Outline

Overview

Psychology 1001 is a general introduction to the main topics and methods of psychology, and is the basis for advanced work as well as being of use to those not proceeding with the subject. Psychology 1001 covers the following areas: science and statistics in psychology; applied psychology; themes in the history of psychology; social psychology; personality theory; human development.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Caleb Owens, caleb.owens@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Caleb Owens, caleb.owens@sydney.edu.au
	Helen Paterson, helen.paterson@sydney.edu.au
	Rebecca Pinkus, rebecca.pinkus@sydney.edu.au
	Frans Verstraten, frans.verstraten@sydney.edu.au
	Grace Sanders, grace.sanders@sydney.edu.au
	Simon Boag, simon.boag@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	60%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Lecture Engagement See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	5%	Ongoing	3 hours per week
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	Research Participation See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	5%	Ongoing Closing date: 06 Jun 2025	5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Tutorial Quiz (History) #earlyfeedbacktask	0%	Week 03	7 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Report See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	30%	Week 08 Due date: 14 Apr 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 12 May 2025	1150 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = AI allowed ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

First tutorial quiz / Early feedback task (0%): This is not a formal assessment and has no weighting. It is only present in the outline to be tracked as the early feedback task. It takes place in tutorials along with 6 more quizzes to follow.

Lecture Engagement (5%): Lectures will be delivered on campus on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Bring a web enabled device capable of logging into Canvas (use the canvas app or a browser) and you will complete a brief quiz in every lecture.

Research Participation (5%): Students can volunteer to participate in research run by students and academics in the School of Psychology. Students will receive 1% for every hour of participation recorded (i.e. five hours will yield the maximum of 5%). An alternative to the Research Participation assessment is available if made by request to the Unit of Study Coordinator before 11:59pm on Sunday of Week Four - the alternative will be a written assignment.

Research Report (30%): Involves taking notes on set references, making a draft/plan and a final polished research report (a 1150-word APA-formatted report about the study conducted during your first tutorial). All three submissions (notes/draft/final) are required to support the process, and later oral assessment remains an option.

Final Exam (60%): Each lecture series and the Research Report will be assessed in a two-hour closed book exam held after the teaching period ends. The initial version of the Final Exam will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions, but if you are approved by Special Consideration to miss the initial Final Exam, any Replacement Exam will consist entirely of short-answer questions. The Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so if you do not attempt it, you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High Distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction indicates a very high standard, a Credit indicates a good standard, and a Pass indicates an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introductory lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	History of Psychology lectures 1 and 2	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	History of Psychology lectures 3, 4 and 5	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Introduction to tutorials and the research report study	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	History of Psychology lecture 6, Science and Statistics lectures 1 and 2	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 03	History of Psychology	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Science and Statistics lectures 3,4 and 5	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Research Design	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Science and Statistics Lecture 6, and Forensic Psychology lectures 1 and 2	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 05	Statistical Reasoning	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Forensic Psychology lectures 3,4 and 5	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 06	Research Report 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Forensic Psychology lecture 6, Research Report lecture, Personality lecture 1	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 07	Research Report 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Personality lectures 2, 3 and 4	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 09	Personality lectures 5 and 6, Developmental Psychology lecture 1	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Forensic Psychology	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Developmental Psychology lectures 2, 3 and 4	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 10	Personality	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Developmental Psychology lectures 5 and 6, Social Psychology lecture 1	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	Developmental Psychology	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Social Psychology lectures 2, 3 and 4	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 12	Social Psychology	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Social Psychology Lectures 5, 6 and Final Exam lecture	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 13	Research report feedback, course feedback and exam preparation	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per Section 60(5)(c), 68(2)(a), and 68(3) of the University’s Coursework Policy, a student must comply with a Unit of Study’s attendance requirement – for this Unit of Study, a student must be recorded as having attended at least six of the eleven tutorials, and if a student does not meet this requirement, they will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Also, as noted in the Assessment table, the Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so a student who does not attend it and is not approved to miss it will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please refer to Canvas for what material will be directly assessed in the Final Exam.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand the diverse areas of psychology taught: history of psychology, applied psychology (forensic), developmental psychology, social psychology, and personality
LO2. understand what binds such diverse pursuits into the single discipline of ‘psychology’ in regard to language, research methods, attitude and approach, and an appreciation of the ethical issues associated with behavioral research
LO3. understand the core research design principles and statistical approaches used throughout of psychology, and the ability to apply them in a critical manner
LO4. understand the APA style used for the presentation of written material, particularly research reports
LO5. appreciate how what is taught in psychology has implications for your wider personal and professional approach and identity.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Australian Psychology Accreditation Council - 1.1.1. the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, 1.1.10. social psychology 1.1.11. culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement 1.1.12. research methods and statistics. 1.1.2. individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality 1.1.9. lifespan developmental psychology
	Australian Psychology Accreditation Council - 1.1.1. the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, 1.1.11. culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement 1.1.12. research methods and statistics. 1.2. Apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals. 1.3. Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats. 1.4. Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology.
	Australian Psychology Accreditation Council - 1.1.1. the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, 1.1.10. social psychology 1.1.11. culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement 1.1.12. research methods and statistics. 1.1.2. individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality 1.1.9. lifespan developmental psychology 1.2. Apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals. 1.3. Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats. 1.6. Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.
	Australian Psychology Accreditation Council - 1.3. Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
	Australian Psychology Accreditation Council - 1.2. Apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals. 1.4. Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology. 1.6. Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The Lecture Engagement assessment has been amended from an 80% maximum marks requirement in 2024 to 60% in response to feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PSYC1001: Psychology 1001

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect