Personality and Individual Differences (7122.4)

Please note these are the 2025 details for this unit
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Personality and Individual Differences
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Online real-time
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Psychology Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 1 2021 (Pg Clinical Psychology)
Band 2 2021 (Prof Pathway Psychology-After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Prof Pathway Psychology-Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Standard Course Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 4 2021 (Standard Course Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
This unit introduces students to the fundamental concepts and influential theories in individual differences. The conceptualisation and assessment of personality and individual differences, including psychometric testing, and culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement is addressed. The major perspectives on personality (e.g. trait, psychoanalytic, behavioural/social learning, cognitive, and humanistic perspectives) are included. Both traditional and contemporary theories and research in the area of personality and intelligence are examined and evaluated.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify the contentions surrounding the nature and measurement of individual differences;
2. Identify and distinguish the psychometric properties of psychological tests;
3. Explain the principles, applications, and pitfalls of assessing individual differences, including culturally appropriate assessment; and
4. Critically evaluate and compare the major theories of personality.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware


Prerequisites

4309 Psychology 101 OR 11399 Understanding People and Behaviour
AND
4310 Psychology 102 OR 10444 Foundations of Psychology
OR
Permission of the unit convener

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Amanda George
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 Online real-time Dr Amanda George
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online real-time Dr Amanda George
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Amanda George
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Required:

All required readings each week are freely available via the Reading List on Canvas.

Strongly recommended:

APA. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC:  American Psychological Association.  

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Essay extensions

Submit all extension requests for this unit using the extension application form in the Assignments section of the unit's UCLearn site.

Marking and feedback
1. Assessment items will be marked within three weeks of submission.

2. Availability of marks and feedback will be notified via Canvas Announcements.

3. Assessments submitted after the due date and time, regardless of whether an extension was granted, may be returned at a later date than those submitted on time.

4. Late submission may result in reduced feedback being provided.

Final marks

Partial final marks will be rounded to the nearest whole. For example:

  • less than or equal to 64.49% will be rounded down to 64%

  • greater than or equal to 64.50% will be rounded up to 65%

Special assessment requirements

In order to pass this unit students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50% averaged across all assessment items.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Engagement by attending lectures and tutorials is strongly recommended but is not compulsory. 

Non-engagement is likely to make successful completion of the assessment items more difficult because:

  • Lectures and tutorials discuss content which is assessed in the exam
  • Tutorials develop skills and cover content for the other assessment items 

If you are unable to attend your scheduled tutorial, attend a tutorial at a different time or access the online resources available after classes.

Required IT skills

Students are expected to have basic IT skills in order to navigate Canvas. Regular access to Canvas is a requirement for students enrolled in this unit to enable access to announcements, discussion forums, online exam/assessment, and for online submission of assignments.

In-unit costs

None.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

Announcements made via lectures and/or Canvas will be deemed to have been received by all students in the unit.

Communication with staff and fellow students via Discussion Forums

During this course, you have the opportunity to engage in reflective discussion boards via Canvas. Please be respectful to all participating in the forums by ensuring that you use appropriate forms of communication.  For example, we discourage the use of ‘text talk' and instead encourage the use of prose – that is, full sentences using appropriate grammar and spelling. 

Using generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools can aid but should not replace independent thinking. If using genAI tools for the essay, acknowledge its use, fact check, and revise/rewrite. Acknowledgement is not required for low-level tasks such as improving spelling, grammar, and quality of written expression.

You are responsible for content you submit. Be aware of limitations of genAI tools such as inaccuracies, biases, and incomplete content. GenAI tools work best for topics you already understand, with carefully crafted prompting based on peer-reviewed research. Refine prompts for better results and fact-check generated content. Despite the risks, genAI tools can aid brainstorming, concept explanation, synthesis of ideas, and improve the readability and quality of written expression.

The use of generative AI is permitted for the essay (not other assessment items) but only in accordance with the guide on the 7122 Canvas site. You are permitted to explore use of genAI tools for brainstorming, explaining key concepts, rephrasing to improve readability and the quality of written expression, including checking spelling and grammar. No other use is permitted. 

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