101_2011_3_b - The Psychology Student.

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PYC1501/101. 3. R ead me first. Why? . . . because this is the very first page of the module Basic Psychology. It shows you precisely where to start and how to ...
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Psychology

PYC1501

Basic Psychology

module code: tutorial letter:

PYC1501 101/3/2011

unisa

CONTENTS |

Read me first

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Additional study aids: General

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Additional study aids: Study groups: How they function

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Additional study aids: Study groups: Where to begin

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Assignments: How to submit them!

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Assignments: What are they?

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Contact information: Appointments / telephone

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Contact information: The teaching team

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Contact information: The University

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Examination

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First steps

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Frequently asked questions

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Inventory letter

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Module components

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Module learning method

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Module learning opportunity

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Module outline

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Prescribed book

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Study guide

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Study package

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Study programme

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Tutorial letters

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Words of welcome

Formal tuition and examination in this course will be conducted in English only. Where capacity exists, and upon request, individual discussions will be conducted in any preferred South African language. Formele onderrig en eksaminering in hierdie kursus word slegs in Engels aangebied. Waar die kapasiteit bestaan, en op versoek, sal individuele besprekings met studente gevoer word in enige verkose SuidAfrikaanse taal.

R ead me first Why?

. . . because this is the very first page of the module Basic Psychology. It shows you precisely where to start and how to read this tutorial letter.

Quick and easy access to all the facts

There are a number of matters you need to know about, especially if this is the first time you have registered with Unisa. It is not easy to deal with a lot of information all at once. Therefore, we have organised the information into smaller sections covering specific topics. The information is presented on separate pages. Each page is labelled clearly to enable you to find quickly and easily what you are looking for.

This tutorial letter is very important

It is important to read the tutorial letter carefully. It is also important to consult it from time to time. The tutorial letter contains all the information required to get yourself settled in and organised.

How to read this tutorial letter

In this tutorial letter each page starts with a heading. The pages are organised alphabetically according to these headings. The only exceptions to this rule are the first two pages. These are the pages called and . The other pages are organised alphabetically to allow you quick and easy access to relevant topics and when you require the information. You will notice that some words appear between angle brackets (that is < >). The words that are enclosed in angle brackets are the headings of other pages. This method is used to refer you to related information. In other words, if you read the sentence: “The consists of three tutorial letters”, you know that there is a page called „Study guide‟ and that the page contains additional information about the study guide. The page is easy to find - because its heading starts with „S‟ you simply have to look under S to locate it.

How to get going!

You may feel somewhat confused and disorientated because a number of different documents and brochures emerged when you unwrapped your study material. For the moment, do not worry about all those booklets and brochures. You will soon find out what they are. This is what you need to do now: take the consider the investigate the to see where you have to begin your studies. If you have further questions go to the page, which takes you through the tutorial letter in a systematic way. Or perhaps you have something totally different in mind? Then simply check and go to the relevant page.

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A dditional study aids General Peer help programme

We would like to inform you about the Unisa Peer Help Volunteer Programme, offered under the auspices of the Directorate for Counselling, Career and Academic Development. Peer helping is based on the well-documented fact that students often seek out other students for help when they are experiencing some frustration, concern, worry or problems. Peer helpers are trained to help other students think through and reflect on problems they might experience. These peer helpers listen and support their fellow students with regard to studies and personal problems. They explain the Unisa system and they render support regarding academic skills development. Peer helpers are trained to refer more complex cases to the professional counsellors on campus. See the booklet called my Studies @ Unisa for more information.

Resource material

A revised and updated study skills guide entitled Effective Study was published by the Directorate for Counselling, Career and Academic Development (DCCAD). This publication is available in English. The full reference of the publication is: Van Schoor, W.A., Mill, E.M., & Potgieter, D. (2001). Effective study. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Please do not contact the Psychology Department if you wish to obtain a copy of the study skills guide. The publication can be ordered in writing or bought over the counter. See the booklet called my Studies @ Unisa for more information.

Student counselling

The Directorate for Counselling, Career and Academic Development is available for consultations on study problems. In the past we have found that the consultations were more effective if a student is able to identify his/her specific study problems beforehand. We therefore suggest that you consult the study skills guide (see: Resource material above) and make notes of your specific problems. Thereafter you can make an appointment to see a counsellor at the Bureau for Counselling, Career and Academic Development. You are also welcome to contact us in connection with the peer help programme. See the booklet called my Studies @ Unisa for more information.

