This course will survey the major areas of psychology and law, including (but not limited to) psychology of forensic science, lie detection, interrogations and confessions, eyewitness memory, jury decision making, mental health law, and the psychology of specific types of criminal offenders. Information provided via lectures, videos, articles, and the text will provide the student with a broad understanding of the impact that psychology can have on any one individual within the criminal justice system, as well as the impact that psychology can have on the legal system itself. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe key concepts in psychology and the law and the theories and the methods used to address these.
2. Identify and describe major psychological terms and concepts in forensic science.
3. Describe the various ways that psychological research can inform the legal system.
4. Think critically about the interactive relationship between psychology and the law.
5. Think critically about current research and topics in psychology and the law.

Research-Led Teaching

The lectures in this course will draw from contemporary research in the fields of forensic psychology and the law. Students will be presented with key experimental and other research findings within lectures to demonstrate applied and theoretical aspects of psychology and the law, including (but not limited to) psychology of forensic science, lie detection, interrogations and confessions, eyewitness memory, jury decision making and responses to crime. Where relevant, key research interests of members of the School of Medicine and Psychology at the ANU will be highlighted. 

Field Trips

NA

Additional Course Costs

NA

Examination Material or equipment

Permitted materials - Unannotated paper-based dictionary- for candidates with written approval from the School.

Required Resources

Ability to attend in-person laboratory classes, listen to pre-recorded lectures and participate in live discussions (access to the internet is essential). Note. Live discussions during the lecture slot will be recorded and posted on Wattle.

The designated textbook for this course is:

Costanzo, M. & Krauss, D. (2021). Forensic and legal psychology: Psychological science applied to the law. 4th Edition. New York: Worth Publishers.

Additional required readings associated with each of the lectures will be clearly outlined and be made available on Wattle.

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings
• home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to Forensic Psychology and the Law
2	Interrogations and Confessions
3	Lie Detection and Alibis	Lab 1 - Introduction
4	Forensic Evidence	Lab 2+ Quiz
5	Eyewitness Memory
6	Memory for Traumatic Events	Lab 3 + Quiz, Written Assignment Due
7	Spotlight: Children in the Criminal Justice System
8	Jury Decision Making	Lab 4 + Quiz
9	Responses to Crime I
10	Responses to Crime II	Lab 5 + Quiz
11	Courtroom dynamics: From architecture to seating arrangements
12	Spotlight: Where to next?	Lab 6 + Quiz. Last week review.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities/labs/tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage."

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Laboratory Quizzes	20 %	*	*	1,2,3,4
Written Assignment	30 %	29/08/2024	*	1,3,4,5
End of Semester Final Exam	50 %	31/10/2024	28/11/2024	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

We will deliver course content via a combination of pre-recorded online lectures and live online discussions. Each week, we will present a pre-recorded online lecture on Wattle which will be followed by a live review/discussion with the course convenor/lecturer at the scheduled lecture time. The live discussion will be recorded and will last for the approximately 60 minutes of the lecture time. During these live discussions, you will have the chance to ask questions and review key points of the lecture content.

For example:

Pre-recorded Lecture 1: Posted on Wattle on the Monday. Watch this whenever you like, but prior to the live discussion.

Live Discussion: Timetabled Online Lecture 1

In-person laboratory attendance includes participating in the in-person/on campus laboratory classes and interacting with other students (both interpersonally and with the laboratory class as a whole). In-person participation in laboratories/practical's is crucial to successful completion of your course. The School of Medicine and Psychology considers the laboratory/practical components to be an integral part of each course. Laboratory/practical classes may supplement and consolidate material covered in lectures and/or they may introduce entirely new material pertinent to the objectives of the course.

Examination(s)

The final examination for this course will be administered in-person during the semester 2 final examination period. Students must be on campus to attend the exam.

Information about the scheduling of the examination will be posted by the University at http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable

The final examination is a hurdle requirement. A Pass mark (50% or greater) is required in the final examination before the course can be passed as a whole.

Those failing to achieve this, but who otherwise have an overall grade of 45% or better, will be offered the opportunity to sit, and pass, a further (supplementary) invigilated examination.

Students achieving a passing grade (50% or better) in that supplementary invigilated examination will be eligible to pass the course overall, but their final recorded course mark will be 50%. 

Assessment Task 1

Laboratory Quizzes

There are a total of 5 and your best 4 will be taken to calculate your total out of 20%

In each laboratory class (except Lab 1) there will be a quiz. These quizzes will help you to keep up to date with the coursework and track your progress throughout the semester. They will also act as exam preparation. You can also use the quizzes as guidance for reviewing specific concepts before the exam.

You will receive feedback on each quiz in the following lab, and feedback for quiz 5 will be posted on Wattle.

Value: 20%

Due Date: For each quiz will be available on the course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 2

Written Assignment

You will view a video of a forensic interview and identify features of the interview that are consistent with the Reid technique for interviewing suspects. You will then draw on empirical research to critique the use of these interview approaches. Finally, you will develop your own interview structure based on empirically derived approaches for high quality forensic interviews.

Additional details for the written assignment will be posted on Wattle. Word limit = 1500.

Value: 30%

Due Date: 29/08/24

Assessment Task 3

End of Semester Final Exam

This exam will be held during the final exam period. The final exam will assess content covered in lectures, readings and labs for the entirety of the semester. The exam format will consist of multi-choice and short essay style questions.

The format and procedures for the exam will be outlined in detail on Wattle.

Value: 50% of your final grade

Information about the scheduling of the examination will be posted by the University at http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable

The final examination is a hurdle requirement. A Pass mark (50% or greater) is required in the final examination before the course can be passed as a whole.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment/final exam. Please keep a copy of the assignment/exam for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof.

Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Assignments that have been submitted on time will be marked and available from the Turnitin link on Wattle, approximately 3 weeks after the due date. The exact return date will be posted on Wattle.

Late assignments (even those with formal extensions) will not be marked within this timeframe; our priority will be to mark the assignments that were handed in on time. We will aim to get the late assignments back before the end of semester. Marking of the late reports will commence once all on-time assignments have been marked and returned.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission is not permitted.

Re-marking

From the time, your assignment is available on Wattle; you have 10 working days in which to request a formal re-mark.

1. If you have any questions about the assessment of a submitted piece of work, or wish to have some of the comments clarified, email your questions to the course functional email account, this is on Wattle.
2. If you think, your assignment deserves a higher mark:  It is your responsibility to outline in writing why, in your opinion, the original mark does not reflect the true worth of the work.  Submit your request by email to the functional email account.
3. If the Course Convener agrees to a remark of your work, and as a result, the mark is altered, and you accept this change, then the procedure ends, and you will not be eligible for any further re-marking of this work.
4. If you remain unhappy with the outcome, you can formally request a re-mark by an independent marker by sending your request to the functional email account for this course. 
5. The mark awarded by the independent marker for your assessment will become your final mark regardless, if it is higher, lower or the same as your original mark.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students