

Year 11 Psychology Units 1 and 2
Overview
This subject examines the contribution psychological research has made to our understanding of the human brain and its functions. You will study the development of different psychological models and theories used to predict and explain the development of thoughts, feelings and behaviours. You will also look at why individuals and groups behave in specific ways, and what factors influence a person’s perception of the world. You will develop an understanding of the research methodologies that underpin all psychological research. Using this knowledge, you will participate in weekly practical activities, as well as design and conduct a research investigation on a topic of your choice.
Who is it for?
Do you want to learn how people have come to understand human behaviour, why people do what they do, and how the brain functions?
Would you like to work with people or pursue further studies in areas related to psychology or psychological research?
Do you want to raise your own questions about human behaviour, then design and conduct experiments within your community to find answers to your questions?
If you have answered yes to any or all of the above questions, then Psychology Units 1 and 2 may be a subject that you would enjoy.
What do you do?
Some of the activities you will engage in include:
- designing and conducting research through weekly practical activities, and reporting on your findings
- analysing and interpreting data, and drawing conclusions related to research questions
- evaluating the validity of psychological research, concepts and models
- applying psychological information, ideas and research findings to everyday life
You will be invited to attend incursions and excursions, as well as to participate in seminars held at VSV.
What skills do you need?
You need to have a suitable level of literacy and numeracy to be able comprehend content and manage data
You need to be able to confidently and accurately apply fundamental scientific processes
What skills do you develop?
You will develop skills including:
- The ability to formulate hypotheses to make predictions about the outcomes of investigations
- The ability to comply with safety and ethical guidelines
- The ability to generate, collate and record data
- The ability to analyse and evaluate data and investigation methods
- The ability to analyse, evaluate and communicate scientific ideas
- The ability to critically evaluate research and draw evidence-based conclusions
Requirements
You will require:
- Internet access
- Access to a minimum of two people within your community (either virtual or in person) to participate in research
Things to think about
Successful students have a solid background in written literacy and a grasp of number manipulation and data analysis. You are expected to dedicate 5 to 6 hours a week to study and be in regular contact with their teacher.
You are also expected to regularly participate in the online environment including forum posts, reading weekly announcements and participating in online lessons where possible.
Things you can do now
- Go to the VCAA website for more information about this subject. Familiarise yourself with the study design and assessment criteria for Psychology Units 1 and 2.
- Check out the videos below as they give a great overview into some of the topics we will be covering.
Things to have a look at
Introduction to Psychology
What does psychology mean? Where does it come from? Hank Green gives you a 10, minute introduction to one of the more tricky sciences and talks about some of the big names in the development of the field.
Meet Your Master
In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, we get to meet the brain and explore all the wonderful things it is responsible for.
Psychological Research
So how do we apply the scientific method to psychological research? Lots of ways, but Hank Green specifically talks about case studies, naturalistic observation, surveys and interviews, and experimentation.