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PSYC20038 - Positive Psychology: Research Methods

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit will introduce you to the various methodological approaches to research and evaluation as they relate to positive psychology. You will develop a critical understanding of the research process and gain knowledge of the theoretical and empirical traditions in positive psychology research. The unit will help you to become familiar with valid and ethical processes for collecting and analysing data, the importance of data-driven decision making and measuring the impact of interventions and evaluating programs using a range of methods specific to positive psychology research. In this unit you will explore both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, controlled studies, interviews, focus groups, observational research and evaluation techniques, including formative and summative evaluation.

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 Optional Residential School
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Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2017

Term 2 - 2017 Profile
Distance
Term 2 - 2018 Profile
Distance
Term 2 - 2019 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2020 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2021 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2022 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2023 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2024 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. Written Assessment 50%
2. Practical Assessment 50%

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 - 2023 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 87.50% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 44.44% 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: Student Unit and Teacher Evaluation responses and student emails.
Feedback
Students indicated the unit content and resources were interesting and useful for their learning.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will maintain the unit content and resources.
Action Taken
The unit content and resources were maintained and updated to reflect the latest developments in the field.
Source: Student Unit and Teacher Evaluation responses and student emails.
Feedback
Students valued the research knowledge and skills gained in the unit.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will maintain the focus on research literacy and skills development in the unit.
Action Taken
The focus on research literacy and research skills was maintained.
Source: Student Unit and Teacher Evaluation responses and student emails.
Feedback
Students appreciated the support provided by the Unit Coordinator, such as formative feedback opportunities.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will maintain this supportive approach and will continue to offer formative feedback opportunities.
Action Taken
Formative feedback opportunities and support were maintained in the unit.
Source: Student Unit and Teacher Evaluation responses and student emails.
Feedback
Students found the zoom tutorials enjoyable and beneficial, with a couple of students suggesting they would like more tutorial time to interact with fellow students.
Recommendation
The Unit Coordinator will explore strategies for increasing student interactions in zoom sessions, such as group activities and informal discussion opportunities.
Action Taken
The length of tutorials was increased to accommodate more group discussion and activities.
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
Nil.
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
Nil.
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
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

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

  1. Evaluate the importance of data-driven decision making and various qualitative and quantitative research methods available to positive psychology practitioners
  2. Analyse the research literature to synthesise information in order to advance knowledge and practice
  3. Define the evaluative processes, including formative and summative evaluation, realist evaluation, participatory action research, outcome and process evaluation
  4. Display practical skill and judgement in collecting and analysing data
  5. Contrast tools and instruments to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
  6. Apply moral and ethical methods in conducting research and evaluation of positive psychology, resilience and wellbeing interventions
  7. Design and implement a research and evaluation process for a positive psychology intervention.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Written Assessment • • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Advanced Level
• Professional Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Knowledge • • • • •
2 - Communication •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • • •
4 - Research • •
5 - Self-management •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility •
7 - Leadership •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Advanced Level
• Professional Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Written Assessment • • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • • • • • •