PSYCH 700 : Political Psychology

Science

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Provides an overview of the intersecting fields of psychology and political science. Seminar-based topics include personality and politics, political socialisation, voting behaviour, media effects, rational choice vs. symbolic politics, the competency of the electorate, the psychology of legitimacy, and other timely issues. Attention will be paid to the international literature, though New Zealand-based research will also be discussed.

Course Overview

This is a seminar-based course on the interdisciplinary field of political psychology—lecturing will be minimal and active class participation is essential. Because this is such a broad subject, the course will cover a distinct topic each week. By providing an overview of such a diverse literature, it is hoped that students will find that some (but hopefully most!) of the readings pique their interest and are relevant to their own research endeavours.

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

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Communicate: Students will be able to effectively communicate (both verbally and in writing) their knowledge and depth of understanding of the field of political psychology. (Capability 1 and 4)
  2. Evaluate: Students will be able to critically evaluate and concisely summarize research in political psychology. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
  3. Create: Students will be able to develop a novel research study that makes a substantive contribution to the literature in political psychology. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Discussions 10% Group & Individual Coursework
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Assignments 10% Individual Coursework
Reports 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Discussions
Essay
Assignments
Reports

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

This course is supported by the Tuākana in Science Programme, which facilitates the success and wellbeing of our 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. Read more here:
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Special Requirements

Not applicable.

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 2 hours of seminar, 6 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments per week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including seminars to receive credit for components of the course.

The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning 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.

All of the readings are available on google scholar (http://scholar.google.co.nz/), through the University’s library (http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/databases/?tab=tab_ejournal), or on Talis. Accordingly, there is NO required text book associated with this course.

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.

Past student feedback has led to numerous changes to PSYCH 700 over the years, including changes to the weighting of assignments due early in the semester (e.g., assignments were weighted equally in the first years of the course, but  changed such that assignments due early in the semester are weighted less than assignments due towards the end of the semester). I also replace articles that fail to spark students' interest, and incorporate new research that is topical. Finally, I have clarified course expectations and the course content in order to incorporate feedback from students. In short, I highly value student feedback and do my best to ensure that each year is better than the last.

Other Information

Because this course is a graduate-level seminar, students will be expected to participate in all class discussions. This is a way for you to (a) show that you have read (and understood) the material and (b) further your understanding of the literature. Class discussion will also help your colleagues develop a nuanced view of the readings, as each of you will likely have a unique perspective on the material. 

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.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 04/11/2022 01:29 p.m.