Applied Social Msc. Course Course names Course description codes MSPSY501* Applied Social This module will discuss, at advanced level: The cognitive system, conceptual systems, expectation, explanation processes, decision making. Motivation, self-regulating systems, goal setting, evaluation, feelings and emotions; The interpersonal system, interdependence, competence and emotional intelligence, social support, conflict and negotiation, interpersonal communication; and Groups, and cultural systems, group conflict, social identification and culture. MSPSY503 Advanced Topics in Inter-Group Relations This module will examine advanced theory and research in intergroup relations. We will consider the nature of social categorisation processes and how stereotypes develop, persist and change. The module will then examine the relationship between intergroup perceptions and prejudice, and how intergroup relationships influence both variables. The module will examine how and why stereotypes and prejudice become manifested as discrimination and intergroup conflict, and then how groups become mobilised to perform collective action. We will study the motivational and social elements in intergroup relationships, social identity as a group member, and how these issues can be studied both in the laboratory MSPSY506* Research Methods for Social and in real world settings This module will concentrate on the methodological definitions and related issues in Social Sciences and include validity and reliability in measurement; experimental, quasi experimental, and correlational research designs in the laboratory and field; observational, archival, and qualitative research methodologies; and the problem of bias in psychological research. MSPSY509 Social of the Media The course is designed to encourage a critical attitude to the media and will consider their influence on individuals and society in general. Throughout the course, the following concerns will be addressed: the nature of communication and problems in defining its effectiveness; the role of the media in providing information to its audience; the ideological functions of the media; media representations of minority groups or controversial issues and how these may influence people's attitudes. The topics which will be discussed include: Conceptualisations of the media in terms of a system in context, and in terms of communication; interpretation of Contents and effects. The power and social context of the media. Conflicting views on children in the media; children as an active audience. Drama and story-telling
MSPSY507* Advanced Statistics for Social Studies in the media: cultural products; case studies of television drama production; images of blackness on television, perpetuating stereotypes? Propaganda through the media: war propaganda, election campaigns, encouragement of stereotypes. Presentation techniques: diffusion of messages, mediation of myths. Publicity and advertising: contexts, methods and mechanisms. Creating social reality: the process of news selection and construction. The ideology of impartiality and balance. The aim of this module is to provide a postgraduatelevel orientation to both basic and advanced contemporary statistical issues in psychology. The statistical techniques taught will include univariate and bivariate descriptive and inferential statistics; psychometric techniques; exploratory data analysis; basic and advanced topics in ANOVA and ANCOVA; multiple regression; factor analysis; and structural equation modeling. MSPSY504* Advanced Health It is well established that health outcomes such as morbidity and mortality are strongly influenced by input variables such as age, gender, class and education. What is less clear is how those inputs and outcomes are linked - that is, the mechanisms and processes that mediate and moderate the relationships. Evidence has pointed to the importance of psychological processes, and the purpose of the module will be to explore the evidence in detail in an attempt to determine some of the causal links. The traditional areas of health psychology will thus be introduced within one explanatory framework which attempts to link the areas together rather than to treat them separately. The main areas for discussion will be as follows: defining health; social inequalities in health; life events and social support; knowledge, information, and communication; cognitive dispositions, including personal control and attitudes; stress and coping; appropriate and inappropriate behaviours. The module will also include a range of psychological and health principles will be examined within the context of formulating treatment and evaluation proposals or prevention programs designed to change social behaviours in relation to health issues, such as stress and coping strategies, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual behaviours, exercise and nutrition, and aged care. MSPSY508 Advanced Topics in Group Processes and Inter-Group Relations This module will provide an opportunity to study at an advanced level the literature on group processes and intergroup relations and to familiarize oneself with the current social and evolutionary perspectives on groups. The module builds upon knowledge of social psychology and biological psychology gained at undergraduate level. We shall consider, specifically, how social
