Scientific Foundations of Psychology
UndergraduateLTU-PSY1SFP2025
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Scientific Foundations of Psychology
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply an understanding of the historical, philosophical and methodological foundations of psychology, including the ethical guidelines governing psychological practice and research to contexts beyond those of psychology itself.
- Critically evaluate the research design, analysis and interpretation of a basic investigation in psychology, including identification and description of potential cultural biases arising from psychological research and assessment methods.
- Design a basic research study on a behavioural phenomenon and develop a logical and well supported conclusion based on empirical evidence, including potential solutions to resolve issues such as cultural bias.
- Work collaboratively with peers and independently to identify and use appropriate information sources to support an oral and written argument with appropriate formatting and referencing schemes acceptable to international standards, and demonstrate appropriate ethical conduct (e.g. avoiding plagiarism and collusion) in line with professional expectations.
- Philosophical Foundations of Psychology: How Do We Gain Knowledge? What Is the Scientific Method? How Does Science Progress? Is Psychology WEIRD?
- Cultural and Ethical Foundations of Psychology: Conducting Inclusive Research Valuing Cultural Diversity and Lived Experience
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Introduction to Basic Statistics
- Z Scores, the Normal Distribution, Probability, and Inference
- Null Hypothesis Significance Testing with t Test for Independent Means
- Estimation with Confidence Intervals
- Meta-Analysis with Effect Sizes and Confidence Intervals
- Historical Foundations of Psychology: Schools of Thought from Pre-Psychology to Neuroeconomics
In this subject you will be introduced to the philosophical, historical and methodological foundations of the discipline of psychology. You will critically examine how theories are developed and used in psychological science and examine how they are operationalised in experimental contexts. As part of a team, you will propose your own research question in an applied area of psychology and present this enquiry to your class, and as an individual you will analyse, present and discuss the results in a written report.
- Brief LMS-based assessment on issues in research design and methodology to prepare for the oral presentation. (150 word/ 15 mins equivalent) (5%)
- 10-minute group discussion and display poster presentation on a research propsal. (500-word equivalent, 10-minute oral presentation) (15%)
- Written Laboratory Report (1500 words) (30%)
- Online Supervised Exam (1600 words equivalent) (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Others
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed PSY1HPM (History, Philosophy and Methodology of Psychological Science) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
6 student respondents between 25 May - 3 June 2024.
83%of students felt the study load was manageable
66%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-CPS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DIP
UndergraduateLAT-CRM-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DIP
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