Overview

The overarching aim of this unit is to provide students with an introduction to the theories, models, and research related to the field of forensic psychology. Students will gain skills, knowledge and the ability to analyse human behaviour as it occurs within the forensic context. Specifically, this unit aims to introduce students to fundamental principles involved in research and practice within Forensic Psychology. Students are introduced to the structure of the criminal justice system in Australia and in other countries.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Describe the structure of the criminal justice system in Australia and internationally
  • Understand the principles of interviewing suspects and witnesses used by the police, by psychologists and in the courtroom and other forms of eyewitness testimony
  • Outline the strategies used in deception and detecting lies
  • Describe the process of risk assessment for violence and re-offending
  • Explain how crime is defined and measured and describe the different perspectives in criminology
  • Understand the developmental risk factors related to criminal behaviour

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various		4.00 12 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		5.50 12 weeks 66
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class		1.00 12 weeks 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		11.50 12 weeks 138
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 40% 3,4 
ExaminationIndividual 40% 4,5,6 
Mid-Semester TestIndividual 20% 1,2,6 

Content

  • A comparative analysis of the Australian criminal justice system
  • Theoretical perspectives in criminology (psychological, sociological, psychiatric)
  • Defining and measuring crime (the uniform crime reporting system)
  • Interviewing and detection of deception techniques
  • Research methods in forensic psychology
  • Risk assessment
  • Eyewitness testimony and false memories
  • Developmental risk factors for criminal behaviour, social risk factors, parental and family risk factors, and psychological risk factors

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.