This course offers a broad introduction to social psychology, the scientific study of human behaviour and interaction. We will explore a large variety of social psychological topics in the course, such as the way our thinking (conscious and unconscious) drives our behaviour, the social self-concept, social judgement, attitudes, persuasion, group processes, intergroup relations, conformity, aggression, helping behaviour, prejudice, and interpersonal attraction and relationships.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. A broad understanding of the ideological, philosophical and historical underpinnings of social psychology. (LO1)
2. A sound understanding of the fundamental conceptual, methodological and theoretical issues in social psychology. (LO2)
3. An appreciation of major and broad themes in contemporary social psychology, including attitudes, the self, social cognition, group processes, interpersonal attraction, aggression, culture and social influence. (LO3)
4. The ability to understand and critically evaluate various aspects of social psychological research. (LO4)
5. The ability to effectively communicate social psychological theories and research by reviewing and integrating relevant material. (LO5)

Recommended Resources

Textbook: Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Akert, R. M. (2020). Social psychology: Global edition (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson

Or; the 9th edition of this textbook, which is available online from the ANU library.

Recommended student system requirements

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture 1: Course administration and introduction to Social PsychologyLab: No Lab
2	Lecture 2: Social cognition (Pre-recorded)Lab 1: Group presentation information	Q & A
3	Lecture 3: AttitudesLab : No lab	Quiz 1
4	Lecture 4: Social perception (Pre-recorded)Lab 2: Attitudes	Q & A
5	Lecture 5: Conformity and obedienceLab: No lab	Quiz 2
6	Lecture 6: The self (Pre-recorded)Lab 3: Social psychology and health	Q & A and Essay due 4pm Thursday 31 August 2023
7	Lecture 7: Aggression (Pre-recorded)Lab 4: Group processes	Q & A
8	Lecture 8: Group Processes Lab: No lab	Quiz 3
9	No LectureLab 5: Group presentation	Presentation assessed in your regular lab time
10	Lecture 9: Prosocial behaviourLab: No lab	Quiz 4
11	Lecture 10: Stereotyping and PrejudiceLab 6: Prosocial behaviour
12	Lecture 11: Exam review

Tutorial Registration

Registration for labs is via MyTimetable

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Laboratory Quizzes	20 %	1,2,3
Group Presentation	10 %	1,2,3,4,5
Research Essay	20 %	1,2,3,4,5
Final Exam	50 %	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

It is expected that all students attend all laboratory classes. Attendance will be taken during the laboratory classes. We strongly encourage students to attend ALL of the Q&A LECTURES EVERY OTHER WEEK. Research shows students learn best and achieve higher marks when they attend lectures and revise and review the material afterwards.

Examination(s)

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date indicates the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held; and results returned to the student (official end of Semester results are released on ISIS), Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Laboratory Quizzes

Details of task: There will be 4 quizzes held across the semester. These will take the form of multiple-choice questions, which will be completed on-line. If you have a current Educational Access Plan (EAP) please ensure you have discussed the requirements with your tutor prior the first lab.

Value: 5% for each quiz for a total of 20% of your final mark.

Estimated return date: Marks will be released at the start of the following week after each quiz completion

Quiz submission: Completed online

Assessment Task 2

Group Presentation

You will work in groups of 4-5 on this assessment item, where the oral presentation will be held in lab 5 (week starting 2nd of October 2023). You will work on designing a social change campaign, focusing on any social issue of your choice. In your presentation, you will be graded on the content of your campaign, as well as the social psychological principles and concepts that underpin your campaign content. You will be asked to clearly outline any relevant principles/concepts operationalised in your campaign, as well as a justification/explanation for why you think they would be important and effective to focus on in a social change context. Detailed information about this assignment will be provided on Wattle, as well as in lab 1.

Value: 10% of your final mark.

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay

You will be given a choice of four essay topics, from which you will choose one to write on. The essay will assess your understanding of the relevant topic area, your ability to critically analyse the literature reviewed, and formulate coherent arguments to support your position and conclusions drawn. Starting references will be provided for each essay topic, which can serve to guide your literature search and review.

The research essay will have a word limit of 2000 words.

Due date and time: 4:00 pm Thursday 31 August 2023

Value: 20% of final grade

Assessment Task 4

Final Exam

The final exam will cover course content from the entire semester, including lecture and laboratory content. The exam will consist of multiple-choice, as well as short answer questions. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable when it becomes available later in the semester.

Value: 50% of final grade

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignment submitted on time will be marked and returned to students approximately 3 weeks from submission (exact return dates will be posted on Wattle closer to the time). We are unable to commit to an exact timeframe with regards to, the returning of late submissions, but we will always strive to have marks back to students prior to the final exam.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Once you have received your mark for an assignment, you have 2 weeks in which to request a formal re-mark. However, it is advised that you do not contact your marker until at least 48 hours after you have received your marked paper (this is so you have time to reflect upon your marker’s comments). There is a standard procedure for requesting a re-mark within the School of Psychology.

When you get your assignment back, read the comments and look at the mark. If you have any concerns about you mark, your first port of call will be to contact your marker, whose contact details will be provided, either in the comments section of your assignment, or in-text. In contacting your marker, you need to provide them with a detailed statement of why you think your assignment warrants a higher mark. Discussions with your marker will then follow, either via email or an in-person meeting. Based on your reasoning, and revisiting the original assignment, your marker will then decide to alter your mark or not.

If you are still unhappy with the marker's decision, you can formally request a remark by contacting the TA who will organise for another person to mark the assignment independently. The mark awarded by the second marker for your assessment comes your final mark, regardless of whether it is higher, lower or the same as the original mark.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students