CQUniversity Unit Profile
PSYC20044 Applied Positive Psychology Project A
Applied Positive Psychology Project A
All details in this unit profile for PSYC20044 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Applied Positive Psychology Project A is the first of two integrated units. In these units, you will plan and design a research project - either a research study or systematic review - in an applied positive psychology/wellbeing and/or resilience-related field. Under the supervision of a qualified Academic supervisor, you will develop a research project proposal. This will involve undertaking (i) a preliminary literature review to identify and support your proposal; and (ii) developing a project plan, including proposed Methods, Data Collection and Analysis sections. As part of the unit, you will also complete a relevant ethics application for a proposed project. In the unit Applied Positive Psychology Project B (PSYC20045), which is Stage 2 of the process, following proposal approval, you will undertake your research study or systematic review.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 0
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites: PSYC20036; PSYC20037; PSYC20038; PSYC20039; PSYC20040; PSYC20041; PSYC20042; PSYC20043

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2022

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 0-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 0 hours of study per week, making a total of 0 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Research Proposal
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: Pass/Fail

Assessment Grading

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback (evaluations).

Feedback

Students found the Moodle site easy to navigate, with the specific sections devoted to different research approaches allowing students to focus on materials most useful to their project and to work at their own pace.

Recommendation

Retain the structure of the Moodle site and content.

Feedback from Student feedback (evaluations).

Feedback

Students felt that the support provided by their project supervisors provided excellent research training.

Recommendation

Students should continue to work with at least one project supervisor with oversight from the Unit Coordinator.

Feedback from Student feedback (evaluations).

Feedback

One student felt that additional informal milestones around assessments (e.g., deadlines for drafts) would allow students to better manage their workload.

Recommendation

Review unit schedule to include additional informal milestones for assessment pieces.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge and ethical approaches from relevant research domains to develop a proposal for an applied Positive Psychology research project
  2. Apply critical evaluation skills to identify and evaluate relevant research literature for a research project
  3. Complete a relevant research ethics application for a project.

N/A - the Master of Applied Positive Psychology has no accreditation requirements.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Research Proposal - 0%
2 - Practical Assessment - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Research Proposal - 0%
2 - Practical Assessment - 0%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

There are no prescribed textbooks for this unit. Readings will be supplied as part of the coursework.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Adam Gerace Unit Coordinator
a.gerace@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Liaise with Supervisor. Plan research project and literature search.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial: Week 1 Monday (7 Mar 2022) 6:30-8:00 pm AEDT.

Topic: Dissecting the elements of the research proposal.

Prior to the tutorial, students will be expected to have accessed and read the Master of Applied Positive Psychology Research Project Guide; read and watched lecture material on Research Proposals; and read two example proposals. All of these materials will be provided to students prior to the tutorial.

Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Commence research proposal and literature search. Work on problem statement; gap statement; statement of significance of project; and research question(s).

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Meet with supervisor regarding research project problem statement, gap statement, statement of significance and research questions.

Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Continue work on problem statement; gap statement; statement of significance of project; and research question(s). Begin to draft Introduction/Background of research proposal.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Continue work on proposal. Finalise problem statement, gap statement, statement of significance, and research questions/hypotheses. Continue working on Introduction/Background.

Commence work on design/methodology.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial: Week 4 Monday (28 Mar 2022) 6:30-8:00 pm AEDT

Topic: Workshopping student research proposals.

Students will be expected to bring along to the tutorial some of their own writing from their Research Proposal draft (e.g., introduction; research question; gap statement).


Meet with supervisor regarding research proposal.

Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Continue work on proposal and design/methodology.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Finalise proposal draft for submission to supervisor.

Begin ethics application.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit proposal draft to Supervisor by email Monday (11 Apr 2022).


Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Incorporate feedback from supervisor into final thesis proposal for independent assessment in Week 8. Work on ethics proposal.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial: Week 6 Wednesday (20Apr 2022) 6:30-8:00 pm AEST.

Topic: Ethics proposals.

Prior to the tutorial, students will be expected to have read and watched lecture material on Ethics proposals, and access CQU ethics templates.


Meet with supervisor to discuss research proposal feedback.

Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Incorporate feedback from supervisor into final thesis proposal for independent assessment in Week 8. Work on ethics proposal.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit to supervisor by email revised proposal for feedback.

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

Refine ethics application.

Commence more extensive literature review and/or consideration of methodology/search strategy for your project.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Meet with supervisor to discuss ethics proposal.

