Complete outline for materials

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OER Foundation logo-small.pngOERu-Logo-small.pngOERu 2012 / 2013 Prototype Design and Development Project
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High level structure

  1. Psychology: The study of mental processes and behaviour

After completing this module, you should be able to:

    1. define psychology
    2. outline the history of psychology
    3. distinguish between different perspectives in psychology
  1. Research methods in psychology
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • describe characteristics of good psychological research
      • outline the steps involved in conducting an experiment
      • describe general types of research methods and understand basic statistics
      • summarise the ethical principles of psychological research
      • outline the procedure for critically evaluating a study.
  2. Memory
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • diagram the standard (information processing) model of memory, explaining each box and arrow
      • define working memory, name and describe its components, and explain its relation to long-term memory
      • name and explain varieties of long-term memory
      • explain some of the causes of misremembering and forgetting, as well as some techniques for improving memory.
  3. Thought and language
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • name and explain units of thought (representations, concepts, categories)
      • explain theories and research results on reasoning, problem solving and decision making
      • describe the basic elements of language and how language develops.
  4. Biological bases
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • describe the basic units of the nervous system
      • describe the major structures and functions of the endocrine system
      • explain the major subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system
      • describe the major structures and functions of the central nervous system
      • describe the relative roles of genetics and environment in psychological functioning.
  5. Sensation and perception
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • outline the basic principles and processes that apply across all senses (detecting a signal, absolute threshold, transduction, transmission from receptor to brain, effects on perception of the perceiver and of the environment)
      • explain how light is transformed into visual experiences such as colour perception
      • explain how sound is transformed into auditory experiences such as pitch perception
      • distinguish the perception of smell, taste, touch, and proprioception
      • describe ways in which perception is organised, and give examples that demonstrate perceptual organisation.
  6. Consciousness
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • describe some of the functions of consciousness
      • explain several different theoretical perspectives on consciousness
      • describe the functions of sleep and explain several psychological views of dreaming
      • describe some altered states of consciousness and how people experience them.
  7. Learning
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • define learning
      • describe the basic principles of classical conditioning
      • describe the basic principles of operant conditioning
      • describe the basic principles of cognitive-social theory and the nature of social learning.
  8. Intelligence
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • describe the nature of intelligence, as studied by psychologists
      • explain how intelligence is measured
      • review the concepts of standardisation, norms, reliability, and validity, and explain why each is important in creating and using psychological tests
      • understand the different approaches to intelligence
      • discuss the extent to which intelligence is inherited or learned
      • discuss criticisms of intelligence testing.
  9. Cross cultural and indigenous psychology (TBC)
    • After completing this module, you should be able to:
      • define culture and outline some of the difficulties in studying cultural influences in psychology
      • outline the characteristics which distinguish cultural groups
      • describe the study of cross-cultural relations in multicultural societies
      • better understand psychology in Aotearoa, and the relevance of Māori history and culture and of the Treaty of Waitangi to the study of psychology
      • discuss the approaches taken by psychologists to improve cross-cultural interactions.


Detailed structure

1. Psychology: The study of mental processes and behaviour

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Resources for this unit:
    • Required: Read Stangor's Chapter 1: "Introducing Psychology"
    • Recommended:
      • Watch MIT Lecture: "Introduction"
      • Visit Weblink: "History of Psychology" (see MIT's Further Study box)
      • Visit Weblink: York University's "Psych classics" and sample a few of interest
    • Additional: Take quiz on "Myths and Misconceptions" (see 73195 OLC page)
  • What is psychology?
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      • Eg. content sources: local? or link to open content
    • Eg. activity idea & location: local? or link to an open activity/sample
    • Eg. what needs to be created?
    • Eg. what needs to be put in place to enable activities or for general learner support? (Specific software, communication tools etc)
  • Psychology as a science
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  • Psychology’s past, present and future
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  • Perspectives in psychology
    • Psychodynamic
    • Behaviourist
    • Humanistic
    • Cognitive
    • Evolutionary
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2. Research methods in psychology

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • What makes good research?
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  • Evaluating research
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  • Types of research
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  • Ethics of research in psychology
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  • Conducting research
    • Gathering data
    • Designing psychological research
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3. Memory

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Information processing models
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  • Working or short-term memory
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  • Long-term or permanent memory.
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4. Thought and language

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Units of thought
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  • Reasoning
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  • Problem solving
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  • Decision making
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  • Language and thought
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5. Biological bases of mental life and behaviour

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Neurons
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  • The endocrine system
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  • The nervous system
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  • The brain
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  • Genetics and environmental influences
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6. Sensation and perception

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • The human senses
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  • Perceptual experiences
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  • Illusions, expectations and perceptions
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7. Consciousness

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Cyclical states
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  • Sleep and dreaming
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  • Altered states of consciousness
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8. Learning

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • The nature of learning
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  • Classical conditioning
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  • Operant conditioning
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  • Cognitive social views of learning
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9. Intelligence

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Intelligence as an individual difference
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  • Constructing and evaluating intelligence tests
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  • The history of testing
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  • Criticisms of testing
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  • Approaches to intelligence
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10. Cross-cultural and indigenous psychology

Sub-section and concepts Commentary, notes and ideas
  • Biculturalism and multiculturalism
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  • Psychology in a bicultural society
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