PSYC20061 - Research Evaluation for Psychology Practice

General Information

Unit Synopsis

Evidence-based practice is an integral component of practicing as a psychologist, 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.

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 2 - 2024

Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Online
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 Proposal 0%
2. Self assessment 0%
3. Report 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 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 25.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 14.81% 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: SUTE Data Unit Coordinator reflection Consultations with MPP and MCP teaching teams
Feedback
Add completion of the proposal back into this unit, rather than in the Term 1 unit.
Recommendation
Add the report proposal as an early hurdle assessment for this unit.
Action Taken
The proposal was an early hurdle assessment in 2024 and the students were able to re-submit if required after feedback.
Source: SUTE Data Individual student emails
Feedback
The timing of the final assessment piece coincides with final placement reviews and other assessment due dates.
Recommendation
Review due date timing for the final report.
Action Taken
The assessment due date was timed to be after completion of other unit assessments and placement reviews.
Source: SUTE Data Feedback from students in class Unit coordinator reflections
Feedback
Students appeared overwhelmed by the amount of information presented early in the term, and because lectures and discussions were delivered live, there was not an opportunity to review the information.
Recommendation
Review weekly content and provide short video recordings for later review.
Action Taken
Weekly recordings were available for students to review.
Source: Unit evaluations (SUTE)
Feedback
Some students felt that assessments were too complicated.
Recommendation
Review assessment requirements to see where tasks and instructions could be streamlined.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Unit evaluations (SUTE)
Feedback
Some students felt that too much jargon related to research evaluation was used in teaching materials.
Recommendation
Review teaching materials to see where content can be explained more clearly, particularly terminology and concepts related to research evaluation.
Action Taken
In Progress
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. Plan and produce a substantive individual research evaluation report relevant to the practice of psychology.

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