PSYC487-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026

Special Topic: Tackling Social Issues: Psychological Perspectives

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2026
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 27 September 2026

Description

This course will introduce postgraduate students to psychological perspectives to tackling large scale social issues such as climate change and sustainability. Topics will include methods, theories, research and approaches towards positive social and environmental change. Theories and concepts discussed will cover a range of micro- and macro-level factors that influence behaviour (change) and decision making, such as emotions, social norms, culture, context and situation, world views, risk perception, nudging, misinformation and evidence communication.

Learning Outcomes

The objectives of the course are to:

1. Describe how psychological theory and methods can be used to help solve social and environmental problems and understand barriers and levers for behaviour change;
2. Assess the strengths and limitations of the major psychological approaches and theories for addressing social issues;
3. Identify gaps in the current state of scientific research and evidence;
4. Design an empirical study to inform a social or environmental problem using principles and theories from the course (identify a knowledge gap, formulate research question, conduct literature review, describe study design, hypotheses and analysis methods, discuss predicted results);
5. Learn to present other people’s research in a clear and succinct way;
6. Learn to present your own research idea in a clear way (orally and written)

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of Head of Department. RP: PSYC341, PSYC374, PSYC382.

Recommended Preparation

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 13:00 - 15:00 Beatrice Tinsley 112
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct

Course Coordinator

Claudia Schneider

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Class Attendance and Participation 30%
Reading Reactions 30%
Research Proposal Presentation 10%
Research Proposal 30%

Textbooks / Resources

There are no required textbooks for this course. Assigned readings for classes will be provided online via LEARN.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,286.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Limited Entry Course

Maximum enrolment is 26

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All PSYC487 Occurrences

  • PSYC487-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026