Psychological science

These inherent requirements apply to the following courses: Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Graduate Entry).

Prospective and current students who are concerned about their capacities in relation to inherent requirements are strongly encouraged to contact the CDU Access and Inclusion team to discuss possible adjustments or alternative courses.

E: inclusion@cdu.edu.au

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information and the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council Standards (APAC, 2019).

There are eight domains of inherent requirements for Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Graduate Entry).

Each domain has five levels: 

1. Introduction
2. Description
3. Justification
4. Adjustments
5. Exemplars

Acting in ways consistent with the recognised values of society and avoiding activities that do harm.

In the context of inherent requirements, students undertaking a course of study may be governed by practice standards and codes of ethics.

1. Introduction
   Psychology is a profession governed by the codes, guidelines and policies of the Psychology Board of Australia where psychologists are deemed accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in, ethical behaviour in meeting course requirements.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Compliance with professional codes, workplace policies and standards helps to ensure that the students can engage with others in safe and effective interactions in a fair and equitable manner.  This supports the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of all.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that ethical behaviour and understanding of ethical principles is not comprised.
5. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that ethical behaviour and understanding of ethical principles is not comprised.
6. Exemplars:
   • Acting ethically in managing confidential or sensitive personal information
   • Engaging with others in a professional manner consistent with workplace and societal expectations, including on social media
   • Accepting responsibility for one’s decisions and actions
   • Demonstrating academic integrity in completing assessment tasks
   • Complying with codes and guidelines of ethical conduct of research. 

The maintenance of conduct that is acceptable and appropriate, according to the recognised norms of society over a given period.

1. Introduction
   Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in a demanding role.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment, which may at times be challenging and unpredictable.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Behavioural stability is required to work effectively as an individual and as part of a team.  Students will be challenged by study requirements, the material studied, and the views and behaviour of others.  They will be required to manage their own behaviour in responding to these challenges objectively and professionally.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and professional settings.
5. Exemplars:
   • Managing one’s own emotional state in order to work effectively as part of a team
   • Accepting constructive criticism in a way that allows reflection learning and skill development to occur
   • Managing one’s time in order to meet responsibilities to oneself and others in an ethical and professional manner
   • Seeking assistance from staff in a manner which appropriately recognises one’s responsibilities and capacities. 

Related to the law. In the context of inherent requirements, this refers to the legal requirements of professional bodies relevant to specific courses of study.

1. Introduction
   Professional psychology practice is mandated by legislation to enable the safe delivery of support.  Compliance with regulations is required in relation to curricular and work integrated learning experiences.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with relevant laws and professional regulations.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Knowledge of, and compliance with, regulatory requirements are a pre-requisite for any learning activities and professional practice in psychology in order to ensure the safety of oneself and others.  It is also necessary to have knowledge of, and comply with, University policies.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must be consistent with legal and regulatory requirements.
5. Exemplars:
   • Complying with requirements to obtain particular clearances
   • Completing all administrative processes necessary to complete educational activities
   • Completing mandatory training modules in a timely manner.

Verbal communication: Conveying messages, ideas, or feelings through speech.

1. Introduction
   Effective verbal communication, in English, is a fundamental requirement for the study of psychology. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • the ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   • the ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation and provide timely clear feedback and reporting.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The practice of psychology depends on effective verbal communication with clients and members of the professional team. Speed and accuracy of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments for impaired verbal communication must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy issues to ensure safety.
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in classroom discussions effectively and in a manner that respects other students and staff
   • Completing individual or group presentations in class
   • Accurately providing information to other group members in a timely manner.

Non-verbal communication: Communication other than speech that conveys meaning including gestures and facial expressions, body posture, stance, touch, eye movements, eye contact and distance from the person/s with whom you are communicating. Non-verbal cues can provide significant additional information to the person with whom you are communicating.

1. Introduction
   Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to the psychology profession and enhances the effectiveness of interpersonal interactions.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
   • Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   • Sensitivity to individual and cultural differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual and cultural differences demonstrates respect and empathy and permits the development of trusting relationships required to work with clients. and/or experimental participants.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the recognition, assessment, and initiation of an appropriate response to non-verbal cues as well as initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Recognising and responding appropriately to non-verbal cues in classroom situations
   • Monitoring and controlling own non-verbal communication to avoid displays of disrespect for other students and staff.

Written communication: Communication by written symbols including electronic means, print or handwriting.

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental psychology responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances
   • The capacity to use a range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to complete academic assessment requirements.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter. Accurate and effective written communication for a range of purposes and audiences is an important component in academic studies.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments for written communication impairments must not compromise the necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in academic settings.
5. Exemplars:
   • Constructing an essay to required academic standards
   • Accurately conveying technical and statistical information associated with psychological research, particularly in the form of a scientific report
   • Communicating the results of psychological research and psychological principles to a general audience
   • Using appropriate language to provide feedback to other students.

