Psychology 102:
Introduction &
Overview
Dr James Neill
Centre for Applied Psychology
University of Canberra
2009

Staff
Unit convenor - Dr James Neill
Consultation hours:
Tues 14.00 – 15.00 (3B32)
Otherwise by appointment – email
Tutors
Danielle Hopkins
Clare Watsford
Rebecca Pashley
Jessica Smeltink

Help/Support
Moodle discussion forum
Tutor
Unit convenor – Moodle message or
email or office hours or appointment
Library
Learning Resource Centre
Academic Skills Program
Smart Study Passport

Schedule
11 x 2 hour Lectures
Tues 2B9 10.30 – 12.20
6 x 2 hour Tutorials
Tuesday Weeks 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 14
Check timetable and room number
Swaps must be approved by unit
convener

Introduction & overview
– James Neill
Intercultural & indigenous psych
– Diana Grace
Consciousness Lecture
– Vivienne Lewis Topics
Cognitive processes
– James Neill
Therapies
– Tim Carey

Sensation & perception
– Thea Vanags
Learning
– Janet Tweedie
Intelligence
– James Neill Lecture
Motivation Topics
– James Neill
Social processes
– James Neill
Summary & review
– James Neill

Textbooks
Psychology & Life
by Gerrig et al.
(includes MyPsychLab)
The Principles of
Writing in Psychology
by Smyth

Website
Moodle:
http://learnonline.canberra.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1318

Assessment
Essay – 45%
st
Due Monday 21 Sept. by 5pm (Week
10) – 45%
Final exam – 45% - 2 hours
Online fortnightly quizzes – 10%
Bonus marks – 5%
Research participation - 4%
Moodle profile - 1%

Essay
45% of overall mark
1, 500 word essay on one of the
seven essay questions
Some starting links and journal
references will be given
Answer the question
Use APA style

Essay
Insert a completed coversheet as
page 1.
Submit an electronic copy (via
Moodle)
Late penalty – 5% per day
Extensions – exceptional
circumstances only, documentation
required.

Final exam
45% of overall mark
In the exam period
Multiple choice
2 hours long
More details when it gets closer

Online fortnightly quizzes
6 x 10 minute fortnightly quizzes
10% of overall mark for the unit
Best 5 out of the 6 quizzes count
Based on lecture, tutorial, and
reading content from the previous
fortnight

Bonus marks
Research Participation
Studies listed on the web – 1% per
study or hour
Keep participation slips and submit
with a coversheet to the assignment
box by the end of semester
For online studies, submit details at
the end of the study

Bonus marks
Moodle Profile
Profile picture
200 word profile
10 interests

Summary
Unit outline – important information!
Attendance at Lectures and Tutorials
is strongly recommended, but not
compulsory
Read assigned textbook chapters
before lectures and tutorials
Help:
Use discussion forum
Approach tutor

Lecture break
– have a stretch -

Intercultural & indigenous
psychology

Mind, consciousness and
alternative states

Cognitive processes

Therapies for psychological
disorders

Sensation

Perception
www.theforesthaseyes.com

Learning
& behaviour analysis

Intelligence
& intelligence assessment

Motivation

Social processes, society,
and culture
www.stevekuo.com www2.help.edu.my

Tell your neighbour
ch topics interest you the m
And why?

Essay writing in psychology
Address the essay question
State your position
Support your position with scientific
research
Use mostly journal articles and
edited books by experts

Essay writing in psychology
Esp. look for recent reviews and
meta-analyses – summarise their
findings
Demonstrate knowledge you have
gained about the topic

Direct quotes
This is a quote:
... “For more than a century, clinical
evidence has shown that the brain’s two
sides serve differing functions” (Myers,
2007, p.83) ...
Avoid direct quotes in your essay.
Phrase ideas in your words.

Plagiarism
This is a plagiarism:
… For more than a century, clinical
evidence has shown that the brain’s two
sides serve differing functions (Myers,
2007). ...
Do NOT plagiarise; the
consequences are substantial.

Citations
This is citing your sources or
references:
... The results of clinical studies have shown
that each side of the brain serves a different
function (Myers, 2007). ...
Do cite your sources in your essay.

Essay writing: What to do
Put ideas and information into your
own words
Cite the sources (reference
material) you have read which
have informed your ideas.

Essay Topic 1
How can behaviour modification be used to
break a habit? Explain with reference to
psychological theories and research.
Key words
Behaviour, Habit, Behaviour modification, Behaviourism, Learning
Classical conditioning, Operant conditioning, Reward,
Reinforcement, Extinguishing
Think about
Behaviour modification is a major theoretical and applied clinical
and health psychology topic
Consider some example habits e.g., smoking, eating, exercise
How will you limit/focus the topic?

