Psychology

SACE Code	2PSG20
Level	Stage 2
Learning Area	Science
Duration	Year
Semester	Full Year
Pre-requisite	None required
Additional Costs	None
SACE Credits	20

Who is this course for?

Students who are interested in understanding their own behaviours and the behaviours of others.

Psychological knowledge from this course can be applied to students’ experiences in various areas of their life, such as education, relationships, employment, self-development, and leisure.

No background knowledge is assumed. Good literacy and numeracy skills are highly desirable.

What will I learn?

You will learn to:

• describe and explain the universality of human experience and individual and cultural diversity
• investigate the systematic study of behaviour, the processes that underlie it and the factors that influence it
• reflect on psychology studies to better understand yourself and your social world
• use the scientific method to investigate psychological concepts through the collection and analysis of data and report research using appropriate conventions and formats
• explore science as a human endeavour; students develop and apply their understanding of the complex ways in which science interacts with society, and investigate the dynamic nature of Psychology.

This course features five topics:

1. Psychological Health and Wellbeing
This topic examines the positive and negative factors that affect psychological health, how people can be helped to cope with mental health issues and stress, and what they can do to increase their emotional and social wellbeing.

2. Social Influence
The study of social influence includes the impact of the presence or absence of other people on behaviour; obedience and conformity; attitude formation and attitude change; prejudice and persuasion; and social media.

3. The Psychology of Learning
Universal ways of learning include classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and learning through observation or instruction. There are personal differences in the way we learn. The principles of learning have relevance in so many facets of our lives.

4. Organisational Psychology
Organisational psychology involves the evidence-based study of organisations and particularly the work performance and job satisfaction of their members. It considers factors that affect work performance and job satisfaction at three levels: the individual, the group or team, and the organisation.

5. Psychology of the Individual
The study of personality includes the different concepts of personality, personality assessment, and cultural and individual differences in personality.

How will I be assessed?

You will demonstrate evidence of your learning in Stage 2 Psychology through the following assessment types:

• School Assessments: 70%
  
  - Investigations Folio (15%)
  
  - Science as a Human Endeavor (SHE) Investigation (15%)
  
  - Skills and Application Tasks
  (3 Topic Tests + Assignment) (40%)
  

• External Exam: 30%

Pre-requisite

None required

Cost

Travel and any associated costs to attend any recommended workshops are the responsibility of the student.

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Last updated: 07 July 2023