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through one's thoughts, experience, and senses.

Knowledge and cognitive skills: Acquired skills that reflect an individual's ability to think. Cognitive skills include verbal and spatial abilities, concentration, memory, perception, reasoning, planning and organisation, flexible thinking, and problem solving.

1. Introduction
   The ability to review academic literature, synthesise knowledge, analyse data, think critically about psychological concepts and phenomena are essential to the study of psychology.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • the capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
   • the ability to explain behaviours in terms of psychological concepts and processes
   • an understanding of the relationship between data and psychological theory
   • the capacity to understand and conduct appropriate statistical analyses.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   A sound knowledge of psychological principles is required  to apply them effectively in a professional context.  It includes the ability to recognise the limits of one’s knowledge and the ability to source appropriate knowledge.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
5. Exemplars:
   • Ability to apply appropriate conceptual understanding in response to an academic assessment.

Literacy (language): This relates to the ability to acquire, understand, and apply information in the English language in a scholarly manner.

1. Introduction
   Competent literacy skills, in English, are essential to develop and deliver professional, appropriate, and effective responses to academic assessment tasks.

2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:

   • The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages

   • The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information

   • The capacity to understand and implement academic and practice conventions to construct written text in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.

3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey ideas is fundamental to ensure the development of appropriate responses to academic assessment tasks. The ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental to ensure the development of appropriate and effective responses to academic assessment tasks.

4. Adjustments

   Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate information in English.

5. Exemplars:

   • Paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing in accordance with the American Psychological Association Publication Manual.

Numeracy: This relates to the ability to understand and work with numbers.

1. Introduction
   Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential to complete academic assessment tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply numerical data, measurement and numerical criteria.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in psychology to facilitate accurate and effective delivery of results when collecting and interpreting numerical data.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to manage and interpret numerical data accurately and effectively.
5. Exemplars:
   • Accurately interpreting psychological test results
   • Accurately gathering and interpreting data using specialist software 
   • Effectively communicating an understanding of statistical concepts and analyses.

Actively listening to someone express their thoughts, feelings or experiences and showing understanding by consciously responding through skills such as paraphrasing, summarising or mirroring.

1. Introduction
   Professional practice requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflection and reflexivity in order to consider the effect of one's own issues, actions, values and behaviours.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the ability to accurately reflect on their performance, and awareness of own responses to constructive criticism and feedback.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Working effectively with others is facilitated by the ability to notice, understand and effectively manage one's own reactions to situations that may arise.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the student to demonstrate an acceptable level of capacity in this area.
5. Exemplars:
   • Identifying one’s own response to the behaviour of other students when working in groups
   • Reflecting on feedback, comments and suggestions on assignments in a constructive manner that results in improved performance on later work.

Personal skills required to interact appropriately with others with the aim of building and maintaining healthy, productive relationships. Skills include empathy, trustworthiness, patience, active listening, approachability, and reliability.

1. Introduction
   The study of psychology requires the ability to make and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to engage and relate appropriately in classroom activities and group assessments
   • The ability to establish and maintain rapport with peers and academic staff
   • The ability to work effectively, sensitively and confidentially with a diverse range of people and in a diverse range of contexts.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Highly developed relational skills are a cornerstone of effective therapeutic relationships that permit effective engagement, assessment, intervention and closure. Academic and professional activities that involve working with other people benefit from the establishment of clear, respectful relationships and the development of trust.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the student to demonstrate effective relational skills.
5. Exemplars:
   • Relating effectively, openly and sensitively to academic staff and other students
   • Demonstrating sensitivity to others personal and cultural values in class discussions.

The ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined length of time. This could include cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

1. Introduction
   Both academic performance and professional psychology practice require mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual and group needs.

2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:

   • An ability to consistently complete tasks in a timely manner within a specified period of time

   • The ability to plan and manage competing demands from multiple tasks

   • The capacity to focus on details and accurately meet the requirements of a task.

3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient energy and mental endurance is an essential requirement for effective therapeutic practice which requires concentration on the activity during an assigned period to provide effective support. The ability to manage commitments and devote sufficient time to academic activities over a sustained period is necessary to perform effectively in an academic setting.

4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the demonstration of performance that is consistent and sustained over a given period.

5. Exemplars:

   • Attending and participating in educational settings, such as tutorials and lectures

   • Completing assessments in a manner that does not compromise the academic integrity of the assessment

   • Sustained effort to perform relevant tasks over a prolonged or negotiated time period.