Tutorial support

Unisa has tutorial support services for students. The general aim of these services is to facilitate student learning by fostering the acquisition of independent learning skills. Please note that it is not compulsory to attend tutor group meetings. See the booklet called my Studies @ Unisa for more information.

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A dditional study aids Study groups: How they function Why a study group? When you are planning to start or to join a study group, there are a few issues which you will be well advised to take into account. You will be greatly rewarded if you participate actively in the attainment of the group's objectives. You will have two experiences which will help you in your studies: (1) you will experience a feeling of universality, that is, you will realise that many others are in the same predicament; and (2) you will experience hope, and hope is the best antidote to the despair which haunts most students at times.

Keep the following in mind The fact that one person sets the ball rolling, implies that this person assumes the role of leader. When he/she eventually manages to get the group together the following must be borne in mind: 1. The group members will not necessarily continue to regard him/her as their leader. An interactional pattern may develop, which may result in another person becoming the leader. It takes humility and recognition of the ultimate rewards of the exercise for a person to accept a change of this nature. 2. The leader should bear in mind that an authoritarian approach is anathema to a group of this nature. Research results indicate clearly that group discussion will succeed only when a leader encourages all members to participate and refrains from forcing his/her view or solutions onto others. 3. A study group should be small for optimal functioning. Keep the group between five and twelve members. When a group consists of less than five members or more than twelve, the discussion is hampered.

How to run a successful group A study group is essentially task-centred, that is, the group is concerned with the identification, analysis and evaluation of study problems. To carry out this task successfully, the following should be borne in mind: 1. Short term objectives (e.g. specific points of discussion on the agenda) and long term objectives (e.g. flexible thinking, effective studying, and examination success) should be carefully defined in advance. It is important for the group to have a feeling of solidarity in relation to its objectives. In fact, all members should agree that the task is important and should be strongly motivated to achieve the group's objectives. A lack of cohesion will mean certain failure. 2. Members should prepare in advance, concentrate on factual information and refrain from making contributions in the form of unverified opinions, guesswork and suppositions. 3. Members should maintain basic norms of politeness and consideration. Any signs of tardiness or absenteeism (which are discourteous) will hinder group functioning. 4. All members should be aware of problems which may arise at an interpersonal level, and should modify their behaviour if it becomes an obstacle to the realisation of the group's objectives. The following are typical dysfunctional situations. * One person is domineering and wishes to be group leader at all costs. * A highly intelligent member lacks humility in his/her responses to the contributions of co-members. * Two dominant persons become extremely competitive and the other members fade into the background. * Prejudices towards co-members (e.g., of a different language group) become apparent. * A member is insecure and becomes over-defensive in the face of criticism. * Criticism of another's contributions is given in a sharp and insulting manner, rather than objectively and constructively. * A member is secretive and stingy with his/her knowledge. * A member is too lazy to prepare, and sponges on co-members.

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A dditional study aids Study groups: Where to begin Why a study group? The for this module involves you in a student-teacher interaction. However, you may suffer various symptoms of study loneliness if you feel the lack of student-student interaction. Therefore we would recommend that you start a voluntary study group in your area. There are many advantages to be gained from formulating questions, thinking aloud, speculating on possible answers or solutions, deciding, forming a point of view and reconsidering it in the absence of a tutor as a constant mediator or judge of your ideas. By practising independently of the lecturers and tutors, you will gradually learn to trust your ability to formulate judgements and you will develop your own set of standards for evaluating the quality, the accuracy and the relevance of your own and other's ideas.

How to begin a study group The University maintains computer lists of detailed information relating to students. These lists provide information grouped according to regional areas and study units. When these lists are available you may obtain the names of students in your area who study the same modules as you are from the contact centre (tel: 0861 670 411; international number is +27 11 670-9000, fax number 012 429-4150 or e-mail [email protected]). When applying for this information, please state the specific codes of the modules studied by the fellow students you would like to meet. Once you have obtained this information, contact some students and invite them to join you in forming a study group. Remember, nobody can be forced to belong to a study group. Study group activities are totally voluntary. For further information about the functioning of study groups, please see the page called .

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A ssignments How to submit them Where do I find the assignments?

There are three assignments for Basic Psychology. You will find these assignments in Tutorial Letter 102. Note that you have to submit the first two assignments in order to obtain examination admission.

When do I do the assignments?

There are closing dates for submitting the assignments. These dates are provided in Tutorial Letter 102. Do your assignments while you study, and submit them well before the closing dates. Please note that you cannot apply for extension of time for submitting assignments. Credits are automatically deducted for late submissions of assignments.

