This unit introduces how logical and critical thinking underpins the scientific method. I found the unit enjoyable and continue to find the learnings helpful in a practical sense. In consideration of the recent proliferation of conspiracy theories, I actually think this unit should be compulsory for anyone attending uni! Alex was a fantastic tutor who presented the material in a passionate and engaging manner.

This unit was a mix of challenging and easy. Alex has a round about way of speaking- his explanations don't always translate well when working out problems. As a cloud student I had access to online modules and the on campus lectures which was good. Seminars are run every two weeks which are mainly dedicated to the assessment. 50% assignment with 4 parts and 50% exam. Assignment consists of 4 quizzes- they are achievable but he certainly writes some trick questions. Also, marks are assigned for questions as a whole e.g. assignment part C has 6 questions worth 20 marks in total. One question might be worth 4 marks and you have to match 5 options to 5 hypotheses- you must get ALL 5 right to get 4 marks. If you score below 60% on your first attempt you can resubmit to achieve a max score of 60% (40% is deducted for resubmitting). Emily Kothe, the unit chair, is great and answers thoroughly to each discussion post, however she doesn't teach any of the content :(

Bit tedious but really helps with knowledge on preparation for experiments

A great building block for further study into research methods. This gives you a big overview of why we do research and what good research looks like. The lecturer that I had for my trimester (Alex) is very engaging and funny. Assignment is well designed and gives you a hands-on experience in creating a (hypothetical) research project. The exam was reasonable and as long as you understand the concepts, you'll do well.

Love the unit chair, very clear and easy to follow. Seminars were very interesting going over all the information (lot of concepts).

The unit had a lot in common with VCE Psychology, and I found it incredibly easy. The assignment was very easy and although I disagreed slightly with my feedback I was grateful that the staff took the time to give detailed critiques of all students' work. The exam was also incredibly easy and the staff were helpful right up until exam day.

I found this unit very challenging, but I feel like I got so much out of it and I'm glad I pushed through it! Alex is a great lecturer and he uses lots of examples to help to consolidate the lecture content. The exam and assignments were quite difficult, but were also very thought-provoking; unlike other units, HPS104 involves much more than the simple regurgitation of information.