Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
Prerequisites
PSYC500 Introduction to Psychology: Science and Practice AND PSYC501 Foundations of Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis
Unit rationale, description and aim
The practice of psychology involves being familiar with approaches in interviewing, assessment, intervention and applying these approaches in combination with basic counselling skills.
This unit builds on the learning from PSYC500 and PSYC501 and will continue to introduce students to the basic principles and key concepts that underpin psychological practice by examining key theories of intervention, treatment and psychological assessment. As well as acquiring knowledge of the main types of psychological interventions, testing/assessments theories, students will address other important aspects of psychological practice such as ethical principles and working with diverse populations (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and LGBTQIA+ populations). Further, students will understand the importance of basic counselling skills in assessment and therapeutic practice. The aim of this unit is to introduce the main aspects of being an effective practitioner by developing basic counselling skills, self-reflection, an understanding of psychological test development frameworks, and key applications of psychological tests.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Apply basic counselling and interviewing skills including active listening, questioning, developing rapport, and empathic responding | GC1, GC3, GC6, GC11 |
| LO2 | Critically evaluate and analyse models of psychological practice and key interventions, and the evidence of efficacy of these approaches to diverse groups, particularly regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC9, GC10, GC11 |
| LO3 | Explain ethical guidelines, principles and cultural considerations for constructing, administering, interpreting and reporting psychological assessment tools and techniques | GC1, GC2, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC10, GC11 |
| LO4 | Explain and evaluate major psychological assessment techniques, including appropriate uses, advantages and disadvantages of those assessment techniques | GC1, GC7, GC8, GC10, GC11 |
| LO5 | Critically appraise empirical research on therapeutic and/or psychometric concepts using APA conventions | GC1, GC2, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC10, GC11 |
Content
Topics will include:
- Historical foundations of psychological practice.
- Basic counselling skills
- Insight oriented therapies (Person-centered, Psychoanalytic and Gestalt)
- Action oriented therapies (Behavioural, cognitive behavioural, solution focused)
- Emerging therapies (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative)
- Interpersonal skills and therapeutic practice
- Reflective work for self-understanding and self-development
- Skills and ethical considerations in working with diverse populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ populations
- Key frameworks for psychological test development
- Key processes involved in psychological assessment
- Key areas of applications of psychological testing/assessment
- Individual differences in cognitive ability, personality and behaviour
- Lifespan development considerations in testing and assessment
- Use of psychological tests in evaluation of mental health and evidenced based interventions
- Ethical and cross-cultural considerations in testing and assessment
- Decolonisation of key theories and tests of intelligence and personality
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Teaching and learning strategies utilised in this unit will support students in meeting the aims and achieving the learning outcomes relevant to this unit as well as to the broader course learning outcomes. This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline, and opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous discussions, interact with peers through these discussion forums, and engage with online modules and readings via the online learning platform. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding and application, and to engage constructively with their peers. Collaboration with peers in the online environment will support students in considering, discussing and debating the content of the unit. These learning and teaching strategies assist students in developing their knowledge and application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of that knowledge of therapeutic approaches and assessment in psychology. Students will receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to pass this unit, students must:
- demonstrate the achievement of all learning outcomes
- complete and submit all of the assessment tasks
- obtain an aggregate mark of at least 50
The assessment strategy for this unit allows students to demonstrate their acquisition of knowledge, as well as the application of that knowledge. In order to best enable students to demonstrate Learning Outcomes and develop Graduate Attributes, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with university assessment requirements. The case study vignettes assess students' understanding of ethical and cross-cultural considerations specific to psychological case studies. The APA style Lab Report allows students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and ability to apply key psychometric concepts (i.e., test reliability and validity) to an empirical research study. The self-reflection exercise allows students to reflect on their developing interpersonal communication and interviewing skills. The exam provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and consolidation of the breadth of content covered in the unit, and application of this knowledge to a range of contexts.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1 - Case Study Vignettes This assignment is comprised of brief vignettes that require students to apply their understanding of ethical and cross-cultural considerations (particularly with regard to working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples) when conducting psychological assessments and interventions. | 20% | LO2, LO3, LO5 |
Assessment Task 2 - Laboratory Report Students are to submit an APA style laboratory report to demonstrate their ability to discuss and consolidate research literature to develop a new psychometric assessment, to provide a description of the methodology of a study, and to interpret and discuss research findings. Students are to demonstrate their skill in locating and evaluating scholarly research and applying the APA referencing system to written work. | 35% | LO3, LO4, LO5 |
Assessment Task 3 - Self-reflective Exercise Self-reflection is a core psychological competency. This task is comprised of weekly, brief constructive self-reflections that enable students to also describe and apply interpersonal skills. | 10% | LO1, LO2 |
Assessment Task 4 - Exam The exam will contain multiple choice and short answer questions. The exam provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding, consolidation and application of the content covered in the unit. | 35% | LO1, LO3, LO4 |
Representative texts and references
Australian Psychological Society (2014). Ethical guidelines for the provision of psychological services for, and the conduct of research with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australian Psychological Society.
Australian Psychological Society (2018). Ethical guidelines for psychological assessment and the use of psychological tests. Australian Psychological Society.
Cohen, R.J., Schneider, W.J., & Tobin, R. M. (2021). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement (10th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Corey, G. (2020). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Dudgeon, P., Milroy, H, & Walker, R. (Eds). (2014). Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice (2nd ed.). https://www.telethonkids.org.au/globalassets/media/documents/aboriginal-health/working-together-second-edition/working-together-aboriginal-and-wellbeing-2014.pdf
Geldard, D & Geldard, K. (2021). Basic personal counselling: A training manual for counsellors (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P. (2017). Psychological testing: Principles, applications and issues (9th ed.). Cengage.
Rust, J., Kosinski, M., & Stillwell, D. (2020). Modern psychometrics: The science of psychological assessment. Routledge.