Research Project (Counselling) G
Duration
One semester / teaching period
Contact hours
- As determined with supervisor
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Prerequisites
Corequisites
NilAims and objectives
Aims:
This unit is designed to:
This unit is designed to:
- Enhance students' awareness of the importance of a scientific research base for counselling psychology.
- To consolidate students' practical understanding of research methodology related to counselling psychology.
- To contribute to the research program of the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences.
Objectives: to develop and extend:
- Skills in literature searching, plus review and integration of psychological literature.
- Advanced understanding of research methodology as applied to a moderately sized independent research project.
- Skills in psychological measurement and statistical or qualitative analysis applied to an independent research project.
- Practical research skills such as inteviewing, recruitment of research participants, liaising with community organisations and completing ethics applications.
- Skills in presenting research proposals and findings both orally and in writing and to produce a 40,000 to 60,000 empirical research thesis that is an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the Counselling Psychology field. This thesis must be accompanied by a technical supplement containing detailed results, raw data and copies of measures used.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Research Supervision
Assessment
The assessment requirements for this unit of study are designed to culminate in the step-by-step development of the final requirement of a major empirical thesis of 40,000 - 60,000 words. Students enrolled in HAY654 will be required to complete a draft of all introductory chapters of their thesis.
General skills outcomes
Graduates are capable in their chosen profession. They should be able to:
- Gather information systematically from a range of sources.
- Have highly developed verbal and written skills.
- Demonstrate the capacity to engage in informed critical enquiry and social debate.
- Demonstrate the capacity to present research to a range of audiences.
- Demonstrate the capacity to use statistical and/or qualitative data analysis techniques at a high level.
- Understand basic principles of measurement in psychology and apply these principles to research.
Graduates are adaptable and manage change.
Graduates operate effectively in work and community situations:
- Communicate effectively with professionals and the community.
- Understand, and are committed to, professional and ethical principles.
- Are adaptable, flexible, open to new ideas and able to manage change.
- Are able to work across a variety of situations with a variety of people.
- Recognise the need for life long learning.
Graduates are aware of environments:
- Are culturally sensitive, with a respect for multiple points of view.
Content
The content of the research units vary according to the particular research project, the progress of the research, and the supervisor-supervisee working relationship. Within the supervision sessions it is expected that the supervisor will suggest reading materials, discuss reading and conceptual ideas, work with the student to plan the research project, give assistance with development or selection of appropriate measures and methodologies, give guidance with respect to ethics applications, data analysis and writing the thesis. It is expected that the student will read extensively, engage in high level conceptual analysis of written material and present that analysis in written form, plan an independent original empirical research project, present the project plan for feedback to a group of staff and students, negotiate all ethical approvals and permissions necessary for the study to proceed, recruit study participants, collate and analyse data, and develop the project into a written thesis of 40,000 to 60,000 words.
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Reading materials will vary according to the project. Some useful texts on thesis writing are as follows.
American Psychological Association, Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edn, Washington, DC, 2001.
Findlay, B, How to write psychology laboratory reports and essays, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest, NSW, 2003.
Heppner, PP & Heppner, MJ, Writing and publishing your thesis, dissertation, and research - a guide for students in the helping professions, Wadsworth Publishing, 2004.
Nicol, AAM & Pexman, PM, Displaying your findings: a practical guide for creating figures, posters, and presentations, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2003.
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences website. Research links relating to ethics guidelines and application form, and policies relating to research: http://www.swin.edu.au/research/welcome.htm and http://www.swin.edu.au/lss/
Other readings as relevant to the thesis topic.
American Psychological Association, Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edn, Washington, DC, 2001.
Findlay, B, How to write psychology laboratory reports and essays, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest, NSW, 2003.
Heppner, PP & Heppner, MJ, Writing and publishing your thesis, dissertation, and research - a guide for students in the helping professions, Wadsworth Publishing, 2004.
Nicol, AAM & Pexman, PM, Displaying your findings: a practical guide for creating figures, posters, and presentations, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2003.
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences website. Research links relating to ethics guidelines and application form, and policies relating to research: http://www.swin.edu.au/research/welcome.htm and http://www.swin.edu.au/lss/
Other readings as relevant to the thesis topic.