Theories of Personality Psychology

Welcome to PSYC A319 Theories of Personality Psychology! This is a two-semester, ten-credit higher-level core course in the Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Psychological Studies (BSSCHPS). You are advised to have completed either PSYC A212 or PSYC A212C before taking this course.

PSYC A319 is delivered using a custom textbook, supplemented by a Study Guide, online multimedia components and face-to-face sessions.

Course aims

This course aims to introduce you to the scientific study of personality in psychology. It covers the major theoretical explanations for the making and development of personality, various investigation and measurement strategies, and the current issues in the field. During the course, you will be required to apply the theories you have learned, and evaluate them critically.

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of PSYC A319 Theories of Personality Psychology, you should be able to:

• examine critically the major theoretical explanations for the making and development of personality;
• identify and evaluate analytically the various investigation and measurement strategies in personality psychology;
• synthesize perceptively the influences on personality as well as situational forces on individual differences; and
• analyse the issues under debate in the study of personality.

In this custom textbook approach, different learning modules have been carefully selected by the course team from two textbooks on personality psychology and organized into three volumes specifically designed for PSYC A319 students. By incorporating the latest editions of book chapters, exercises and self-tests, the custom textbook will provide you with comprehensive coverage of the major theoretical perspectives and research methodology in personality psychology.

In addition to the custom textbook, you will be working through the course using an HKMU-produced Study Guide. The Study Guide leads you along your study pathway unit by unit, providing commentary on each textbook chapter and supplementary self-learning and self-assessment opportunities.

The third main point of reference for learning resources during the course is HKMU's Online Learning Environment (OLE). There, you will have access to multimedia materials such as the introductory video, and you will be able to discuss topics with other students and your tutor on the course discussion board. This course is further supported by regular face-to-face meetings in the form of tutorials and day schools.

To start off, you should watch the introductory video for the course that you can find on the OLE. Then turn to the Study Guide for further guidance through the course.

The custom textbook

The title of the custom textbook is PSYC A319 Theories of Personality Psychology. The chapters are selected from the following textbooks:

• Friedman, H. S., & Schustack, M. W. (2014). Personality: Classic theories and modern research (5th ed.). England: Pearson.
• Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (2014). Perspectives on personality (7th ed.). England: Pearson.

The Study Guide will indicate at which point you should read each chapter of the custom textbook.

The Study Guide

The Study Guide sets out your study pathway through the custom textbook and other course learning resources. It serves several functions. First, as no textbook is able to cover all aspects of personality psychology perfectly, the study guide will fill in the gaps where necessary. Second, it serves as a guide to the textbook chapters, helping you to organize major ideas with tools like tables and diagrams. Third, it contains activities and self-tests to facilitate your learning and revision. You'll therefore need to keep it by your side as you work through the course.

The Study Guide is divided into ten units. The titles of the units and the custom textbook chapters they will cover are set out in the following table.

E-Library E-Reserve readings

In the Study Guide, you may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the University's E-Library homepage and click on 'E-Reserve'. Log in, click 'Accept/Agree' on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the 'Course Code' box, and click 'Search'. Alternatively, you may access the readings via a hyperlink in the online course materials.

The Online Learning Environment (OLE)

A dedicated area for PSYC A319 students has been set up in HKMU's OLE. You will need to log on regularly to the OLE to access the course discussion board and online learning components.

Face-to-face support

You will be supported throughout the course by regular face-to-face meetings in the form of tutorials and day schools. Basically, every unit will be covered by a tutorial whilst three day schools will be arranged around the beginning, middle and end of the course. Details of the dates and times of these sessions can be found in the Course Schedules page of the OLE.

Assessment

This course is designed to assist you in moving easily from the stated objectives, through the study units, readings and materials to the assignments and examination. During the course, you will have your progress assessed both formally and informally.

Formative assessment includes various activities and self-tests that you will undertake while working your way through the study units, textbook and  readings.

Summative assessment consists of assignments and a final examination.

Assessment summary

The summative assessment items are outlined in the following table.

Assignments

It is compulsory to complete at least four out of the five assignments for this course. You will be expected to apply concepts and techniques acquired during the course when completing assignments.

• Assignment 1, worth 15%, evaluates material covered in Units 1 and/or 2.
• Assignment 2, worth 15%, evaluates material covered in Units 3 and/or 4 and/or 5.
• Assignment 3, worth 15%, evaluates material covered in Units 5 and/or 6 and/or 7.
• Assignment 4, worth 15%, evaluates material covered in Units 7 and/or 8 and/or 9.
• Assignment 5, worth 15%, evaluates material covered in Units 8 and/or 9 and/or 10.

You will be graded on the four best scores of the five assignments (i.e. 4 × 15% = 60%)

How to Submit Assignments

You must use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) to prepare the assignments. The Assignment File gives you details on how to present and submit your assignments. Please refer to the OLE Assignments → General Information section. Please also read the Student Handbook for HKMU's policy on late assignments. Assignments must reach your tutor by the due date shown on the presentation schedule (available on the OLE). If, for some good reason, you are unable to submit your assignment on time, you should, before the due date, ask your tutor or course coordinator for permission to submit it late. In general, you are expected to submit your assignments via the OLE. Assignments will be returned to you, marked and with commentary, as soon as possible.

Examination

The final examination for PSYC A319 Theories of Personality Psychology will be of three hours' duration and has a value of 40% of the total course grade. The examination will consist of questions that reflect the types of practice exercises and assignments you will have previously experienced, covering Units 1 to 10.

The following table gives a general overview of the course structure. It suggests the amount of time you should allow for completing units and provides a broad schedule for you to plan your work. This estimation includes time for reading the units and custom textbook, completing activities, self-tests, assignments and attending lectures and tutorials.

PSYC A319 provides you with a critical understanding of personality from different theoretical perspectives ranging from classical psychoanalytic theory to the contemporary interactionist view. It also discusses the basic assumptions about human nature, research strategies and application issues essential for the study of personality. You should then be able to achieve the intended learning outcomes through guided deliberation, feedback on coursework and assessment.