How do I complete an assignment?

In this module the assignments consist of multiple-choice questions. Each multiple-choice question has four possible answers. You have to select one of these answers (the one you consider to be the best answer) and indicate your choice on a mark reading sheet. A mark reading sheet may seem complicated but it is quite easy to use. Detailed instructions for the use of mark reading sheets are provided in the brochure, my Studies @ Unisa. Mark reading sheets are provided by the Despatch Section. You will receive enough mark reading sheets for all the assignments. Please keep your mark reading sheets in a safe place until you need them for answering the assignments.

How do I ensure that the computer recognises my assignment?

The computer identifies an assignment by a unique assignment number. Therefore, make sure that you indicate the unique assignment number on your mark reading sheet. The unique numbers for your assignments are provided in Tutorial Letter 102. Also, do not forget to mark your student number on the mark reading sheet.

Where do I send my assignment to?

The postal address is: Assignments (PYC1501), The Registrar (Academic), UNISA, PO Box 392, Unisa 0003. Assignment submission on e-mail: Visit the Unisa home page at http://www.unisa.ac.za and go to myUnisa for a detailed explanation.

What feedback do I get on assignments?

You receive two kinds of feedback: (1) A computer printout showing your own answers, the correct answers, and the mark you obtained, (2) a tutorial letter with detailed feedback about each question.

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A

ssignments What are they?

Assignment 01

This assignment consists of multiple choice questions covering part of the course material. The assignment is a short test to help you identify problem areas in your studies. The questions are based on learning opportunities SEC.A-RIG; SEC.ACFS; SEC.B-01; and SEC.B-02. Unique number for this assignment is 725808 (First semester) and 659577 (Second semester). The due dates are 28 February 2011 (First semester) and 10 August 2011 (Second semester).

Assignment 02

This assignment consists of multiple choice questions covering part of the course material. The assignment is a short test to help you identify problem areas in your studies. The questions are based on learning opportunities SEC.A-PPR, SEC.ADPP, SEC.A-POP, SEC.B-03 to SEC.B-09. Unique number for this assignment is 869081 (First semester) and 801057 (Second semester). The due dates are 31 March 2011 (First semester) and 01 September 2011 (Second semester).

Assignment 03

This assignment consists of questions concerning your experience of the course material. The aim of the assignment is to reflect on what you have learned and why you enjoyed (or why you did not enjoy) certain learning experiences. Unique number for this assignment is 839907 (First semester) and 859438 (Second semester). The due dates are 20 April 2011 (First semester) and 30 September 2011 (Second semester).

Year mark

An average of assignments 01 and 02 will count 10% towards the year mark. This year mark will contribute towards the final mark. Assignment 03 does not contribute towards the year mark.

Self-test

Apart from the assignments you also receive a self-test. You cannot submit the self-test for evaluation. The self-test covers the entire syllabus. Please use the selftest to see how well you are prepared for the .

Where do I find the assignments?

The assignments and the self-test are provided in Tutorial Letter 102. Tutorial Letter 102 contains all assessment material. Feedback on the assessments is provided in Tutorial Letters 201 and 202.

Why should I complete and submit the assignments?

You have to submit Assignment 01 to gain examination admission. The assignments are directly applicable to your studies. Assignment 01 and 02 are designed to test your progress in the course, and to identify problem areas. Assignment 03 helps you reflect on your experience of the course material to gain a better understanding of what the material means to you personally.

Do I get feedback?

You receive feedback on your assignments as well as the self-test. Feedback on Assignment 01 is provided in Tutorial Letter 201. You get the answers to the questions, as well as further discussion of these answers. Feedback on Assignment 02 and the self-test is provided in Tutorial Letter 202. Assignment 03 does not have feedback.

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C ontact information Appointments / Telephone The teaching team handles three categories of enquiries. These categories are described on the page called . When you experience the need for a personal appointment, you most probably have a Category C enquiry, in other words an enquiry about the content of the study material. There are two ways to handle your Category C enquiry: You can phone and discuss your query with a member of the teaching team or you can make an appointment to discuss your query in person. Because there are so many students who register for this module, we have to handle telephonic and personal discussions in an organised way to be able to deliver an effective service to our students. Telephonic discussions

Telephonic discussions are handled as follows: On most days of the week at least one lecturer on the teaching team will be available to handle your Category C enquiries. The lecturer may not be available for an entire day but will set aside at least one hour in that day to handle telephonic enquiries. Phone the secretary. She will put you through to the lecturer on telephone duty. If the lecturer is not available at the time you phone, the secretary will tell you at what time the lecturer will be able to take your call. Please make sure that you know exactly what you want to ask or discuss before you phone. Keep your , the and the at hand because you or the lecturer may have to refer to these during the discussion.

