Overview
Research and Professional Practice in Psychology 1 is the first of two professional practice units designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop the required skills and knowledge necessary for progression in the general psychology registration pathway (5 + 1). This unit incorporates a practicum designed to simulate 'real-world' aspects of working as a psychologist within a safe learning environment. Opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration, critical analysis, reflective-practice, and ethical decision making will be provided. Class content draws upon case studies and evidence-based theoretical formulation frameworks, and will examine requirements for initial and ongoing registration, and legal and ethical aspects of psychological practice and research. You will also begin to research an area of applied practice in psychology and develop a research plan for an evaluation project to be completed in Term 2.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in the Master of Professional Psychology
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 - 2023
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 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 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 SUTE Unit comments
Students felt that the contents of the Inter-Professional Education (IPE) task aligned more with the "PSYC20055 Assessment: child and adolescent" unit.
The IPE task is a requirement for Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) acccreditation. Students complete this assessment in their first year (both full-time and part-time students). After review by the teaching team it was noted that including this assessment task in PSYC20055 does not allow part-time students to complete this assessment in their first year, as this unit is taught in the second year for part-time students. However, additional materials such as resources and videos will be added to the IPE Moodle site to support students in this task.
Feedback from SUTE Unit comments
Starting the Practicum Review and simulated roleplaying is difficult for part-time students as they don't have any units with therapeutic techniques in their first year.
From 2023, students will demonstrate and develop competency in micro-counselling skills prior to their practicum review. Students will thus learn techniques and skills to scaffold their learning.
- Evaluate and apply relevant legislation and ethical principles related to psychological practice, including those endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia
- Critically evaluate the contemporary scientific literature to develop an appropriate plan for evidence-based practice, including research
- Articulate and apply models and approaches for the professional and ethical practice of psychology
- Communicate effectively with a range of client, specialist, and nonspecialist audiences.
Learning outcomes are drawn from specifications for study at level 9 as indicated by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), program of study criteria as stated by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsychBA), and the following core competencies stated by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC):
- 3.1 Demonstrate successful (prior or concurrent) achievement of pre-professional competencies,
- 3.10 Demonstrate respect for the skills and contribution of other professionals,
- 3.11 Work effectively with a range of professional and support staff in the workplace and communicate and collaborate effectively, within the bounds of ethical and legal requirements,
- 3.12 Operate within the boundaries of their professional competence, consult with peers or other relevant sources where appropriate, and refer on to relevant other practitioners where appropriate,
- 3.13 Rigorously apply professional practice policies and procedures, including as they relate to referral management and record-keeping, across a range of workplace settings and with recognition of different organisational cultures and practices,
- 3.14 Engage in self-reflective professional practice, taking account of the impact of their own values and beliefs, and taking appropriate actions as a result,
- 3.15 Evaluate the effectiveness of their professional practice, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes where needed, and
- 3.16 Critically evaluate contemporary scientific literature to inform practice (APAC, 2019, p.13-14).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Professional Practice Plans (learning plans) - 0% | ||||
2 - Online Test - 0% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 0% | ||||
4 - Research Proposal - 0% | ||||
5 - Portfolio - 0% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
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 |
Textbooks
Ethical Practice in Applied Psychology
1st edition (2014)
Authors: Christopher Boyle & Nicholas Gamble
Oxford University Press
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9780195523102
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
The prescribed textbook can be accessed online at the CQUniversity Library website. Access may be limited. If you would prefer your own copy, purchase either paper or eBook versions at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
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.
t.depauw@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Online Orientation Residential School
Chapter
READ
Refer to APS Ethical Guidelines:
- Ethical guidelines for working with clients when there is a risk of serious harm to others
- Ethical guidelines relating to clients at risk of suicide
Refer to APS Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines on reporting abuse and neglect, and criminal activity.
