuākana Programme values Manaakitanga (kind and caring interactions), tautoko (support), Mana (reciprocal respect), Ako (learning and teaching), whanaungatanga (relationship, kinship, sense of family connection) and hononga (connection).
Students involved in the Tuākana Programme benefit from:
• Increased support and encouragement.
• Increased communication and access to resources.
• Increased networks – getting to know more students, at your own level and above.
• Increased enjoyment and opportunity to succeed.
Students can read more about the Tuakana programme here:
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Key Topics

Note that these topics are not listed in the order that they will be taught
Research Methods
Learning and Behaviour
Memory
Cognitive Development
Brain and Behaviour
Tikanga and Tapu Practices in a Neuroimaging Space
Evolutionary Psychology
Perception and Face Perception
Language

Special Requirements

Must participate in all laboratory classes.  Students who are approved to take this course remotely will have alternative arrangements made.


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, 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.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Campus Experience

This course is available to offshore students and students who have been exempted from in-person attendance. Different conditions will apply to these students.

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including laboratories to complete associated laboratory activities for credit for the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including laboratories will not be available as recordings.
This course will include online Canvas quizzes

Attendance on campus is required for the exam.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Learning resources are provided via Canvas. 
The prescribed text for this course is: Kosslyn, R.M., Rosenberg, R.S. & Lambert, A.J. (2014). Psychology in Context (1st New Zealand Edition). Auckland, NZ: Pearson Education.
As part of our regular review process, a decision has been made to update our introductory psychology textbook resources in 2022. This will involve replacing Psychology in Context with a new suite of teaching and learning resources in 2022. You might want to take this consideration into account when deciding whether to purchase a textbook. This is because opportunities for re-selling Stage One Psychology textbooks purchased in 2021 to students enrolling in introductory psychology in 2022 are likely to be limited. The 2022 student cohort will be using a new set of learning resources.   As an alternative to purchasing a new book, you might want to consider buying a second-hand copy of Psychology in Context. A further alternative is that you could choose to rely on making use of the short-loan facility offered by the University library. The library has 9 copies of Psychology in Context, which are available on short-loan for up to 2 hours. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Under the Government’s Covid-19 Alert Levels, we anticipate using the following delivery modes. Note this is subject to change depending on the specific circumstances.
Level 1: Delivered normally as specified in delivery mode
Level 2: You will not be required to attend in person. All teaching and assessment will have a remote option.
Level 3 / 4: All teaching activities and assessments are delivered remotely

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.

Published on 21/06/2021 02:59 p.m.