I have taught subjects at various levels (undergraduate and graduate) with various class sizes (ranging from 3 to 190 students) across different modes of delivery (face-to-face, online, and blended). In general, I adopt the student-centered, constructivist perspective of learning, which suggests that students come to class with prior knowledge and the role of the teacher is to facilitate the acquisition of new information and the integration of those information with prior knowledge.
Undergraduate Subjects
Exploring Psychology 1
This subject provides a general introduction to the theoretical and methodological foundations of psychological science and its applications. Drawing upon contemporary research, the subject will explore the ‘how and why’ behind mental processes and behaviour. Students will explore these issues in key sub-discipline areas of psychological science such as neurobiology, learning, memory, lifespan development, health, motivation and emotion, and culture. In order to gain a comprehensive appreciation of the content and methodology of psychology as a whole, students are strongly encouraged to also enrol in Exploring Psychology 2.
Critical Thinking in Psychology
It is acknowledged that training in research methodology is training in the practice of turning data into information into knowledge. This subject aims to be the first step on that journey- how do you evaluate the validity of data and information? Students will be introduced to the practice of critical thinking by applying different research methodologies to scenarios drawn from current scientific, political and social discussions.
Behavioural Neuroscience
Behavioural Neuroscience is the discipline that helps us to understand how neural mechanisms play a role in our behaviour and pathology, such as sleep and learning. This helps us to better understand behaviour and pathology, which can assist with improving certain behaviours, including our own. For those interested in clinical psychology, this means that you will have an introductory understanding of which neural mechanisms that may be driving clients’ symptoms and behaviour as well as how certain treatments targeting the nervous system influence behaviour. In this subject you will learn about the nervous system and its interplay with behaviour, as well as the different research methods used in behavioural neuroscience, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Conducting and Interpreting Non-Experimental Studies in Psychology
In this subject, students will learn about research methods and data analysis techniques commonly associated with nonexperimental research and quasiexperimental research. The research methods covered will include survey research, observational research, and single-case research. Students will learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the different research methods and the steps that can be taken to assess the reliability and validity of research utilising them. The data analysis techniques covered will include multiple linear regression, logistic regression, and factor analysis. Students will be given a conceptual overview of the data analysis techniques, be taught how to interpret statistical output associated with them and learn how to report the findings from analyses involving them.
Graduate Subjects
Social and Organisational Psychology
Social psychology is concerned with the influence of social others on individual thought, feeling, and behaviour; as well as the psychological processes that govern interactions between individuals and groups. Employer organisations, as well as the teams and departments that comprise them, are among the most the most important sources of social influence and interaction for individuals of working age. This subject provides an introduction to key theories, findings, and areas of research in both social and organisational psychology, highlighting synergies between these closely related disciplines and emphasising the value of applying this knowledge to working and professional practice. The subject also adopts a contextualised and culturally sensitive approach, highlighting cultural influence on social and organisational processes while placing a particular emphasis on the East and Southeast Asian context.
Major Project
In this subject, students will plan and execute a substantial research-based piece of scholarship and will present the scholarly output orally and in a written report. At the conclusion of the subject, students will have developed their skills in critiquing relevant literature to plan relevant research questions, to execute the design of a research-based project to address an industry-specific issue, and to convey the project via oral and written communications. Each student will independently undertake a review of the relevant scientific literature, formulate a research question or questions, design an appropriate rigorous scientific method for investigating the question(s), and execute the piece of scholarship. The scholarly output will incorporate a critical review of the literature, and execution of the project will be based on the design of one of the following: a program or service evaluation study; a study based on experimental single case design; a systematic review or meta-analysis; a qualitative or quantitative study using primary or secondary data analyses, or a traditional empirical research project.