NZQA registered unit standard
27694 version 1
Page 1 of 3
Title
Evaluate the use of different approaches in the context of a debate
within psychology
Level
3
Credits
6
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to evaluate the
use of different approaches in the context of a debate within
psychology.
Classification
Social Science Studies > Psychology
Available grade
Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit
The evaluation generates a reasoned position on the debate
which includes:
 a comparison of points from at least two approaches
relevant to the debate in terms of their similarities and
differences;
 the strength and importance of the points;
 consideration of the approaches on the basis of research;
 consideration of the points from the theoretical basis in
which the approach is grounded;
 stating a position on the debate, supported by reasons.
Criteria for Excellence
The evaluation generates a justified position on the debate
which includes:
 discussion of the relative contribution of different
approaches to the debate being addressed;
 consideration of the relative strength of supporting
arguments;
 stating a position on the debate, justified by research
evidence.
Explanatory notes
1
Definitions
Approaches refers to various principles underlying different perspectives used in
psychology to investigate mental processes and behaviour.
Behaviour may include the mental processes that produce the observed behaviour.
Debate within psychology refers to the key debates underlying different approaches
to mental processes and behaviour such as freedom versus determinism,
reductionism versus holism, nature versus nurture, idiographic versus nomothetic,
the scientific status of psychology.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27694 version 1
Page 2 of 3
Points are the ideas that sit within an approach e.g. the idea of modifying behaviour
through environmental controls indicated in behaviourism.
2
This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade. For
the Achieved grade to be awarded, all outcomes must be achieved as specified in
the outcome statement(s). For Merit or Excellence grades to be awarded, the
candidate must meet the Merit or Excellence criteria specified above.
3
Teachers will provide a range of selected studies relating to a psychological setting
and/or from academic research. These may include summaries or extracts of
psychological research.
4
Outcome of the evaluation can be conveyed using written, oral, or audio-visual
presentation in response to a given assignment.
5
Teaching and learning guidelines that inform psychology as it is taught in
Aotearoa/New Zealand schools can be found at
http://seniorsecondary.tki.org.nz/Social-sciences/Psychology. Assessment support
material for these standards can be found at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz.
6
Information on psychology as it is practiced in Aotearoa/New Zealand is available
from the New Zealand Psychological Society, http://www.psychology.org.nz.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Evaluate the use of different approaches in the context of a debate within psychology.
Range
approaches include but are not limited to – behavioural, biological, cognitive,
evolutionary, humanistic, psychodynamic and socio-cultural;
a minimum of two different approaches are required.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The evaluation considers points relevant to the different approaches, with
reference to supporting research, in terms of their contribution to the debate
within psychology and states a position on the debate.
Replacement information
This unit standard and unit standard 27697 replaced unit
standard 20649 and unit standard 20650.
Planned review date
31 December 2016
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27694 version 1
Page 3 of 3
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
27 June 2012
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0226
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016