Unit Outline

This unit (concurrently with KHA457) involves developing, conducting, and reporting a substantial independent study of a psychological nature. There are three major components to the research project. First, under the guidance of your supervisor, you will review the relevant research literature, develop a research question, design a study, and prepare a written (four A4 page) research proposal. This written proposal is distributed to two assessors, who’ll provide written feedback. You’ll also present a version of your proposal in a seminar to staff and other Honours students. This process is the mechanism for gaining School approval for your project, and an important step in gaining ethical approval. Second, once you have ethical approval, you’ll conduct a piece of research and analyse and interpret your data. Then you’ll present the results of your research as part of the Honours Results Day. Finally, you’ll submit a (roughly) 7,000 word written thesis.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

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


1.	Independently source, critically analyse, and synthesise information from the scientific literature and integrate with data derived from an independent research project.
2.	Collaboratively design experiments, and evaluate and interpret data in an ethical manner.
3.	Communicate your research in written and verbal formats.
4.	Conduct and report your research in an ethically responsible manner.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Concurrent Pre-requisite	KHA451 - Research Design & Ethics AND KHA457 - Research Project A

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Minor alterations have been made to this unit based on student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Research Proposal (written)	See the MyLO site for the due date	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Proposal Presentation	See the MyLO site for the due date	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Results Presentation	Week 11	6 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Thesis	Week 13	94 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Research Proposal (written)

Task Description:

You will design a research project in collaboration with your supervisor and submit a written project proposal. Pass/Fail

Task Length:

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Further details and assessment criteria will be available on MyLO.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Proposal Presentation

Task Description:

You will present your research proposal to students and staff on Honours proposal day. Presentations are allocated 15 minutes in total.

Task Length:

15 minutes

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Further details and assessment criteria will be available on MyLO.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Results Presentation

Task Description:

You will present the outcomes of your Honours research project at a mini-conference at the School of Psychological Sciences.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

6 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Further details and assessment criteria will be available on MyLO.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 4: Thesis

Task Description:

You will submit a 7,000 word thesis in the form of an APA formatted empirical report.

Task Length:

7,000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

94 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Further details and assessment criteria will be available on MyLO.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks (i.e., written proposal and Proposal presentation).

Your grade will be determined in the following way:

Your final result is determined in accordance with the unit’s assessment information (see above). Marks for the results presentation and the written thesis are totalled together to contribute to the specified percentage.

The results presentation and thesis are:

1. Marked independently by two markers

2. Subjected to moderation procedures (e.g., third-marking where required)

3. Reviewed at the appropriate examiners meeting.

Marks are reviewed by the Unit Coordinator and School of Psychological Sciences Assessment Committee and may be adjusted to ensure fairness, consistency and appropriateness before the final marks and grades are assigned in accordance with University policy and the specified unit assessment. Grades and marks are also reviewed by the College of Health and Medicine Assessors’ Committee.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.