PSYC20061 - Research Evaluation for Psychology Practice

General Information

Unit Synopsis

Evidence-based practice is integrated throughout the Master of Professional Psychology and aligns with the scientist-practitioner model. It is essential that you establish and evaluate your professional practice work based on scientific research. This unit will equip you with knowledge and skills related to the conduct of research evaluation in a professional practice context. Building on the research question and research plan you developed in Research and Professional Practice in Psychology (PSYC20056), in this unit you will complete an evaluation report or review which answers an individual question relevant to the professional practice of psychology.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 9
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 - 2024

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. Self assessment 0%
2. Research Assignment 100%

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 - 2022 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 80.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 45.45% 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: Feedback from students via the 'Have your Say' survey.
Feedback
Some students indicated that they did not understand why the content related to research, and the requirement for a substantive written research evaluation assessment item, was included in the course.
Recommendation
Include a discussion of requirements specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) in orientation and unit information so that students understand unit/course requirements and the relationship to professional competencies.
Action Taken
The APAC requirements regarding research specifically were discussed with students from the outset of their course and unit.
Source: Verbal feedback from students and feedback from Unit Coordinator.
Feedback
Students reported that they found the weekly discussion session class-style, and the ability to book individual sessions with the Unit Coordinator to be very useful.
Recommendation
Continue to offer weekly discussion sessions and the ability to book individual sessions with the Unit Coordinator throughout the term.
Action Taken
This was continued during 2022 and most students took advantage of the ability for short consultations with the unit coordinator.
Source: Feedback to the Unit Coordinator during term.
Feedback
Students indicated there was a lot of overlap with the rapid review they completed in Term 1, and there was some confusion as to how the two pieces of work were to be differentiated.
Recommendation
Move completion of the research evaluation plan into Term 1, with focus in Term 2 to be solely on the conduct and development of the evaluation report/review.
Action Taken
This was actioned during 2022. Students completed their Research Plan in Term 1 in the unit PSYC20056. In this unit in Term 2 students submitted a progress report in Week 5, and their final report in Week 13.
Source: Student feedback to Unit coordinator.
Feedback
Weekly discussion sessions were useful in earlier parts of the term, but not so useful later on.
Recommendation
Maintain weekly class discussion sessions with whole unit cohort until week 10.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Student feedback to Unit coordinator. SUTE data
Feedback
The ability to book individual sessions with the Unit coordinator was very useful.
Recommendation
Maintain the ability for students to book individual sessions on a regular basis with staff teaching into the unit.
Action Taken
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

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

  1. Communicate research in a manner that is professional, ethical, and culturally appropriate, and critically considers prior literature relevant to the professional practice of psychology.
  2. Conduct a substantive individual research evaluation relevant to the practice of psychology, to a standard that would be suitable for publication.

Learning outcomes are related to core competencies specified by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), program of study criteria as stated by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), and specifications for study at level 9 as indicated by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

This unit addresses Professional Competencies as specified by the Australian Psychology Accrediation Council (APAC). This unit specifically aligns to the following APAC competencies:

3.2 Apply evidence-based and scientific methods to professional practice across the lifespan in empirically valid and culturally responsive ways.

3.3 Employ professional communication skills, in a culturally responsive manner, with a range of socially and culturally diverse clients.

3.8 Interpret and communicate findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language.

3.10 Demonstrate respect for the skills and contribution of other professionals.

3.15 Evaluate the effectiveness of their professional practice, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes where needed.

3.16 Critically evaluate contemporary scientific literature to inform practice.

3.17 Investigate a substantive individual research question relevant to the discipline of psychology.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2
1 - Self assessment •
2 - Research Assignment • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Advanced Level
• Professional Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2
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
• Advanced Level
• Professional Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8