Oxford VCE Psychology Units 3 & 4 is the Psychology series developed for Victorian students. Written by a peerless author team providing unparalleled expertise and authority, Oxford Psychology is your complete Psychology solution to student success.

The author team has provided a strong emphasis on assessment, covering all requirements in the Study Design including accurate weighting of marks and exam-style questions. Written from the perspective of an examiner, the content covers all students need to succeed in VCE Psychology.

Developed with the expert assistance of Monash University, the Mental Health chapters have the authority and accuracy to inspire confidence. Research and Ethics is a critical part of the Study Design, and each Area Of Study has dedicated sections focusing on well-known research. The authors, Oxford University Press and Monash University will provide professional development to support you.

Contact your Oxford Representative for details of our ongoing Professional Support programme for VCE Psychology.


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Oxford VCE Psychology Units 3 & 4 has been developed to match the VCE Units 3 & 4 Study Design.

• Chapter overviews clearly explain what the chapter is about and what students need to understand.
• Investigate boxes enable students to meet the assessment task demands of the Study Design. These include research investigations, annotated folios, media responses, oral presentations using data types, visual presentations, debates, data analysis, research evaluation and essays.
• Review questions ensure students understand each topic thoroughly.
• Chapter summaries include essential exam knowledge and key terms, theorists, key ideas and research methods.
• Test your understanding and extended response questions provide solid chapter revision and mark allocations indicate exam weighting.
• Tests at the end of each Area of Study cover all chapters.
• Research and ethics spreads address this important aspect of the course.
• Each student text accompanied by an interactive ebook

Introduction - to the student
1. Research methods in psychology
Report writing for VCE

Unit 3: The Conscious Self
Area of Study 1: Mind, Brain and Body

Introduction to AOS 1
2. Consciousness as a psychological construct
3. Normal waking consciousness and altered states of consciousness
4. Methods of studying consciousness
5. Sleep
6. Sleep deprivation
7. The interaction between cognitive processes of the brain and its structure
8. Studies of cognitive processes
9. Processes and procedures in brain research
Research methods and ethics in brain research
Assessment activities

Area of Study 2: Memory

Introduction to AOS 2
10. Comparison of models for explaining memory
11. Mechanism of memory formation
12. Memory: strength and limitations of psychological theories of forgetting
13. Manipulation and improvement of memory
Research methods and ethics
Assessment activities

Unit 4: Brain, Behaviour and Experience
Area of Study 1: Learning

Introduction to AOS 1
14. Mechanisms of learning
15. Classical conditioning
16. Operant conditioning
17. Observational learning
Research methods and ethics in brain research
Assessment activities

Area of Study 2: Mental Health

Introduction to AOS 2
18. Diagnosing mental disorders
19. Stress and physical well-being
20. Phobias: an example of an anxiety disorder
21. Mental Health
Research methods and ethics associated with the study of memory
Assessment activities

The Oxford Psychology writing team combines the practical experience of classroom teachers with the authority of Victoria’s leading psychology educators. Each author shares a commitment to the discipline and a genuine desire for students to be successful.

Roger Edwards has been Chief Assessor of VCE Psychology for the last 14 years. Roger is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and a psychologist in private practice. He is currently chairing the panel that is designing the sample paper for the new VCAA Study Design.

Elizabeth Blaher-Lucas is undertaking full-time postgraduate studies in Psychology this year while on leave from Mentone Grammar where she taught VCE Psychology. She is currently an assessor of VCE Psychology.

Karen Marangio has been involved with the VCAA examination panel for the last 10 years, with a large portion of that time as Panel Chair and on the assessment panel as Assistant Chief Assessor. Karen was also a member of the panel that developed the new Study Design. She currently works in the Melbourne School of Education at University of Melbourne, which includes teaching Psychology Learning Area, and her research interests include the progression of student learning of psychology and developing pedagogy of pre-service teachers. Karen has extensive experience of teaching psychology in secondary schools.

Vicki Moore taught senior humanities and psychology for 20 years at St Catherine’s School. She has also been Psychology Methods Lecturer at Monash University, and a VCE Psychology assessor. She has a Masters of Psychology, is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society and a psychologist in private practice.

Fiona Ganino-Day currently teaches VCE Psychology at St Catherine’s School. She has taught VCE Psychology and been a VCAA assessor for 14 years.

Oxford University Press and the Krongold Centre, Monash University, have worked closely to ensure that the Oxford Psychology series reflects the latest in Australian and international research. The Krongold Centre’s role has included reviewing all aspects of the student text to ensure accuracy. Together, the Krongold Centre and Oxford University Press will provide ongoing support to teachers of Psychology with special teacher conferences and events.

Oxford VCE Psychology Units 3 and 4 is supported by a broad range of teacher support resources. These resources are provided at no cost to schools that booklist or purchase class sets of Oxford VCE Psychology Units 3 and 4. These teacher resources include:

• Answers to all questions sets
• Answers to all test questions
• Teaching note for each chapter
• Practice SACs
• Practice Exams
• Media links
• Student worksheets and teacher notes

Passwords for teacher resources can be obtained from your Oxford Sales representatives

Weblinks

Chapter 5: Sleep