psychological and evolutionary theories in combination can explain group processes. Topics that will be addressed include group cohesion, intragroup and intergroup conflict, status and leadership, and group size. The module draws primarily on small group research in social and evolutionary psychology, but we shall also consider perspectives from other fields, such as economics and anthropology. This module will involve a great deal of student presentation, participation and discussion. MSPSY 516* Seminar A seminar paper is the written analysis of a particular topic specified in the seminar. This course presents an excellent opportunity to exercise scientific writing before writing a thesis. It include the thesis proposal MSPSY 512 Cognition and Culture This module analyses how individual minds deploy in richly structured contexts - communities, regions, ethnicities, cultures, nation-states, etc. and aims for an improved understanding of thought which requires description at both the psychological and cultural levels, and of how phenomena at the two levels interact. Major areas of discussion in this module will include: crosscultural differences in reasoning, perception, and memory; culture and emotion; evolution and culture; domain-specific/modular approaches to cognitive architecture; culture and development; the epidemiology of representations. MSPSY 511 of Criminal Conduct This module will examine the topic of criminality from a broadly social psychological perspective. The evidence that consistent criminal tendencies can be reliably assessed is considered, and the extent to which personality factors can explain that consistency is evaluated. The concept of psychopathy will be explored before examining more generally the relationship between crime, law and moral judgement. Theoretical perspectives on the origins of the criminal tendency in childhood will be detailed and its abundant expression in adolescence highlighted and examined. The current emphasis on crime as reasoned action will be evaluated, highlighting the role of rationalisation and normative beliefs in the justification of both "blue-collar" and "white-collar" crime. The role of opportunism in criminal decision-making will be considered in relation to environmental factors and attempts to prevent crime. The role of victims in creating, defining and reporting crime will be analysed, and the psychological consequences of crime for victims and potential victims are explored. MSPSY 510 of Human Resource Development This module will analyse the the HRM context from the perspective of social psychology.the toopics will include: Employee relations, Employment law and the management of human resources;the Employee voice
MSPSY 505 MSPSY 502 MSPSY 500 MSPSY 514 Advanced Developmental Social Advanced Organisational Current Issues in Social and Applied The Social of Economic Life in union and non-union organisations; Recruitment and selection; Performance management and reward systems; Work systems and Human resource policy options. Advanced Developmental Social aims to provide students with a strong understanding of the theoretical accounts of major issues within the field of developmental social psychology (e.g. prejudice and stereotype development). Students will critically review recent research into the development of social cognition, with a focus on the theoretical integration of concepts from developmental psychology and social psychology, and the applied implication of the research under review. These Masters students should gain an indepth understanding of children's social development and how this knowledge can inform educational practice. This module will include the following topics : Theories of organisation including classical, human relations, structural and systems models; Organisational development and organisational transformation, organisational change and change management, organisational culture and organisational climate; Diversity in the workplace, organisational learning, organisations as complex systems; and Organisational consultancy, leadership, and organisational behaviour. This course will deal with the conceptual frameworks offered by social psychology and the ways in which social psychology can be applied. It will explore important conceptual issues, including the levels of analysis we adopt, the nature of social knowledge, the self in social psychology, social influence, social cognition and attitude change, discourse analysis, the social psychology of language, and the theory of applied social psychology. This module will also deal with implementing social psychological theory and method in applied settings. These include organisational psychology, dealing with media coverage, equal opportunities issues, ethics, environmental design, terrorism, and discussing related psychological findings. The course will review the contribution of social psychological theories and perspectives, broadly interpreted to include micro-sociology, to the understanding of people's representations, attitudes, choices and behaviours in the economic sphere. Rationality in individual and collective decision taking; The scientific and lay representations of risk; Trust in contemporary society; Consumer behaviour, fashion and the symbolic aspects of consumption; and Equity and justice are amongst the topics to be discussed on this course
MSPSY 513 Advanced Topics in Personal Relationships The course will offer the student the opportunity for in depth study of a major topic area in the field of personal relationships. The list of topics will be revised frequently in order to ensure that it includes the most currently active and interesting issues within the field. Topics scheduled to discuss at present are: romantic love, sociobiological approaches to attraction and mate selection, loneliness, adult attachment and social support. MSPSY515* Thesis This course deals with both the theoretical and practical aspects of designing thesis and successfully, writing and defending it. The purpose of the course is to assist students through the proposal and thesis writing processes. * These courses are compulsory courses.