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
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 - 2024
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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).
Students felt that the unit was well designed and the content prepared them for undertaking their research project.
Retain structure and content of the unit.
Feedback from Student feedback (evaluations).
Students found the library session very useful, but would have liked it run earlier in the term so that they could use it when preparing their research proposal.
Schedule the library session for earlier in the term so that students may use it when preparing their research proposal.
- 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.
N/A - the Master of Applied Positive Psychology has no accreditation requirements.
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
Doing a systematic review: A Student's Guide
Edition: 2nd ed. (2017)
Authors: Angela Boland, Gemma Cherry, and Rumona Dickson
Sage
London London , UK
ISBN: 9781473967014 (pbk)
Binding: Paperback
SPSS Survival Manual: A Step By Step Guide to Data Analysis Using IBM SPSS
7th edition (2020)
Authors: Julie F. Pallant
Routledge
London London , UK
ISBN: 9781003117452 (eBook)
Binding: eBook
Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners
(2013)
Authors: Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke
Sage
London London , UK
ISBN: 9781847875822 (pbk)
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
These textbooks will be useful to you in both Term 1 (PSYC20044) and Term 2 (PSYC20045) for undertaking your research project. The Pallant (2020) book is useful for students conducting a research study involving quantitative components, and it can be accessed free-of-charge as an e-book by students via the CQU Library Catalogue. The Braun and Clarke (2013) book is useful for students conducting a research study involving qualitative components, and is available for loan through the CQU Library. The Boland et al. (2017) book is useful for students conducting a systematic review, and is available for loan through the CQU Library.
If you wish to purchase hardcopies so that you always have access to the texts, you can do so through the CQU Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au. Please consult with your supervisor prior to purchasing books so that they can advise you based on your specific research project.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
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.
a.gerace@cqu.edu.au
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 (4 Mar 2024) 5:30-7:00 pm AEST.
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.
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.
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
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 (25 Mar 2024) 5:30-7:00 pm AEST
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.
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
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 (8 Apr 2024).
Module/Topic
Incorporate feedback from Supervisor into final thesis proposal for independent assessment in Week 8. Work on ethics application.
Chapter
All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom Tutorial: Week 6 Monday (15 Apr 2024) 6:30-8:00 pm AEST.
Topic: Ethics applications.
Prior to the tutorial, students will be expected to have read and watched lecture material on Ethics applications, and to have accessed CQU ethics templates.
Meet with Supervisor to discuss research proposal feedback.
Module/Topic
Incorporate feedback from Supervisor into final thesis proposal for independent assessment in Week 8. Work on ethics application.
Chapter
All resources, including notes, videos, and activities, are available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Submit revised proposal to Supervisor by email for feedback.
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 application.
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 (29 Apr 2024) 5:00 pm AEST
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 Tuesday (7 May 2024) 6:30-8:00 pm AEST
Supervisor Progress Report due.
Submit ethics application draft to Supervisor by email.
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.
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 application to be directly submitted to the CQU Ethics Committee (and any other relevant committees), and a copy submitted on Moodle.
If Supervisor permission to submit ethics application to CQU Ethics Committee (and any other relevant committees) is received earlier than Week 11, submission can occur earlier.
Ethics Application Due: Week 11 Friday (24 May 2024) 5:00 pm AEST
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 (27 May 2024) at 5PM AEST.
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
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
1 Research Proposal
For this assessment, you are required to complete a 2500 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, Reflexivity Statement (reflection of your role in the research), 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.
Week 8 Monday (29 Apr 2024) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 10 Monday (13 May 2024)
Feedback and grade for this assessment will be provided within 2 weeks of submission.
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. 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 Unit Co-ordinator is that the project should 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 (27 May 2024) at 5PM.
- 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.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Practical Assessment
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(s) 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).
Week 11 Friday (24 May 2024) 5:00 pm AEST
Submission to the Ethics Committee can occur earlier if approved by Supervisor.
Review/Exam Week Monday (3 June 2024)
Unit Co-ordinator will award a Pass mark for this assessment piece on submission of the application.
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(s) or through the Moodle site. Before data collection for a research study can commence, the CQU Ethics Committee and any other relevant ethics committees must approve your application.
- 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.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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?
