Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Forensic Psychology is readily acknowledged as one of the fastest growing areas of psychology in the world. Psychologists are now involved significantly in policing, judicial procedures and correctional processes. The term 'forensic' literally means 'of or used in law courts' (Australian Oxford Paperback Dictionary). The term 'psychology and the law', however, is now used more generally to describe the different ways in which psychology and law intersect - namely the psychology of the law, psychology in the law, and psychology by the law. By its very nature the study of psychology and law draws from a wide multi-disciplinary base for the application of specialised knowledge. As a student of this discipline area, you will need a broad introductory appreciation of (and a critical perspective on) what the study of psychology and the law involves and what it has to offer across the three criminal justice domains of the police, the courts, and corrections.

Aims

This unit has a three-fold aim: to introduce you to the overlap between psychology and the law; to assist you in understanding the influence and impact of this branch of psychology within the criminal justice system; and to outline the sphere of psychology and the law as field of study.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should have attained the following:

• Knowledge of the contribution that psychology makes to our understanding of criminality and the legal and criminal justice system processes. This will demonstrate the graduate attributes of multidisciplinary knowledge, inclusive knowledge and critical awareness.


• The ability to explain the psychological dynamics involved in the interaction between participants and practitioners in the criminal justice system. This will be demonstrated through graduate attributes of oral and/or written communication.


• An understanding of the research findings related to psychological explanations of crime and the efficacy of psychological interventions in the legal system. This will demonstrate the graduate attribute of research.


• The ability to critically reflect on the impact of psychological processes on the functioning of the legal system. This will demonstrate the graduate attribute of critical thinking.

Content

1. Introduction Understanding crime and criminals
2. Theories of crime
3. Profiling

Offenders and victims
4. Criminal careers
5. Sexual and violent offenders
6. Victims of crime

Investigating crime
7. Interviewing suspects & telling and detecting lies
8. Interviewing witnesses & eyewitness testimony
9. Psychology and the police (traffic psychology)
10. Juries

Dealing with crime
11. Correctional Psychology
12. Crime prevention/interventions
13. Unit Evaluation and Exam Preparation

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be taught using both lecture and tutorial formats for internal students, and by a directed study format for external students. The emphasis will be on student learning through quality interaction and active participation in lectures and tutorials (for internals) and through analysis of the set readings (for both internals and externals). Lectures in this unit will be delivered by both Justice Studies and Psychology staff, and all lectures will be available via the QUT Blackboard site following the time of presentation as per the Study Plan.

Assessment

There are two distinct forms of assessment used in this unit - formative and summative. Formative assessment provides you with either written or verbal feedback for a piece of assessment and summative assessment provides you with a mark that will contribute to your final grade in the unit. There are three pieces of assessment that count for your final grade in this unit.Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation


• Formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary


• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation


• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Final Exam
Description: Examination. There will be a total of 80 multiple choice type questions in this exam. The questions for the exam will be based on the lectures, readings and material covered in the tutorial workbook for each week of a lecture topic.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to Objectives 1, 3, and 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Examination

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Literature Review (-2000words max.). This item of assessment requires you to critically review the literature and write an essay about an important psychological issue or question faced by the justice system. A list of possible topics/questions will be provided in Week 1.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to Objectives 3 and 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 9

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: You are required to participate in online discussion forums to discuss the unit material. Weekly questions are provided in the Study Guide and you will be expected to contribute 5 discussion forums across Weeks 2 to 12, and to respond to 3 discussion forums posted by other students. Each discussion forum should critically discuss material covered in the readings. (Word limit: 1500 approx.) This assessment item is both formative and summative
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to Objectives 3 and 4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weekly

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Bartol, Curt R. and Anne M. Bartol. 2012. Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Research and Application. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.


Recommended reading
The reference materials listed below are highly recommended as extra reading:

Adler, J. R. (Ed.). (2004). Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates
and Practice. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Publishing

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (Eds.). (2004a). Introduction to
Forensic Psychology. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (Eds.). (2004b). Psychology and the
Law: Theory, Research and Application (3rd ed.). Belmont CA:
Wadsworth/Thomson

Blackburn, R. (1995). The Psychology of Criminal Conduct: Theory,
Research and Practice. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons

Blau, T. H. (Ed.). (2001). The Psychologist as Expert Witness (2nd
ed.). New York: Wiley

Carson, D., & Bull, R. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of Psychology in
Legal Contexts. New York: John Wiley & Sons

Goldstein, A. M., & Weiner, I. B. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of
Psychology, Forensic Psychology. New York: John Wiley & Sons

Jackson, J. L., & Bekerian, D. A. (Eds.). (1997). Offender
Profiling: Theory, Research and Practice. New York: John Wiley &
Sons

Kapardis, A. (Ed.). (2003). Psychology and Law: A Critical
Introduction (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Memon, A., Vrij, A., & Bull, R. (2003). Psychology and Law:
Truthfulness, Accuracy and Credibility. Chichester: John Wiley &
Sons

Robinson, D. N. (Ed.). (1980). Psychology and Law: Can Justice
Survive the Social Sciences. New York: Oxford University Press

Swenson, L. C. (Ed.). (1997). Psychology and Law for Helping
Professions. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole

Wrightsman, L. S., & Fulero, S. M. (Eds.). (2004). Forensic
Psychology (2nd ed.). Wadsworth Publish

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 11-Apr-2013