Essay Topic 2
What are "smart drugs" (also see "cosmetic
neurology")? Do smart drugs "work" and if
so, how and for what types of tasks and
people? What are the risks? Discuss with
reference to psychological theories and
research.
Key words
Smart drugs, Neuroenhancement, Cosmetic neurology, Academic
performance, Intelligence
Think about
This is a relatively new topic; might need additional research.
Consider the main types of neuroenhancement reported by
students and workers.
Summarise what is know, but also what is not known.

Essay Topic 3
Why do we dream? Discuss with reference
to psychological theories and research.
Key words
Dreams, Consciousness, Sleep
Think about
This is a classic psychological topic, but despite much research,
conclusive answers are few and far between
Sleep– there will be a lot of literature on this
Summarise what is known and what is is not known
Describe existing theories and research

Essay Topic 4
What are the short and longer-term
psychological effects of physical exercise
and what causes these effects? Discuss with
reference to psychological theories and
research.
Key words
Exercise, Fitness, Aerobic exercise, Anaerobic exercise, Anxiety,
Depression
Think about
This is a well-researched topic
Look for recent reviews and meta-analyses – summarise their
findings
Summarise what is known and what is is not known

Essay Topic 5
What are the human psychological effects of
contact with animals? Discuss with reference
to psychological theories and research.
Key words
Pets, Animals, Well-being, Stress, Anxiety, Health, Nature-contact
Think about
This is an increasingly well-researched topic
Look for recent reviews and meta-analyses – summarise their
findings
Summarise what is known and what is is not known

Essay Topic 6
What is pain? What psychological
treatments are recommended for physical
pain management and how effective are
they? Discuss with reference to
psychological theories and research.
Key words
Pain, Hurt, Sensation, Perception, Cognition
Think about
This is an increasingly researched health psychology and clinical
psychology topic
Look for recent reviews and meta-analyses – summarise their
findings
Summarise what is known and what is is not known

Essay Topic 7
What are the effects of "sensory
deprivation"? Discuss sensory deprivation
research in relation to sensation and
perception theories.
Key words
Sensation, Perception, Sensory deprivation, Consciousness,
Altered states, Relaxation, Flotation tanks, Torture
Think about
This topic was popularised by research in the 1950's and 1960's
(see see John Lilly)
The topic has been pursued more recently for both positively
psychological benefits (e.g., relaxation inf loat tanks) and for
psychological harm (e.g., as a form of disorientation/torture)

Researching the topic
Sources
Textbooks – too general
Books – written by experts in the field
Journal articles – always
Internet – not in a Psychology paper
Avoid direct quoting – write in your
own words
Do not plagiarise

Essay plan
Definitions
Limitation
Introduction
Logically arrange your main points
Conclusion

APA style - Citations
Citations
Attribute idea(s) to the author(s)
Not just at the end of a paragraph
One author
Ellis (2002) suggested that eyewitness
testimony is not reliable.
Eyewitness testimony is not always
reliable (Ellis, 2002).

APA style - Citations
Two authors
Wells and Loftus (2003) reported that …
Eyewitness testimony has been shown to
be unreliable (Wells & Loftus, 2003).
In text, use the word “and”
In parentheses, use “&”
For 2 authors, they are both always named

APA style - Citations
Three to five authors
First time, list them all
Perfect, Hunt and Harris (2002) reported
that …
Many factors affect memory (Perfect, Hunt &
Harris, 2002).
All subsequent citations, use “et al.”
Perfect et al. (2002) reported that …
Many factors affect memory (Perfect et al.,
2002).

APA style - Citations
Six authors or more, always use “et
al.” e.g., Neill et al. (2009) or (Neill
et al., 2009)

APA style - Citations
Citing more than one reference
Weston (2002) and Perfect (2001)
claimed….
In parentheses, use the same order as
reference list (alphabetical by author’s
surname)
These findings suggest that delays affect
memory (Perfect, 2001; Weston, 2002).

APA style – Reference list
Book
Ryckman, R. M. (2000). Theories of personality (7th
ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Journal Article
Skagerberg, E. M. (2007). Co-witness feedback in
lineups. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 21(4),
489-497.
Edited book
McKone, E., Martini, P., & Nakayama, K. (2003).
Isolating holistic processing in faces (and perhaps
objects). In M. A. Peterson & G. Rhodes (Eds.),
Perception of faces, objects, and scenes (pp.

APA style – Reference list
Alphabetical by author
McKone, E., Martini, P., & Nakayama, K. (2003).
Isolating holistic processing in faces (and perhaps
objects). In M. A. Peterson & G. Rhodes (Eds.),
Perception of faces, objects, and scenes (pp.
92-119). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ryckman, R. M. (2000). Theories of personality (7th
ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Skagerberg, E. M. (2007). Co-witness feedback in
lineups. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 21(4),
489-497.

Next week
Lecture – Intercultural & indigenous
psychology (Diana Grace)
Tutorials – Tues or Thurs - check
Timetable