Research Project (Clinical) H

Unit Code: HAYC667

Credit Points: 50 Credit Points

> Related Course/s
> Teaching Methods
> Assessment
> Aims & Objectives
> Generic Skills Outcomes
> Content
> Reading Materials

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology).

Aims & Objectives:

The aims of these units are to develop and extend:

• Skills in literature searching, plus review and integration of psychological literature.
• Advanced understanding of research methodology as applied to a moderately sized independent research project.
• Skills in psychological measurement and statistical or qualitative analysis applied to an independent research project.
• Practical research skills such as inteviewing, recruitment of research participants, liaising with community organisations and completing ethics applications.
• Skills in presenting research proposals and findings both orally and in writing and to produce a 40,000 to 60,000 empirical research thesis that is an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the Clinical Psychology field.

Teaching Methods:

Individual supervision. Students are provided with a detailed course manual which contains information to assist them in meeting the specific requirements of this research-based unit.

Assessment:

The assessment requirements for the sequence of eight research units are designed to culminate in a major empirical thesis of 40,000 to 60,000 words. The thesis will be examined externally by two examiners expert in the candidate's field of research.

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Graduates are capable in their chosen profession:

• Able to gather information systematically from a range of sources.
• Have highly developed verbal and written skills.
• A capacity to engage in informed critical enquiry and social debate.
• A capacity to present research to a range of audiences.
• A capacity to use statistical and/or qualitative data analysis techniques at a high level.
• Understand basic principles of measurement in psychology and can apply these principles to research.

Graduates are adaptable and work effectively and ethically:

• Communicate effectively with professionals and the community.
• Understand, and are committed to, professional and ethical principles.
• Adaptable, flexible, open to new ideas and able to manage change.
• Able to work across a variety of situations with a variety of people.
• Recognise the need for life long learning.

Graduates are aware of environments:

• Are culturally sensitive, with a respect for multiple points of view.
  

Content:

The content of the research units varies according to the particular research project and the supervisor-supervisee working relationship. Within the supervison sessions it is expected that the supervisor will suggest reading materials, discuss reading and conceptual ideas, work with the student to plan the research project, give assistance with development or selection of appropriate measures and methodologies, give guidance with respect to ethics applications, data analysis and writing the thesis. It is expected that the student will read extensively, engage in high level conceptual analysis of written material and present that analysis in written form, plan an independent original empirical research project, present the project plan for feedback to a group of staff and students, negotiate all ethical approvals and permissions necessary for the study to proceed, recruit study participants, collate and analyse data, and develop the project into a written thesis of 40,000 to 60,000 words.

Reading Materials:

Reading materials will vary according to the project. Some useful texts on thesis writing are as follows.

American Psychological Association, Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edn, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2001.
Dunleavy, P, Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral dissertation or PhD, Plagrave MacMillan, New York, 2003.
Oliver, P, Writing your thesis, Sage, London, 2004.
Thomas, RM, Avoiding thesis and dissertation pitfalls: 61 cases of problems and solutions, Bergin & Garvey Westport, Conn., 2001.