Social Psychology (7125.4)

Please note these are the 2025 details for this unit
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Social Psychology
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Online real-time
On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Psychology Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced 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 covers key theoretical developments in the field of social psychology, research methodologies, and applications to current social issues within socio-historical contexts. Topics include the self, social cognition, attitudes and behaviour, social influence, stereotyping, prejudice and group processes in diverse groups, aggression, pro-social behaviour, interpersonal relationships, communication, culture and applied social psychology.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify key concepts in social psychology;
2. Critically engage with and analyse social-psychological theories to understand a range of human social behaviour;
3. Communicate social psychological theory and research; and
4. Apply social psychological theories in reflexive and culturally appropriate ways.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Skills development

Studying social psychology particularly helps develop the general professional skills needed in working life. It also supports students' development as global citizens and lifelong learners.



Prerequisites

4309 Psychology 101 OR 11399 Understanding People and Behaviour
AND
4310 Psychology 102 OR 10444 Foundations of Psychology

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 Online real-time Dr Lean O'Brien
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Lean O'Brien
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online real-time Dr Lean O'Brien
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Lean O'Brien
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

Details of required readings will be provided on the unit website in the Reading List.

 

These additional resources are not required but are helpful resources:

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

 

Burton, L. J. (2010). An interactive approach to writing essays and research reports in psychology (5th ed.). Milton, QLD. Wiley. 

This book is available in the Library as an e-book and in hard copy.

 

Vaughan, G. M., & Hogg, M. A. (2018/2022). Social Psychology. (8th ed./9th). Melbourne, VIC: Pearson.

This book is available in the Library as an e-book and in hard copy

 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Please read the above information carefully regarding extensions and late penalties. In addition to the above, please note the following:

  1. To pass the unit students must: (i) attempt each test, (ii) submit an essay and (iii) achieve a total grade of 50% or more overall. 
  2. Students are expected to work on the assessment items throughout the teaching period. Early communication of problems is strongly advised. Students should assess early in the teaching period whether they have a reasonable likelihood of being able to complete the unit and should consider withdrawing by the census date, if required.
  3. Completed Assignment Extension forms should be emailed to the unit convener along with supporting documentation (please put "Extension request" in the subject line).
  4. The unit convener will consider your request, determine the length of the extension to be granted and email you advising whether your request is approved or declined. If approved, the new due date will also appear on your UCLearn (Canvas) site where your assignment is submitted.
  5. Assignments submitted after the due date, regardless of whether an extension was granted, will be returned at a later date than those submitted on time.

ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

Students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment

2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow

3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

 Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai) Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

In this unit, some restricted AI-use is permitted when preparing for the essay (part a) and reflective application task and this will be covered in class. It is not permitted for the other assessments.

We will be actively engaging with the kind of material AI can produce in class. We will also cover how it may be integrated into preparation of the assessment items, and how it may be referenced.

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

Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials (or listen to recordings).

In addition, students are expected to attend at least one tutorial in real time. 

The Reflective applications task asks you to reflect on how selected topics covered in the unit relate to your experiences with group work in at least one of the tutorials provided in this unit. Therefore you have to attend at least one of the tutorials in real time, either online or face-to-face. You cannot complete the exercise just by listening to a recording. Attending one live tutorial is sufficient to complete the exercise, however attending more tutorials will give you more material to work with when you do this assessment item.

This assessment item is not compulsory to pass the unit, but it is worth 10% of your grade.

Required IT skills

To attend virtual tutorials online in real time, students need to enter the Virtual Room via the tab on Canvas, which uses the Blackboard Collaborate tool. Blackboard Collaborate provides a virtual classroom where you can communicate in real time with the lecturer and other students. To participate verbally, rather than just typing, you will need a microphone. For best audio quality we recommend a microphone and speaker headset, however a standard headphone & microphone set will also suffice. For more information and to test your computer, please visit the LearnOnline Student Help and click on the link to Blackboard Collaborate.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

Announcements made in lectures and on the unit website will be deemed to have been received by all students.

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