Oxford Psychology Study Design changes
Revised VCE Psychology Study Design 2017–2021 | Be confident with Oxford
In June 2017, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) released a number of amendments to the Study Design for Units 3 and 4 of VCE Psychology for immediate inclusion.
Victorian teachers and students felt the impact of these changes as they prepared for the 2017 psychology examination, which took place on 2 November.
We want to make it easy for teachers to teach, and students to learn, the VCE Psychology course with confidence, so we've fully updated Oxford Psychology VCE Units 3&4 for the revised study design.
VCAA amendments to the study design and updates to Oxford Psychology
Below is a summary of the amendments to the 2017–2021 Study Design for Units 3 and 4 of VCE Psychology and how they've been addressed in the updated edition of Oxford Psychology VCE Units 3&4.
| VCAA Amendments to the study design | Updates to Oxford Psychology |
|---|---|
| Unit 3 Area of Study 1 Nervous system functioning The term dopamine has replaced the term GABA in reference to Parkinson’s disease.* “The effects of chronic changes to the functioning of the nervous system due to interference to neurotransmitter function, illustrated by the role of dopamine in Parkinson’s disease.” |
We have removed references to GABA in relation to Parkinson’s disease and have emphasised the focus on dopamine. This was originally featured on pages 71–72 in the current edition. |
| Unit 3 Area of Study 2 Process of memory The spelling of ‘Shiffrin’ has been updated and a comma has been added to the key knowledge dot point. |
We have updated the spelling of Shiffrin to reflect the correction. |
| Unit 4 Area of Study 1 Effects of sleep disturbances and possible treatments A comma has been added to the key knowledge dot point. |
We have updated the text to include the comma that was added by VCAA. |
| Unit 4 Area of Study 1 Effects of sleep disturbances and possible treatments Narcolepsy as a dyssomnia and sleep apnoea as a parasomnia have been removed. |
We have removed narcolepsy and sleep apnoea from the text and have extended our explanation of sleep-onset insomnia and sleep walking. We have also corrected the spelling of ‘dyssomnia’. This was originally featured on pages 321–333 in the current edition. |
| Unit 4 Area of Study 2 Application of a biopsychosocial approach, as a scientific model, to explain specific phobia The term antagonist has been replaced with agonists. |
We have updated the text to reflect the change in word use. |
* Please note: The 2017 VCE Psychology examination will accept both GABA and dopamine in relation to Parkinson’s disease.
Based on feedback from teachers and on market comparisons, we have also updated pages 88–89 on the fight-flight-freeze response. Specifically, we have included more of an explanation of the role of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and how this affects the freeze response.
For more information, contact an Oxford Education Consultant.