Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour. Students may be intimidated at first by the prospect of studying VCE Psychology, however excellent preparation and a solid understanding of what is expected of them will put students in good stead to succeed! Psychology at VCE level focuses on several aspects of the discipline, specifically: the relationship between genetics and environment, individual differences and group dynamics, sensory perception and awareness, learning and memory, and mental health. Across these areas, the study of the influence of biopsychosocial factors on psychological phenomena is key.

Since the development of certain science skills is fundamental to VCE Psychology across Units 1-4, students can best prepare at Year 10 level by: 

1. Becoming familiar with the process of formulating aims and testable hypotheses, as well as the different variables involved in scientific studies (such as independent and dependent variables)
2. Learning about the different types of investigations possible in Psychology and the features of such investigations at a broad, introductory level, including experiments and case studies
3. Understanding that there are numerous safety and ethical guidelines that govern the appropriate undertaking of psychological studies
4. Practise working individually and with others to collect, record and present quantitative data 
5. Becoming familiar with the structure of a scientific report, including the key elements of an abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion and conclusion  

Beginning to apply and develop these key skills at Year 10 will help students to feel confident heading into VCE Psychology.