Why?
• Introduces Psychology as a science• To engage students to choose Psychology in
year 11• Gives students the
opportunity to do a scaled down investigation.
Where?
How to fit psychology into a crowded year 10 curriculum?
1st Semester topics: Biology: GeneticsChemistry: FuelsPhysics: Road Science
Perception
Perception is the way people interpret and organise information from the world around them.
Year 10 MYP Science
Factors Influencing Visual Perception
Factors in the Target:coloursize.background.proximity. motion. shape.
Year 10 MYP Science
Attention
DefinitionAttention is the cognitive process of
selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things.
Related Concepts:AlertnessConcentrationSelectivity
Year 10 MYP Science
Divided Attention
Dual task experiments Get people to perform multiple
tasks and look at the effects on performance
Performance suffers, this shows limitations and nature of the human information-processing system
-the ability to divide our attentional processing between more than one task.
Year 10 MYP Science
Attention while driving
List all the things you may need to attend to while driving in a car.
Describe 3 things that may enhance your focus while driving
Year 10 MYP Science
Dual Task Performance
Divided attention is difficult when:Tasks are similarTasks are difficultWhen both tasks require conscious attention
Divided attention is easier when:Tasks are dissimilarTasks are simpleWhen at least one of the tasks does not
require conscious attentionTasks are practiced
Year 10 MYP Science
Different Processes
Some tasks are easier to perform than others and don’t seem to affect attentionEspecially tasks that are well practiced
Other tasks are tedious and require our conscious attention (white line fever)
Year 10 MYP Science
Cuing Attention
Give people a cue where a target will appear in the visual field
Manipulate the kind of cue Valid Cue Neutral Cue Invalid Cue
How does cue affect performance?
Year 10 MYP Science
Formative Practical
• Stroop Test
Control Test Differently Coloured Words0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
Stroop Test Results
Class Averagemy results
Tim
e (s
)
Summative Practical
• Divided attention affects Reaction Time.
Control Distracted 0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
Reaction Time Results
EllieGroup
Participants
Tim
e (s
ecs)
2nd Semester Subject Medical Science
Topics include
Biomedical DevicesCardiovascular MedicineSkeletal MedicineLife Support, Pulmonary SystemNon-invasive and Minimally Invasive Techniques
Major Concept
• The mind can strongly affect physical health and by understanding how we can influence our thought processes we can improve our physical and mental health.
Tasks in Positive Psychology
Students• apply the scientific method to psychology
investigations.• critically analyse a survey• construct their own survey. • take a survey to determine their Personal
Character Virtues.• write a gratitude letter.• examine unhelpful thinking styles.
Practical
Looks at how deep breathing can decrease stress levels.
Control Group Deep Breathing10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
Tense Arousal