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Monday - Wednesday, 9am-4pm: Online Orientation Residential School
Lecture: Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Mr Tom De Pauw and Dr Helen Mason
Module/Topic
- Professional competencies & Practice
- Code of conduct
Chapter
Refer to the Psychology Board of Australia website:
- Guidelines for the 5 + 1 Internship Program
- Guidelines for the National Psychology Examination
- National Psychology Examination Recommended Readings
- National Psychology Examination Curriculum
- Policy and Procedure for Candidates who fail the exam three times
- Ethical Guidelines for Supervision
- Ethical guidelines for managing professional boundaries and multiple relationships
- Ethical guidelines on the prohibition of sexual activity with clients
- Ethical guidelines for psychological practice in rural and remote settings
- Ethical guidelines for working with and in the media
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Mr Tom De Pauw
Ethics Test Due: Week 2 Thursday (16 Mar 2023) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Residential school
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
There is no lecture this week. Students enrolled in PSYC21001 and PSYC20058 will be in Rockhampton for a residential school
Module/Topic
Chapter
READ
Refer to APS Ethical Guidelines:
- Ethical guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Ethical guidelines for psychological practice with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients
- Ethical guidelines on working with sex and/or gender diverse clients
- Ethical guidelines for psychological practice with clients with an intellectual disability
- Ethical guidelines for psychological services involving multiple clients
- Ethical guidelines for psychological practice in forensic contexts
Psychology Board of Australia policy for the management of notifications about single court appointed expert psychologists in family law court proceedings.
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Dr Helen Mason
Module/Topic
Professional Communication
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Dr Leonie Lorien
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Prof Karena Burke/Mr Tom De Pauw
Internship Plan Due: Week 6 Friday (21 Apr 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Quality in research
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Prof Karena Burke/Mr Tom De Pauw
Module/Topic
Searching the literature
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Prof Karena Burke/Mr Tom De Pauw
Module/Topic
Developing a research question
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Prof Karena Burke/Mr Tom De Pauw
Module/Topic
Practice-based evidence
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Dr Helen Mason
Inter Professional Education Due: Week 10 Friday (19 May 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Finding the fit for your client
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Dr Leonie Lorien
Module/Topic
Measuring effectiveness
Chapter
Please refer to Moodle for any additional readings this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture Thursday, 9am-12pm. Lecturer: Dr Helen Mason
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Professional Practice Plans (learning plans)
This assessment provides you with the opportunity to prepare for the completion of your Internship Program Plan. The assessment will consist of two parts:
PART A requires you to respond to questions/considerations taken from the Psychology Board of Australia Guidelines for the 5+1 internship program.
PART B requires you to respond to criteria that will be found in Section F of the Internship Program Plan (INPP-76) which relates to the core competencies to be achieved throughout your internship.
Both documents can be easily located on the Psychology Board of Australia website for your reference.
A more detailed Information Sheet will be found under the Assessment tab on Moodle in week 1.
Week 6 Friday (21 Apr 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Friday (5 May 2023)
This assessment is pass/fail and you must get a mark of 28 or more to pass:
Part A:
- Clear description of placement type
- Needs and goals clearly expressed
- Consideration of supervision requirements
- Clear discussion of your expectation and desires of supervision
- Consideration rights and responsibilities of all parties in supervision
- Payment arrangements clearly discussed
- Consideration of record keeping and documentation
- Consideration of secondary supervisor
- How to deal with ethical issues discussed
Part B:
- Knowledge of discipline
- Ethical legal and professional issues
- Psychological assessments
- Intervention strategies
- Research and Evaluation
- Communication
- Working with diverse groups
- Discussion of supervision needs and delegation
- Evidence of critical thought given to the placement
- Evidence of self - reflection
- Clarity and precision of writing inc. APA format
- Evaluate and apply relevant legislation and ethical principles related to psychological practice, including those endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia
- Articulate and apply models and approaches for the professional and ethical practice of psychology
2 Online Test
Students will read a case study and identify any personal needs, sources of information, and responsibility, the ethical dilemma, action and alternatives, negatives and positives of each action, choice of action, and why this was chosen above other alternatives.
