Skills

Psychology 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations

10 weeks · 3 milestones

How disorders are described and researched. No diagnosis, no treatment advice. Course 11 of the Varsity Curriculum: Psychology. Free sources only. Foundations only. Not a clinical or counselling qualification.

Part of: Psychology · Proves for: UG

Milestone map

3 milestones

Describe how disorders are classified

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Read OpenStax chapter 15 and the Noba module on the history of mental illness. Self-check: chapter 15 review questions. Then make a cited overview of how disorders are classified and how that has changed, describing categories only (never diagnosing anyone).

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a cited overview of how disorders are classified and how that has changed, describing categories only (never diagnosing anyone), with every source cited.

What gets checked

It describes; it never diagnoses or advises treatment.
Changes over time are cited.
Criticisms of classification are named.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A cited overview of how disorders are classified and how that has changed, describing categories only (never diagnosing anyone).

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

It describes; it never diagnoses or advises treatment.
Changes over time are cited.
Criticisms of classification are named.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Read the research on one disorder

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Pick one disorder from OpenStax chapter 15 and read two open-access studies on it. Self-check: chapter 15 review questions. Then make a research summary of one disorder: what is known about prevalence and causes, how strong the evidence is, and what is unknown.

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a research summary of one disorder: what is known about prevalence and causes, how strong the evidence is, and what is unknown, with every source cited.

What gets checked

Evidence strength is judged for each claim.
No diagnosis or treatment advice is given.
Sources are open and cited.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A research summary of one disorder: what is known about prevalence and causes, how strong the evidence is, and what is unknown.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Evidence strength is judged for each claim.
No diagnosis or treatment advice is given.
Sources are open and cited.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Present the evidence, not advice

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Use your research summary from the last unit. Self-check: chapter 15 review questions. Then make a 5-minute talk on the research into one disorder, ending with where to find professional help (no advice of your own).

Proof required

Name the people who heard a 5-minute talk on the research into one disorder, ending with where to find professional help (no advice of your own) and add the slides and the recording or their written questions.

What gets checked

It stays descriptive and research-based.
It points to professional help, not self-help advice.
Questions are answered carefully.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A 5-minute talk on the research into one disorder, ending with where to find professional help (no advice of your own).

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

It stays descriptive and research-based.
It points to professional help, not self-help advice.
Questions are answered carefully.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Psychology 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

3 milestones

Describe how disorders are classified

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a cited overview of how disorders are classified and how that has changed, describing categories only (never diagnosing anyone), with every source cited.

What gets checked

It describes; it never diagnoses or advises treatment.
Changes over time are cited.
Criticisms of classification are named.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A cited overview of how disorders are classified and how that has changed, describing categories only (never diagnosing anyone).

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

It describes; it never diagnoses or advises treatment.
Changes over time are cited.
Criticisms of classification are named.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Read the research on one disorder

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a research summary of one disorder: what is known about prevalence and causes, how strong the evidence is, and what is unknown, with every source cited.

What gets checked

Evidence strength is judged for each claim.
No diagnosis or treatment advice is given.
Sources are open and cited.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A research summary of one disorder: what is known about prevalence and causes, how strong the evidence is, and what is unknown.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Evidence strength is judged for each claim.
No diagnosis or treatment advice is given.
Sources are open and cited.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Present the evidence, not advice

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

What gets checked

It stays descriptive and research-based.
It points to professional help, not self-help advice.
Questions are answered carefully.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A 5-minute talk on the research into one disorder, ending with where to find professional help (no advice of your own).

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 11: Psychological Disorders: Foundations
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

It stays descriptive and research-based.
It points to professional help, not self-help advice.
Questions are answered carefully.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.