Final thesis proposal and Student Progress Report due. Please submit via the Moodle portal your Student Progress Report as a separate document along with your Research Proposal.


Research Project Research Proposal Due: Week 8 Monday (2 May 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

Refine ethics application. Continue literature review and methodology.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Zoom Tutorial: Week 9 Monday (9 May 2022) 6:30-8:00 pm AEST

Supervisor Progress Report due.

Submit ethics application draft to supervisor by email.

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

Supervisor and Proposal Assessor to provide Thesis Proposal feedback for integration into proposal.

Finalise ethics application.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Meet with supervisor to discuss thesis proposal feedback and ethics application.

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

Incorporate feedback and refine literature review. Commence outline for Introduction and Methods sections of your thesis.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit final ethics application to supervisor by email for signing.

Ethics submission to be submitted to the CQU Ethics Committee and copy submitted on Moodle (if Supervisor permission to submit ethics application to the Ethics Committee is received earlier than Week 11, submission can occur earlier).


Ethics Application Due: Week 11 Friday (27 May 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

Incorporate feedback and continue drafting Introduction and Methods sections.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit final proposal resubmission (if required). Due Monday (30 May 2022) at 5PM AEST.

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Incorporate feedback and continue drafting Introduction and Methods sections.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Refine literature review and continue drafting Introduction and Methods sections.

Chapter

All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Research Proposal

Assessment Title
Research Project Research Proposal

Task Description

For this assessment, you are required to complete a 2000 word (+/- 10%) proposal for a research project - either a research study or systematic review.

The research proposal will clearly justify why the project would be important to implement (i.e., it is a meaningful and important gap in the literature, and extends the research knowledge in the study area of interest). Your proposal will include: Introduction/Background (of the relevant prior research in the area of interest), research question(s), proposed Methods, Data Collection and Analysis sections, and examination of ethical issues and potential risks.

Further task details for the research proposal, including structure and exemplars, will be available on the unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (2 May 2022) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Monday (16 May 2022)

Feedback and grade for this assessment will be provided within 2 weeks of submission.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass

Assessment Criteria

The project proposal is a non-graded Pass/Fail assessment item. However, in order to be enrolled in the subsequent Applied Positive Psychology Project B (PSYC20045), where you will complete the next stage of your project, your supervisor and the Unit Co-ordinator must pass the proposal.

Your submitted research proposal will be evaluated by your supervisor and an independent assessor who will provide feedback, required/suggested changes, and any recommendations regarding the project. You will be awarded either a Pass, a Resubmit, or a Discontinue grade by your supervisor and the assigned proposal assessor. A Pass requires no changes to the proposal. Where further details are needed to clarify the intent and suitability of the proposed project, you will be invited to resubmit your proposal. In an instance where your supervisor cannot support the continuation of the proposed project, and the recommendation of the independent assessor is that the project will discontinue, you will be notified that the proposal has failed to be supported and you cannot enroll in Applied Positive Psychology Project B (PSYC20045) for that year.

If revisions are required, the revised final research proposal due date is Week 12 Monday (30 May 2022) at 5PM.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
A submission portal will be provided in in the Assessment section of the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply knowledge and ethical approaches from relevant research domains to develop a proposal for an applied Positive Psychology research project
  • Apply critical evaluation skills to identify and evaluate relevant research literature for a research project
  • Complete a relevant research ethics application for a project.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Ethics Application

Task Description

For this assessment, you are required to complete an ethics application for the proposed research project.

You will complete an ethics application that is either submitted to the relevant ethics committee for approval (if approval is required for your study), or a completed ethics application that is submitted to your supervisor and the Unit Coordinator (if approval is not required).


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Friday (27 May 2022) 5:00 pm AEST

Submission to the Ethics Committee can occur earlier if approved by Supervisor.


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Monday (6 June 2022)

Unit Co-ordinator will award a Pass mark for this assessment piece on submission of the application.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass

Assessment Criteria

The ethics application is a non-graded Pass/Fail assessment item. However, in order to be enrolled in the subsequent Applied Positive Psychology Project B (PSYC20045), where you will complete the next stage of your project, an ethics application must be completed to the satisfaction of your supervisor/Unit co-ordinator.

Your supervisor will review your ethics application and give feedback before you submit the application to the relevant ethics committee or through the Moodle site. Before data collection for a research study can commence, the CQU Ethics Committee must approve your application.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
A submission portal will be provided in in the Assessment section of the unit Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply knowledge and ethical approaches from relevant research domains to develop a proposal for an applied Positive Psychology research project
  • Complete a relevant research ethics application for a project.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?