Students who do not pass this test will be offered an opportunity to re-sit this assessment but will not be permitted to commence simulated client-work until the test has been passed.
Week 2 Thursday (16 Mar 2023) 6:00 pm AEST
This test will be available online for 24 hours
Week 4 Monday (27 Mar 2023)
Marks available in Moodle
Your critique will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Identification of any personal needs, sources of information, and responsibility
- Clear description and identification of ethical dilemma
- Clear discussion of factors involved in the ethical dilemma
- Identification and evaluation of action and alternatives
- The negatives and positives of each action described
- Description of your choice of action
- Explanation of why you chose this action above the others
- Evaluate and apply relevant legislation and ethical principles related to psychological practice, including those endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia
3 Written Assessment
Inter-professional Education (IPE) involves the collaboration between different health professions to learn about, from, and with, other disciplines, to enhance treatment and improve health outcomes for patient/client care. The IPE process will involve collaboration across the disciplines of Psychology, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Pathology, to provide assessment and intervention recommendations for a mutual patient/client.
You will work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team through a dedicated Moodle site to develop:
1. An assessment plan for your client
2. An intervention plan for your client
After each multi-disciplinary team meeting, you will also write a 250-word reflection using the provided checklist for team meeting observations as a guide. You will submit one (1) reflection for the assessment plan meeting and one (1) reflection for the intervention plan meeting; two (2) reflections in total.
In both reflections, you will critically reflect on your observations within the multi-disciplinary team meeting, and consider how you might adjust your future practice, based on your experience and learnings.
Week 10 Friday (19 May 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023)
To achieve a Pass you need to achieve a minimum of 28 marks out of 40. You will submit your IPE group's assessment plan and intervention plan to Moodle, along with a reflection for each.
Assessment Plan (10 marks)
- All relevant sections of plan are completed
- Presenting problems clearly outlined
- Client/Family goals are clearly outlined
- Assessment goals and plan are clearly outlined
- Assessment plan links to family and care team goals
2. Intervention Plan (10 marks)
- All relevant sections of the plan completed
- Presenting problems clearly outlined
- Client/Family goals are clearly outlined
- Intervention goals and plan are clearly outlined
- Intervention plan links to family and care team goals
2. Reflection - 250 words x 2 (10 marks each)
- Meeting observations are succinctly described
- Demonstrated critical reflection, including reflexivity
- Clear connection between reflections and future practice
- Professional writing style, within word limit
- Adherence to APA formatting and referencing conventions
- Articulate and apply models and approaches for the professional and ethical practice of psychology
- Communicate effectively with a range of client, specialist, and nonspecialist audiences.
4 Research Proposal
You will be required to submit a completed Research Plan which will include:
- A proposed research question
- An information source/literature search strategy
- An outline of the proposed evaluation method and approach being applied
Review/Exam Week Friday (9 June 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (16 June 2023)
1. Formatting and APA Style (5 marks)
- The title page is included and formatted appropriately
- Adherence to APA Style in the record
- Correctly formatted reference list
2. Research Question. A Clear statement of the research evaluation question in a specified formulation approach (5
marks).
3. Literature Search Domains (10/100) All needed domains included for the specified formulation approach (5 marks). Clear definition of domain meanings provided (5 marks). 4. Search Strategy (20/100)
- All needed domains included for the specified formulation approach
- Clear definition of domain meanings provided
4. Search Strategy (20/100)
- Identification of appropriate keywords with an indication of use of thesaurus and MeSH Browser / Emtree
- Clear Search strategy that includes limits and proposed databases
- Article selection criteria provided
5. Background Rationale (30/100)
- Provides a clear overview of relevant and appropriate literature and research evidence
- Describes the rationale for the review in the context of what is already known about the topic area
- Provides an explicit statement of evaluation question/s being addressed with reference to relevant details such as participants/population, intervention/area of professional practice, comparisons, outcomes, study
design/approach
6. Proposed Evaluation Method (20/100)
- Provides a clear overview of chosen method/approach
- Provides a rationale/justification for the chosen method/approach
- Describes all proposed data/information sources
- Identifies potential ethical considerations
Proposed Analysis. Provides a clear plan for analysis of evaluation outcomes (10/100)
Total Score /100
- Critically evaluate the contemporary scientific literature to develop an appropriate plan for evidence-based practice, including research
- Communicate effectively with a range of client, specialist, and nonspecialist audiences.