Personal appointments

Personal appointments are handled in the following way: You may make an appointment to discuss problem areas with a Lecturer. The appointment has to be for yourself. You cannot make appointments for other people. They have to do so themselves. If there are other students who have requested appointments, you may find that you will be seen as a group. We take a limited number of students per appointment. If the appointment group is full, the secretary will put your name on a waiting list. You have to confirm at least 24 hours before the appointment takes place that you intend to keep your appointment. If you fail to confirm we will conclude that you have cancelled your appointment, and we will contact a student on the waiting list to take your place. You must be on time for your appointment. Please do not inconvenience your fellow students by being late. When making your appointment you have to state clearly what you wish to discuss, and you should prepare for the appointment by compiling questions about the work that you find problematic.

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C ontact information The teaching team You can contact the for Basic Psychology per telephone, per letter, per fax, and by e-mail. We handle three different kinds of enquiries about Basic Psychology. As the different kinds of enquiries are handled in different ways it is important that you decide before you contact us which category your enquiry belongs to. The categories are: Three categories of enquiries

Category A: Category B: Category C:

General administrative questions - in other words any matter addressed in this first tutorial letter for Basic Psychology. Administrative questions about the assignment for Basic Psychology. General academic questions about the content of Basic Psychology. (See ).

By telephone

You can phone the University between 08:00 and 15:00 on weekdays. The contact numbers are as follows: Category A enquiries: Ms Endriette Meyer (012) 429-8307 Category B enquiries: Ms Martha Lukhele (012) 429-8223 Category C enquiries: Ms Endriette Meyer (012) 429-8307

By e-mail

You can contact the teaching team for Basic Psychology on the following e-mail addresses: Category A enquiries: Ms Endriette Meyer [email protected] Category B enquiries: Ms Martha Lukhele [email protected] Category C enquiries: Ms Endriette Meyer [email protected] When you submit an e-mail letter please write one of the following codes in the subject line space of your e-mail: PYC1501+Category+A or PYC1501+Category+B or PYC1501+Category+C The subject line code is used to route your e-mail to the proper folder for quick attention.

By fax

The fax number for Basic Psychology is: (012) 429-3414 Please indicate in the upper left hand corner of all facsimiles whether your enquiry is a Category A or Category B or Category C enquiry.

By letter

The postal address for Basic Psychology is: The Course Organiser PYC1501 Department of Psychology, UNISA, PO Box 392, Unisa 0003 Please indicate in the upper left hand corner of the envelope as well as in the upper left hand corner of the first page of your letter whether your enquiry is a Category A or Category B or Category C enquiry.

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C ontact information The university Do not get lost!!

The University of South Africa (Unisa) is a big organisation, and it is quite easy to get lost amongst all the different sections and departments. Keeping the following points in mind when you contact the University will help to make things easier for yourself.

Distinguish between academic matters and administrative matters

The University is divided into academic and administrative departments. Academic departments are responsible for teaching specific subjects. For example, the Department of Psychology is responsible for teaching all modules in psychology. This is where you will find the for Basic Psychology. If you want to know something about this module you have to contact the teaching team in the Department of Psychology. However, if your question concerns general matters about your studies at the University (such as registration and course cancellations) you have to contact the relevant administrative department. The administrative sections and departments you are most likely to come in contact with are Student Admissions and Registrations, Despatch, Assignment Administration and Examination Administration. Student Admissions and Registrations handles your registrations and cancellations. All study material goes out to students from Despatch. The Assignment section is where all assignments go first when they are received at the University and the Examination section schedules and organises all examinations.

Be clear about what you need to know

Before you contact the University, ask yourself whether your query is of a general administrative nature or whether it is an academic matter to be dealt with by the . In all cases make sure that you know exactly what you want to ask. If you can state clearly what you want to know, it is easier to find the right person to deal with your query. Also, do not approach more than one department in the same letter as this will cause a delay. Write a separate letter to each department.

Contact information

The contact information for the various departments and sections are provided in the brochure called my Studies @ Unisa, which you receive with your study material on registration.

