Courses & Units

Forensic Psychology PSY312

Hobart, Launceston

Introduction

This unit will provide an introduction to psychology and law. The progression of lecture topics in this unit will roughly follow the course of an investigation and trial of a criminal case, covering issues such as eyewitness memory; false memories; police interviewing techniques; deception detection; and juror decisions. Throughout the unit, the focus will be on how psychological science can (a) help us understand various aspects of the legal system, and (b) help to improve important processes in policing and courtroom trials.

Note: Psychology students are expected to have completed KHA201 – Research Methods 2. However, non-psychology students who have not completed KHA201 are welcome to enrol in KHA312. Students will require a very basic understanding of quantitative data to enable them to complete KHA312 (e.g., interpreting simple tables of results). Students will not be expected to conduct any statistical analyses or have an understanding of statistics. Please contact the unit coordinators if you have any inquiries about quantitative requirements for this unit, or if you would like to see some examples of the sort of quantitative tasks that students will be asked to complete.

Summary

Unit name Forensic Psychology
Unit code PSY312
Credit points 12.5
College/School College of Health and Medicine
School of Psychological Sciences
Discipline Psychology
Coordinator Associate Professor James (Jim) Sauer
Available as an elective?
Delivered By Delivered wholly by the provider

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 2 On-Campus International Domestic
Launceston Semester 2 On-Campus International Domestic

Key

On-campus
Off-Campus
International students
Domestic students

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 2 12/7/2021 10/8/2021 30/8/2021 17/10/2021

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2021 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2021 will be available from the 1st October 2020. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Illustrate how psychological science promotes understanding of human behaviour and decision making in the legal system, and can contribute to the effective operation of key aspects of the legal system.
  • Use knowledge of relevant psychological theory and empirical research to evaluate the effectiveness of various practices and policies in the legal system.
  • Communicate how theory and evidence from psychology-law research has shaped understanding of behaviour and decision making in the legal system to academic and lay audiences.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
090701 $1,812.00 $850.00 $993.00 $2,445.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any College

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KHA212 or PSY313 OR KHA312

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

Lecture: 2 hours weekly

Practical: 2 hours weekly

AssessmentFinal Exam (50%)|Psych-law research project (10%)|Presentation (10%)|Essay (30%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.
LinksBooktopia textbook finder

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