In this course students will be asked to systematically examine the role of theory in the science of Psychology. It builds on the broader area of the Philosophy of Science. Students will seek to answer questions such as: What is theory? What are the critical features of theory development? Why is theory important for the scientific method? How does theory relate to the research enterprise in Psychology? How does psychological theory affect our evidence, and how does our evidence affect our theory? What is the relationship between psychology as a science and the broader society?
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Understand of the role of theory in psychology, and be able to recognise key concepts from lectures, readings, assignments and interactions with the stream convener, and peers;
- Apply theory in psychology to identify key conceptual features of honours-level research;
- Articulate different perspectives on the nature of scientific enquiry;
- Apply theory in psychology to analyse theory verification and falsification;
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Indicative Assessment
- Conceptual Debate (45) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Final Exam (55) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 12 x 3 hours lectures per semester (36 total hours).
- Approximately 94 hours of self-study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the School of Medicine and Psychology to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Please refer to the Learning Management System (LMS)
Assumed Knowledge
Students must be active in the Psychology Honours specialisation PSYC-HSPC and have completed the APAC-accredited undergraduate sequence.
You will need to contact the School of Medicine and Psychology to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 4B
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $4920 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $7020 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4107 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |