Psychological Literacy

Question 1

How many psychology graduates go on to further education?

Answer 1

25% of psych graduates

Question 2

What should your placement experience be helpful in terms of:

Answer 2

• networks
• employability

Question 3

What do employers most want?

Answer 3

• interpersonal and communication skills
• cultural alignment / values fit
• emotional intelligence
• reasoning and problem solving skills

i.e. soft skills were rated as more critical by employers

Question 4

What were the biggest ‘turn offs’ by employers

Answer 4

Arrogance
poor oral communication
poor communication
poor cultural fit
unwillingness to learn

Question 5

What are some important graduate attributes?

Answer 5

• communication skills
• people skill + emotional intelligence
• teamwork
• problem solving
• ability to negotiate
• being well organised
• motivation and perseverance
• works well under pressure
• confidence
• leadership
• understands core business of employer

Question 6

What is scientific literacy?

Answer 6

The capacity to apply your skills and knowledge to everyday life and the workplace

–> the ability to engage with science-related issues, and the ideas of science, as a reflective citizen

important for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, economic productivity

Question 7

What can a scientifically literate person do?

Answer 7

• evaluate quality of scientific information
• pose and evaluate arguments based on evidence
• understand science relevant to environmental and social issues
• make informed decisions about social and environmental issues
• communicate clearly about science
• read with understanding and interpret articles about science
• ability to describe, explain and predict natural phenomena
• ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences
• identify scientific issues underlying world / national issues

Question 8

What is psychological literacy?

Answer 8

Coined by Borneau
asked 250 authors of textbooks

• not just knowing, but using your knowledge to do something (adaptive use of knowledge)
• the ethical code of conduct applying to everyday of your life
• understanding scientific research practices
• applying psychological principles to personal, social or organisational problems
• acting ethically
• communicating well
• cultural competence and respecting diversity

Question 9

What are heuristics?

Answer 9

It is easier for people to use heuristics and shortcuts (intuition) to make answers, but it pays off to spend more time.

We often make decisions about people based off those small number of cues