Administrative enquiries

All general enquiries concerning your studies should be addressed to: The Registrar (Academic) Unisa, P O Box 392, Unisa. 0003

Academic enquiries

All general enquiries about this module should be addressed to: The Module Organiser (PYC1501) Department of Psychology Unisa, P O Box 392, Unisa, 0003

Mention your student number and module code

When you write to the University, put your student number and module code in bold at the top of your letter, and when you telephone have your student number at hand.

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E xamination The nature of the examination paper

The examination paper consists of multiple choice questions based on the information provided in the Study Guide (section A and section B) as well as the prescribed resource text (A-Z). You will also receive a self-test that can be regarded as an example of what the examination paper will be like. Further information about the examination is provided in Tutorial Letter 202.

Examination admission

You need submit compulsory assignment 01 to be allowed to sit for the examination. We, however, strongly advise you to complete and submit all because the assignments are designed to help you in your studies.

Pass mark

The marks you earn in the examination paper are converted to a percentage point (a mark out of 100). You must obtain at least 50 percent to pass the examination. Note that the final mark is an average of 10% year mark and 90% examination mark.

What if I fail?

Examinations for first semester modules are written in May/June with the supplementary examinations being written in October/November. Examinations for the second semester are written in October/November with the supplementary examinations being written in May/June of the following year. Please see Part 1 of the Unisa Calendar: General Information and Rules for full details of examination regulations.

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F irst steps At the beginning of the year you may feel a bit confused because everything seems new and strange. However, there is no need to worry. By taking careful note of the information that follows, and the steps you need to take, you will quickly get yourself organised.

Step 1: Check the inventory letter Check the to ensure that you have received the necessary material from the University.

Step 2: Buy the prescribed book The for this module is A student’s A-Z of Psychology. The University libraries do not provide prescribed books. Therefore you must immediately buy or order the prescribed book from your nearest bookshop. Without it you will not be able to pass the course. If you experience difficulties in obtaining the prescribed book from any of the official booksellers you may approach the contact centre (tel: 0861 670 411; international number is +27 11 670-9000, fax number 012 429-4150 or e-mail [email protected]) for assistance. This also applies to students in other countries.

Step 3: Make sure you received the right study guide and tutorial letters The and the tutorial letters are issued to you by the University, and you probably received them when you registered. Make sure that the study guide and the tutorial letters you received are for the Basic Psychology (PYC1501) module. Correspondence about missing or incorrect tutorial letters should be addressed to the contact centre (tel: 0861 670 411; international number is +27 11 670-9000, fax number 012 429-4150 or e-mail [email protected]).

Step 4: Have a look at the module outline A brief overview of the module is provided on the page. A quick look at this overview will help you orientate yourself with regard to the module syllabus.

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F requently asked questions On this page you find the questions that are asked most often. Next to each question we list the pages in this tutorial letter that contain the relevant information. These questions cover all the information. If you work through them you will ensure that you read the entire tutorial letter. Where do I begin?

| Read me first

What do I need?

| Study package | Prescribed book | Study guide | Tutorial letters | Inventory letter

Where do I get the prescribed book?

| Prescribed book

What do I have to study?

| Module outline

What do I have to do to be allowed to write the examination?

| Examination

What are the assignments?

| Assignments: What are they?

How many assignments do I have to submit?

| Assignments: What are they?

How do I submit an assignment?

| Assignments: How to submit them!

Any hints on how I should study?

| Study programme

Can I get help with my studies?

| Additional study aids

How do I contact the University?

| Contact information: The University

How do I contact my lecturers?

| Contact information: The teaching team | Contact information: Appointments / telephone

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| Words of welcome

| Study guide

| First steps

| Prescribed book

| Assignments: What are they?

| Examination

| Study guide

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I nventory letter The brochure my Studies @ Unisa has more detail

When you register, you receive an Inventory letter containing information about your tutorial matter. More details are contained in the document entitled my Studies @ Unisa which you receive with your tutorial matter. The inventory letter lists only those items that are available at the Department of Despatch in Pretoria or at the University's provincial centres on the date of your registration. Students who register at a provincial centre will receive the outstanding tutorial matter by registered post from Pretoria.

You do not get everything at once

Note that all tutorial matter will not necessarily be available upon registration. Tutorial matter that is not available when you register will be posted to you as soon as possible.

Contact the Department of Despatch if something is missing

Check the tutorial matter you have received against the inventory. Unless indicated otherwise (e.g. "out of stock"), you should have received all the items listed in the inventory letter. If any of the items are missing, please proceed immediately according to the instructions on the back of the inventory letter.

Ignore what you do not need

You may also receive bar codes and assignment covers. Please ignore these. You do not need them for this module (PYC1501).

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M odule components The module title

The module that you are about to study is called Basic Psychology. The module has a unique module identifier. The module identifier for Basic Psychology: PYC1501. You will notice that modules presented by the Department of Psychology start with the letters PYC. First-year level modules are numbered in the 100 series. Thus module identifiers for first level modules in psychology begin with PYC1. Modules presented during the second year of study are numbered in the 200 series. Therefore the module identifiers of second-year level modules begin with PYC2.

Three main components

The module has three main components 1. The administrative component 2. The assessment component 3. The instructional component

Administrative component

The administrative component of the module consists of: Tutorial Letter 101: This tutorial letter explains administrative processes and procedures important for studying the module. It does not contain study material.

Assessment component

The assessment component of the module consists of: Tutorial Letter 102: This tutorial letter contains assignments as well as a mock examination paper (self-test). Tutorial Letter 201: This tutorial letter contains the answers to and further feedback on Assignment 01. Tutorial Letter 202: This tutorial letter contains the answers and feedback on Assignment 02 and the self-test.

Instructional component

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The instructional component of the module consists of: Study Guide Section A: This section is an application guide. It offers learning opportunities to develop application skills in the field of psychology. Study Guide Section B: This section is a fundamental knowledge guide. It offers learning opportunities for exploring topics in the field of psychology. Knowledge about these topics is required for developing application skills. Prescribed book: The prescribed book contains resource material required for executing the learning opportunities presented in Study Guide (PYC1501), section A and B. The abbreviation used for the prescribed book is A-Z. The learning opportunities offered in Study Guide section A are supported by the learning opportunities offered in Study Guide section B. All the learning opportunities are supported by the resource material presented in tutorial letters and in the prescribed book (A-Z).

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M odule learning method Learning process

The module learning method is the process that the learner should follow to achieve the module outcomes. The learning process is guided by the idea that learning happens in a more efficient and effective way if information is studied for the purpose of practical application. One learns best if knowledge is selected and applied in particular situations. One should not sit with a text book for hours trying to learn one chapter after another without a particular goal in mind because this is not how people learn in real life. In real life people learn new things because they need to know those things in order to do something.

Learning opportunities in Study GuideSection A

Learning opportunities for the application of psychological knowledge are provided in Study Guide Section A. This is where the learning process starts. These learning opportunities help learners master practical skills. However, these skills require knowledge of psychology. Therefore each learning opportunity refers the learner to relevant resources where the required knowledge can be found. The resource material is provided in the prescribed book (A-Z) and in some cases in tutorial letters.

Learning opportunities in Study GuideSection B

Sometimes the learner has to work through a substantial amount of resource material to complete an application task. When this is the case further learning opportunities are provided to help the learner work through the resource material. These learning opportunities are provided in Study Guide Section B.

Outcome products Methods Tasks Activities

Every learning opportunity has an outcome product and a method of producing the outcome product. The production method is divided into one or more tasks, each consisting of one or more activities. Activities tell the learners what to do, and in some cases they provide feedback to allow the learners to collaborate their own answers. It is a good idea to execute an activity before consulting the feedback (if provided) because this approach promotes active learning. It is a very bad idea not to do these activities and to simply try to memorise the feedback because doing so promotes passive learning. Learners who try to learn passively will not be able to achieve the competency level required to pass the module examination.

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M odule learning opportunity What is a learning opportunity?

A learning opportunity is a collection of activities aimed at achieving a specific outcome. A learning opportunity consists of: a title an unique identifier an outcome product definition a method definition

Title

The title is a short heading indicating the meaning and/or content of the learning opportunity.

Unique identifier

The learning opportunity‟s unique identifier enables the learner to locate the learning opportunity. The first part of the learning opportunity‟s identifier is the section of the Study Guide in which the learning opportunity appears. The second part is a unique combination of three letters. Learning opportunities are arranged alphabetically. The letter combination determines the alphabetical order. For example, LO SEC.A-HCW comes before LO SEC.A-POP in the Study Guide (Section A) of PYC1501. Note: LO is the abbreviation for the term „learning opportunity‟.

Outcome product definition

The outcome product definition of the learning opportunity has the following components: a description that indicates the expected outcome of the learning efforts a standard that indicates the minimum standards that the outcome product must comply with assessment criteria that indicate what the learner has to do to prove his/her competency with regard to the outcome product.

Method definition

The method definition indicates a way to achieve the outcome product. The method definition of a learning opportunity has the following components: one or more tasks, each consisting of one or more activities references to the resources required for the execution of the tasks.

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M odule outline The module consists of a number of learning opportunities. There are two kinds of learning opportunities, namely (1) the projects, which are concerned with the application of psychological knowledge, and (2) learning opportunities for exploring fundamental knowledge in psychology. The learning opportunities for application of psychological knowledge (projects) are provided in Study Guide (Sec.A), and those for exploring fundamental knowledge in psychology in Study Guide (Sec.B). You need resource material to execute the learning opportunities. The resource material is provided in the prescribed book (A-Z) and sometimes in the Study Guide.

Resource A-Z Application (Section A)

Knowledge (Section B)

Resource Material

Learning opportunity

Learning opportunity

Resource Material

Learning Opportunity

Learning opportunity

Resource Material

Learning opportunity

Learning opportunity

Resource Material

Learner

You always start with learning opportunities for application of psychological knowledge. In other words, you always begin with learning opportunities from the Study Guide Sec.A. These learning opportunities refer you to relevant resource material and also to learning opportunities in the Study Guide Sec.B for exploring the required resource material. The first learning opportunity you should study is learning opportunity SEC.A-HCW from the Study Guide. This learning opportunity shows you how the module works.

Begin your studies here

Learning opportunity

SEC.A-HCW In Study Guide

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P rescribed book Particulars of the prescribed book

You have to buy a textbook for this module. The name of the book is: A student’s A-Z of Psychology (2005) The authors are: K. Grieve , V. van Deventer & M. Mojapelo-Batka The publisher is: Juta, Cape Town The publication date is: 2005 A-Z is the abbreviation we use when we refer to the book A student’s A-Z of Psychology.

Important points to note

Please note the following: This book is essential for your studies. Without it, you will not succeed. This book is prescribed for another module in psychology, namely Psychology in Society (PYC1502). If you registered for this module first, you may already have the prescribed book. The University libraries do not provide prescribed books. Students have to buy their own prescribed books. If you experience difficulties in obtaining the prescribed book from the bookshops you may contact: Student Admissions and Registrations for assistance. This also applies to students in other countries.

You cannot pass this module without the prescribed book

The prescribed book is a very important component of your . You will not be able to pass the module without the prescribed book. Therefore you have to buy or order it from your nearest bookshop immediately. Sometimes students try to save money by not buying prescribed books. It is most unwise to pay so much to study at a university, and then not to get the books that you need. Books are the tools of the student. It is difficult to pass without them.

The book contains resource material

The prescribed book contains resource material in different sections that are arranged in alphabetical order according to the title of each section. The learning opportunities in Study Guide section A and section B tell you which sections you need to complete. Have a look at the - it explains how the prescribed text fits into your studies.

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S tudy guide What is the study guide?

The Study Guide (PYC1501) consists of two sections, namely section A and section B. Section A contains learning opportunities for the application of psychological knowledge. Section B contains learning opportunities for improving your fundamental knowledge of psychology. The prescribed book contains the resource material that you require to execute the learning opportunities.

Where do I begin?

You always begin with Section A. The learning opportunities in this section refer you to relevant resource material and to other learning opportunities for exploring the resource material. Have a look at the and the . This page suggests a programme that you can follow to study the material presented in this module.

Where do I get my study guide?

The tutorial letters are issued to you by the University. You have probably received the study guide already. This forms part of the material you receive at registration. Check that the study guide you received is for this module, namely “Only Study Guide for PYC1501” for Basic Psychology.

What if I did not receive my study guide?

If you have not received the Study Guide and /or tutorial letters or if you received the wrong tutorial letters you have to contact the University immediately. Correspondence about missing or incorrect study material should be addressed to the contact centre (tel 0861 670 411; international number is +27 11 670-9000, fax number 012 429-4150 or e-mail [email protected]).

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S tudy package 1.

A prescribed book The for this module is A student’s A-Z of Psychology by K. Grieve, S. van Deventer & M. Mojapelo-Batka. Please note that the prescribed book is not provided by the University. You have to buy the book from a bookstore as soon as possible. You will find a list of official booksellers in the booklet called my Studies @ Unisa.

2.

Study Guide and its sections You will receive the Study Guide (PYC1501) for Basic Psychology. SG

3.

