PSY1030 Cross-Cultural and Indigenous Psychology

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Cross-cultural psychology, including Indigenous Australian psychology, aims to explore the relationships between cultural variables and human emotions and behaviour. This course will raise students' awareness and sensitivity to the impact that cultural variables have on perception and cognition, social functioning and development, communication, personality, mental health and other specific arenas of the discipline of psychology. In doing so, students will begin to explore their own assumptions and values that affect the manner in which they approach others and the world at large, with a specific focus on Indigenous Australians. The course will thus provide a foundation for further study in psychology with an increased understanding of the broad impact of cultural factors. It is also hoped that the course may serve to influence students' personal development, inspiring greater tolerance and respect for, as well as involvement within, the increasingly multi-cultural society in which we live.

SYNOPSIS

This course focuses on cross-cultural and specifically Indigenous Australian psychology, exploring both those areas that are common to all humans and those that differ across people from various geographical regions, with different racial and ethnic identities, and from various other cultural groups. As cross-cultural research is increasingly influencing broad aspects of the practice of psychology, the course will cover the various findings to date and explore how cultural factors impact upon human emotion and behaviour, specifically including cognition, social functioning and development, personality and mental health, amongst other sub-disciplines. Students, including non-psychology students, will develop their personal and professional understanding and awareness of cultural variables in order to help prepare them for further training and development. A variety of teaching and learning methods are employed, including a number of practical and interactive exercises to help students apply new knowledge and practise new skills.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

demonstrate an understanding of the influence of culture on diverse aspects of human behaviour by describing the aspects of life that appear to be consistent across different cultures; and by describing the aspects of life that appear to differ across cultures (Computer Managed Assessments and Exam);

2.

describe how traditional psychological theories and approaches may be inaccurate, incomplete or inappropriate due to a constrained awareness of cultural diversity (Computer Managed Assessments and Exam);

3.

discuss the approaches taken by psychologists to promote cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity, including a basic understanding of cross-cultural research methodology (Computer Managed Assessments and Exam);

4.

demonstrate an awareness of the various aspects of Indigenous Australian culture that differ, and do not differ, with regard to the various sub-disciplines of psychology (Computer Managed Assessments and Exam);

5.

demonstrate an improved sensitivity to and awareness of cultural diversity in Australian society and throughout the globe (All Assessment elements);

6.

follow specific writing, organisation, and style guidelines as set out in the latest edition of the Publication Manual of the APA (Assignment 1 and Reflective Essay).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

American Psychological Association 2001, Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edn, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.
(Note - For most purposes only one or the other of Burton and the APA manual will be required.)

Burton, LJ 2006, An interactive approach to writing essays and research reports in psychology, 2nd edn, Wiley, Milton, QLD.
(Note - For most purposes only one or the other of Burton and the APA manual will be required.)

Garvey, DC 2007, Indigenous identity in contemporary psychology: dilemmas, developments, directions, Thomson, South Melbourne.

Matsumoto, D & Juang, L 2008, Culture and psychology, 4th edn, Wadsworth/Thompson, Australia.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Dudgeon, P, Garvey, D & Pickett, H 2000, Working with Indigenous Australians: a handbook for psychologists, Gunada Press, Perth, WA.

Insight media 2005, Cross-cultural communication, Insight media, New York.
(Available in the USQ library.)

Shiraev, EB & Levy, DA 2007, Cross-cultural psychology: critical thinking and contemporary applications, 3rd edn, Pearson Education, Boston.

Sue, DW & Sue, D 2003, Counseling the culturally diverse: theory and practice, 4th edn, Wiley, New York.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, students are required to access and participate in the on-line discussion group on a regular basis (see Introductory Book for details). Further, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each of the assessment items to be awarded a passing grade in the course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain an overall mark of at least 50% and must submit all assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   Candidates are allowed access only to specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination). Students whose first language is not English, may, with the Examiner's approval, take an appropriate non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Students who wish to use a translation dictionary MUST request and receive written approval from the Examiner at least one week before the examination date. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Students may be granted a deferred examination only if they perform satisfactorily on all other assessment items. Any deferred examinations for this course will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester of the next offering of this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.