Students

PSYC8933 – Research Proposal

2021 – Full year 1, Intensive attendance, North Ryde

Notice

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General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Maria Kangas
Credit points Credit points
20
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MClinPsych
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is the compulsory prerequisite unit for PSY8934 (Dissertation). The objective of this unit is for students to conduct a literature review, as well as plan and design their empirical project for their thesis (which will be subsequently completed in PSY8934). All students will be required to have a research supervisor from a member of staff from the Department of Psychology. The supervisor will assist the student to meet the objectives of this unit as well as for the dissertation (PSY8934). The Seminars for PSY8933 will also facilitate students to plan and fine-tune their research project which must have relevancy to Clinical Psychology. The goals of the unit are to encourage review and consideration of background literature, to prepare a literature overview and proposed method, and to prepare an ethics submission for the empirical thesis.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Conduct a critical evaluation of theories and empirical studies for a particular population/ topic relevant to clinical psychology which will inform the literature review paper and empirical paper.
  • ULO2: Produce the first complete draft of the literature review paper to be presented in journal format.
  • ULO3: Design an empirical project with consultation from assigned research supervisor and which will form the basis of the empirical paper.
  • ULO4: Prepare and submit ethics application to Macquarie University Human Research Ethics committee (and any other relevant committees contingent on proposed sample recruitment).

General Assessment Information

This unit covers the initial preparatory components for conducting an empirical project as well as a literature review paper with clinical psychology relevance. This unit is the compulsory prerequisite for Unit Code: PSYC8994. Content in this unit will cover efficient methods for reviewing relevant literature. Students will also be required to present their research design formulation in an interactive format and work on fine-tuning it in preparation for ethics submission. Students will be required to work with a member of staff (from the Department of Psychology) who will be their assigned research supervisor for this unit and the subsequent dissertation unit, PSYC8994.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Ethics Submission 50% Yes 1st November 2021
Draft literature review 50% Yes 1st November 2021

Ethics Submission

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 1st November 2021
Weighting: 50%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

The student is expected to receive input from their research supervisor regarding developing a suitable, feasible project and preparing the relevant ethics documentation. Alternatively - if the student’s project will be part of a larger study that has already received ethics approval – the supervisor is required to verify this and confirm the student is on track in completing empirical project in a timely manner.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Conduct a critical evaluation of theories and empirical studies for a particular population/ topic relevant to clinical psychology which will inform the literature review paper and empirical paper.
  • Produce the first complete draft of the literature review paper to be presented in journal format.
  • Design an empirical project with consultation from assigned research supervisor and which will form the basis of the empirical paper.
  • Prepare and submit ethics application to Macquarie University Human Research Ethics committee (and any other relevant committees contingent on proposed sample recruitment).

Draft literature review

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 1st November 2021
Weighting: 50%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

The student must submit a first draft of the literature review that will form the basis of the final literature review paper.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Conduct a critical evaluation of theories and empirical studies for a particular population/ topic relevant to clinical psychology which will inform the literature review paper and empirical paper.
  • Produce the first complete draft of the literature review paper to be presented in journal format.
  • Design an empirical project with consultation from assigned research supervisor and which will form the basis of the empirical paper.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

There is one - two hour introductory seminar (Week 1, Session 2) to attend, as well as one full day workshop (Week 4, Session 2) scheduled for this unit (listed in timetable as code PSYC8990). Attendance to both the seminar and workshop are compulsory. Students will be required to work closely with their designated research supervisor for the rest of the session to meet the assessment requirements for this unit.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

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Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook