PSYC20038 - Positive Psychology: Research Methods

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit will introduce you to key research interests in the positive psychology domain, and the various methodological approaches to research as they relate to positive psychology. You will develop a critical understanding of the research process and its application within positive psychology research and assessment. The unit will help you to become familiar with research processes that are robust and ethical, the importance of evidence-based decision making, and the importance of measuring the impact of interventions using positive psychology research methods. You will be encouraged to consider how research evidence contributes to best practice. You will learn skills in interpreting and critically evaluating the quality of published research evidence, and consider the ways research knowledge can be used to guide intervention design and procedures. There will be an overarching focus on becoming a critical consumer and user of this scientific research literature to inform the development of future research questions, intervention strategies, and professional practice.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 8
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 4
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2025

Term 2 - 2025 Profile
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).

Assessment Overview

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Research Assignment 25%
2. Online Quiz(zes) 20%
3. Critical Review 55%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 83.33% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 18.18% response rate.

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.

Source: Unit Coordinator reflections, student emails, Moodle and SUTE data.
Feedback
Some students did not utilise the formative feedback opportunities offered and did not access the assessment feedback provided.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will ensure that students are fully informed about formative feedback opportunities and how to access their assessment feedback in Moodle.
Action Taken
Video demonstrations about formative feedback opportunities were sent to students, and when assessment feedback was released to students, it was accompanied by a video showing them where to find all feedback elements.
Source: SUTE responses and student comments in tutorials.
Feedback
Students appreciated the videos demonstrating practical skills, with a couple of students requesting more examples and video updates.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator and teaching team will explore avenues for increasing and enhancing video demonstrations.
Action Taken
The use of video demonstrations was enhanced throughout the unit.
Source: SUTE responses and student comments in Moodle.
Feedback
Students found the unit content useful and well-rounded, with a couple of students suggesting they would benefit from more guidance on critiquing qualitative research.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator and teaching team will source additional resources on critically appraising qualitative studies.
Action Taken
Additional resources on critically appraising qualitative studies were added to the unit content.
Source: Unit Coordinator reflections and emails from students.
Feedback
Some students struggled with following the written assessment task instructions and did not submit all assessment components.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator and teaching team will review and revise the written assessment task instructions, as well as develop some short video demonstrations with tips and reminders about completing and submitting all assessment components.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Unit and Teacher Evaluation responses and emails from students.
Feedback
Students found the unit interesting and valued the research knowledge and skills gained in the unit.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will maintain the unit content and its focus on research literacy skills development, while also continually monitoring for contemporary relevancy.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student Unit and Teacher Evaluation responses and emails from students.
Feedback
Students appreciated the enthusiasm of the Unit Coordinator and the learning support provided.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will maintain this supportive and enthusiastic approach to teaching.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Locate, interpret, and synthesise appropriate peer-reviewed empirical research relevant to positive psychology
  2. Investigate and appraise research paradigms and ethical research requirements relevant to positive psychology
  3. Analyse research concepts through the critical appraisal of peer-reviewed empirical research relevant to positive psychology
  4. Develop a research question based on identified research gaps to enhance the body of knowledge in positive psychology

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Research Assignment • • •
2 - Online Quiz(zes) • •
3 - Critical Review • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
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 •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Research Assignment • • • • •
2 - Online Quiz(zes) • • • •
3 - Critical Review • • • • •