5 Portfolio
As part of the Master of Professional Psychology course, you are required to complete a psychology practicum. This psychology practicum will be completed across two units, this unit (PSYC20056 Research and Professional Practice 1), and the partner unit (PSYC29002 Professional Practice 2). The psychology practicum must be 300 hours of psychological practice comprising at least 90 hours of simulated direct client contact, client-related activities, and individual and group supervision. The practicum portfolio assessment for this unit comprises the main elements of the first component of your psychology practicum.
You will be required to maintain your practicum portfolio in a OneDrive folder that is accessible to your individual supervisor and the Head of Course. This folder must include all your recorded simulated practice (roleplays), and required, completed documentation, such as roleplay records, supervision records, logbook, and your practicum review (once completed). Only the material inside your OneDrive practicum portfolio can be counted towards completion of your psychology practicum and therefore towards completion of your practicum hours.
You will review your progress towards and obtain feedback about your competency development with your individual supervisor throughout the term, including in a collaborative mid-term review. At the end of the term, you will conduct a practicum review using the practicum review document provided. The practicum review document must indicate that you have achieved sufficient competencies to pass the first component of the practicum. The review must also include a log of the materials comprising your practicum portfolio contained within OneDrive and include the OneDrive link. The practicum review must be signed by yourself and your individual supervisor before being uploaded to Moodle.
Review/Exam Week Friday (9 June 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (16 June 2023)
To pass this assessment item you will be required to maintain the OneDrive practicum portfolio throughout the term for review at your individual supervision sessions and by the Head of Course. Only the material inside your OneDrive practicum portfolio can be counted towards completion of your psychology practicum, and this material must match the information in the supervision records, logbook, and practicum review document submitted through Moodle.
The criteria are set out in the practicum review document and cover the competency areas which define the critical capabilities and attributes deemed necessary to ensure that graduates are equipped to practice psychology safely and effectively subsequent to graduation. It is expected that across the entire Master of Professional Psychology course, students will demonstrate incremental development across these competency areas. In addition to these core competencies, the student and individual supervisor are asked to reflect on the student’s response to supervision and course-wide learnings.
Your practicum review will be assessed according to the following criteria. More detail will be provided in the psychology practicum handbook and the practicum review document.
Professional, Legal, and Ethical Duties
- Written and verbal communication
- Psychological documentation
- Relationship-building
- Ethical disclosures and considerations
- Evidence-based practice
- Reflectivity
- Adherence to professional standards
Psychological Assessment
- Observation and history-taking skills
- Formulation
- Practice across the lifespan
- Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
- Cultural competency Risk assessment
- Professional reasoning
Psychological Intervention
- Micro-counselling skills
- Goal-setting skills
- Intervention techniques
- Intervention and session planning
- Integration of key models and guidelines
- Safe practice
- Practice across the lifespan
- Cultural competency
- Risk assessment
Practicum Components
- Progress within individual and group supervision
- Feedback
- Reflectivity and reflective practice
- Competent simulated practice
- Completion of adequate progress towards psychological practicum completion
- Critically evaluate the contemporary scientific literature to develop an appropriate plan for evidence-based practice, including research
- Articulate and apply models and approaches for the professional and ethical practice of psychology
- Communicate effectively with a range of client, specialist, and nonspecialist audiences.
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.