PYB215 Forensic Psychology and the Law
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PYB215 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | PYB012, PYB101, PYB102 or PYB100 and Completion of 72cps |
| Antirequisite(s): | JSB174 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | 96 credit points of first year units is assumed knowledge. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | The Commonwealth supported place student contribution amount for this unit depends upon the course of study. Find out more |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,024 |
| International unit fee | $4,224 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PYB215 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | PYB012, PYB101, PYB102 or PYB100 and Completion of 72cps |
| Assumed Knowledge: | 96 credit points of first year units is assumed knowledge. |
| Anti-requisite: | JSB174 |
| Coordinator: | Colette Roos | c.roos@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Forensic Psychology will introduce you to the overlap between psychology and the law; assist you to understand the influence and impact of this branch of psychology within the criminal justice system; and to provide you with an overview of the practice of forensic psychology, across diverse populations, including First Nations People. The study of psychology and law draws from a multi-disciplinary base for the application of specialised knowledge. As a student of this discipline area, you will acquire an appreciation of (and a critical perspective on) psychology and the law across the three criminal justice domains of the police, the courts, and corrections.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify the contribution that psychology (both theory and practice) makes to our understanding of criminality and the legal and criminal justice system processes.
- Explain the psychological dynamics involved in the interaction between participants and practitioners in the criminal justice system.
- Analyse and present research findings related to psychological explanations of crime and the efficacy of psychological interventions in the criminal justice system.
- Critically reflect on the impact of psychological processes on the functioning of the legal system.
Content
This unit will cover a variety of topics including theories of crime, profiling, criminal careers, sexual and violent offenders, victims of crime, interviewing suspects, telling and detecting lies, interviewing witnesses, eyewitness testimony, juries, psychology and policing, crime and punishment, and crime prevention and interventions.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be taught using both lecture and tutorial formats. The emphasis will be on student learning through quality interaction and active participation in lectures and tutorials and through analysis of the set readings. Interdisciplinary lectures in this unit will be delivered by both Justice Studies and Psychology staff.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback in this unit through formative and summative feedback. General formative feedback will also be provided in the lectures and tutorials. Summative feedback will be provided through the assessment tasks detailed below.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit will be submitted electronically. You will be required to submit your assessment online via content-matching software. Assessment will be marked online and your feedback will be supplied via Canvas. As this is an Internal unit, examinations will be in person, on QUT Brisbane campuses.
Note that prior to release of marks, the unit coordinator undertakes a moderation process to ensure that individual markers have applied criteria and standards consistently and fairly. From time to time there are errors made in marking (for example, mistakes in adding up or missing sections of a submission). If you find such errors, you should approach the unit coordinator immediately. Actively reading the feedback provided will enhance your learning success.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Report
This report requires you to critically review the literature with reference to an important psychological issue or question in forensic psychology. You will write from the perspective of a risk assessor to review real-world risk assessment tools and provide recommendations to the State Government as to which risk assessment tool is best and why.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Final Examination
There will be multiple choice questions and short answer questions in this exam. The questions for the exam will be based on the lectures, readings and material covered in the tutorials.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Pozzulo, J., Bennell, C., & Forth, A. (2015), Forensic Psychology, 4th edition. Canada: Pearson.
Recommended text(s)
Additional readings for this unit will be listed in the Unit Information on the QUT Canvas site, and will be made accessible online via the PYB215 QUT Canvas site (in QUT Readings).
Risk Assessment Statement
You should be aware that some content in this unit may be confronting to certain audiences. Please exercise your own discretion when participating in classroom activities or discussions and, if appropriate, advise teaching staff if you do not wish to participate. The QUT Student Counselling service is also available and free of charge to all QUT students.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PY45 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)
- Describe and evaluate the core scientific perspectives of psychology with reference to theories, methods and research, from diverse perspectives, including first-nations perspectives.
Relates to: Report, Final Examination - Critically examine the scientific discipline of psychological research and theories using oral, written and digital communication to address psychological issues in a respectful, ethical and professional manner.
Relates to: Report, Final Examination - Implement a range of digital capabilities to access, examine and utilise evidence-based information in the context of effectively responding to, and communicating, real world problems.
Relates to: Report