We will introduce you to some of the major issues and discoveries in psychology. The paper focuses on social psychology, lifespan development, and mental health and illness, paying particular attention to the processes which influence individual, interpersonal and group well-being. It also examines the interaction between individuals and their environments. It will draw on models, theories and approaches from Western traditions, as well as non-Western traditions including those Indigenous to Aotearoa, Asia and the Pacific.

You will have the opportunity to run some studies on yourself, and we will show you how to analyse the results and present them in a report. You will also have the opportunity to participate in real-world research projects being conducted on some of today's psychological issues (more about that below). We will use a mixture of standard lecture formats (available in class, by webstream, and recorded) and laboratories.

Beyond its focus on psychology, the paper focuses on three qualities that are essential for citizens of the 21st century: awareness of cultural diversity, involvement with their communities, and aspiring global citizenship. The paper promotes these personal qualities by way of engaging in discussions of issues faced by individuals and groups in contemporary society, and how psychology can help address these issues.

PSYCH101 consists of two major pieces: lectures and laboratories.

For the lectures, we will have live presentations where you will hear us tell you about psychology. We will keep these lively and entertaining, and we can answer your questions. Because the assigned rooms are not quite large enough to maintain physical distancing, we will also livestream the lectures in a webinar format, as well as record them in case you miss one. Attendance in the lecture theatres is on a first-come basis, and so if you miss out on a seat, you can watch from your computer or mobile device anywhere on campus and still participate. There will be two on-line tests covering the lecture material (each test is worth 30% of your marks).

The laboratories are where you will conduct psychology activities on yourself or your fellow students. Part of the laboratories' content will be covered during the lecture times, but for most of the content you will need to attend laboratory sessions on campus, using the university computers. (Although it is possible to access the laboratory computers from off-campus using the DUO app, this can be challenging due to intermittent software difficulties.) There are four series of activities you will be doing in labs, and for each you will answer questions about them or write a brief lab report on them. You will hand these four assignments in on Moodle via Turnitin. Each of them will contribute 5% towards your final mark (for a total of 20% of your marks). You will need to sign up for labs (see more information below).

Please make sure to read the paper outline, as it contains the answers to all common questions. There is also a 'Frequently asked questions' document on Moodle. Moodle which is a web-based online learning system used here at the University of Waikato, and is available on campus and from any device connected to the Internet.

PSYCH101 has its own Moodle page where the convenors, lecturers, and tutors post the lecture notes, important announcements about things such as tests, laboratories, research participation, your marks, and other information that will be helpful to your studies (such as lecture notes and recordings). It is your responsibility to ensure that you check Moodle and your emails regularly (at least twice a week), as much of the important information for PSYCH101 is disseminated in this way. If an announcement or important information is posted on Moodle it will be assumed that all students have received this information.

When you log on to Moodle for the first time, please go to your “profile” and check your contact details (email and phone numbers) are correct. This is the information we will use if we need to contact you, so it is your responsibility to ensure these details are up to date at all times.

If students have questions about the paper in general they should:

1. Read this paper outline.

2. Read the 'Frequently Asked Questions' on the PSYCH101 Moodle page.

3. If you have a question that others in the class might benefit from hearing the answer to, please ask it on the Moodle forum. Questions that are already answered by the paper outline will not be answered.

Please do not email staff.

Students should expect to spend approximately 10 hours a week on this course, including:

• Lecture materials: 4 hours
• Laboratories: 1 hour
• Reading, revision, test preparation, assignments: 5 hrs.

Please note, however, that this is a guide only. Students vary in the amount of time they wish, or need, to dedicate to achieve the marks they want.

This paper, along with its companion paper PSYCH100, are required for students majoring in psychology and together they provide students with a general understanding of the main areas of psychology. It is a pre-requisite for several higher papers in psychology. Either can be taken as an elective by students in other areas of university study. PSYCH101 is also required or strongly recommended for several other disciplines.