CONTENT

Section A

Learning opportunities for the application of psychological knowledge

Section B

Learning opportunities for exploring topics in the field of psychology

Additional tutorial letters During the semester you will receive further . You will not receive the tutorial letters all at once. The first of these letters is the one you are reading now. It is called Tutorial Letter 101. You can identify each tutorial letter by its number. TL

CONTENT

101

General administrative information

102

Assessment information Assignment 01 Assignment 02 Assignment 03 A self-test to prepare for the examination

201

Assessment feedback Feedback on Assignment 01

202

Feedback on Assignment 02 Feedback on the examination self-test

Note: Assignment 03 does not have any feedback.

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S tudy programme Module name

Basic Psychology

Module code

PYC1501

A-Z

Prescribed book: A student’s A-Z of Psychology

SG

Study Guide

LO

Learning opportunity (provided in the Study Guide)

Learning Opportunity SEC.A-HCW

Task

Time (hours)

Learn how the course works

2

SEC.A-RIG

Learn to represent information in graphic form

8

SEC.A-CFS

Learn to chart a field of study

10

SEC.A-PPR

Learn to prepare a presentation

10

SEC.A-DPP

Learn to develop a psychological programme

20

SEC.A-DRP

Learn to provide an expert opinion

50

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T utorial letters The purpose of tutorial letters

Tutorial letters form part of your . The University uses tutorial letters to convey information to students.

This is how they work

The tutorial letter you are reading at the moment is called Tutorial Letter 101/ (date) for PYC1501. The date indicates the year in which the tutorial letter is issued. The number 101 needs a bit of explanation. There are different kinds of tutorial letters and these are numbered in different series. Tutorial letters numbered in the 100 series carry general information about a particular module. This is the kind of tutorial letter you are reading at the moment. As this is the first letter in the 100 series, it is called 101. There are also tutorial letters in the 200 series. The tutorial letters you can expect to receive for this module are listed on the page.

Read all tutorial letters - they are important

Tutorial letters contain important information about your studies. It is therefore, important to read all tutorial letters when you receive them, and to keep them in a safe place. This first tutorial letter (Tutorial Letter 101) contains valuable general information for this module. Keep this tutorial letter at hand - you will have to use it often. The other tutorial letters contain information about the course material, assignments, feedback and examination information.

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W ords of welcome Afrikaans

Welkom by die module, Basiese Sielkunde. Ons hoop jy sal dit geniet om die onderwerpe wat ons hier aanbied te bestudeer en ons hoop jy sal die inligting nuttig vind. Moet asseblief nie huiwer om ons te laat weet wat jou voor- en afkeure aangaande hierdie module is nie. Ons benodig jou inspraak ten einde die vakmateriaal wat ons studente aanbied te verbeter.

English

Welcome to the module in Basic Psychology. We hope you will enjoy studying the topics we offer here, and we hope you will find the information useful. Please do not hesitate to let us know what you like and what you do not like about this module. We need your input to improve the subject material we offer to our students.

Sepedi

O, amogetšwe go motšulo wo o bitšwago Basic Psychology. Re holofela gore o tla ipshina ka thuto ye gomme tsebo ye o tlogo e hwetša e tlo ba ya mohola. Hle se dikadike go re tsebiša seo o se ratago goba o sa se ratego ka ga motšulo wo. Re nyaka dikgopolo le dikabelo tša gago go re kgontšha go tšwetšapele dithuto tšeo re di neelago baithuti ba rena.

isiXhosa

Wamkelekile kwesi sifundo se Basic Psychology. Siyathemba ukuba uya kuzonwabela izihloko esifundisa ngazo apha, akwaba ungafumana uncedo kulwazi olulapha. Nceda usixelele ngalo lonke ixesha xa unengxaki ngesi sikhokelo. Siyathanda ukuva kuni maxa onke ukuze sihlale siziphucula izifundo zethu.

isiZulu

Wamukelekile kulesisifundo se Basic Psychology. Sethemba ukuthi uzozithokozela izinhloko esizokwethulela zona, futhi sethemba nokuthi uzothola ulwazi kulokhu okuqukethwe lapha. Ungangabazi-ke ukusazisa usitshele uma ngabe kukhona okukuhlabe umxhwele noma-ke ongakuthandi ngalesisifundo. Siyaludinga uvo kanye nemibono yakho ukuze sikwazi ukukhuphula izinga lalokho okuqukethwe yizifundo esizethulela abafundi bethu.

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