Unit Outline

This unit is designed to provide students with a grounding in research within a clinical context. Specifically, the aim of this unit is to provide students with the skills to read, and interpret clinically relevant literature, and then be able to use this knowledge to: a) design a research project that will form the basis of your thesis requirements for the Master of Psychology (Clinical) b) inform your practice as psychologists

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	Evaluate research evidence to provide frameworks for intervention in psychologically relevant settings
2	Create, develop and justify a research project with appropriate research design and analytic techniques.
3	Appraise and respond to ethical considerations relevant to proposed research
4	Calculate and interpret a range of clinically relevant statistics

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	PSY702 Ethics and Professional Psychology Practice 1
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	KHA716 and KHA736

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to the feedback from previous student cohort, changes have been made which may include adjustments to assessments and alignment of some of the timelines. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2024, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit.

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:	Practical Interpretations of Research/Statistical Methods	Week 2	0 %	LO1, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Research Proposal	Week 6	0 %	LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Development of an evaluation plan	Week 11	0 %	LO1

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Practical Interpretations of Research/Statistical Methods

Task Description:

Practical Interpretations of Research/Statistical Methods Assessment
Regular short tasks where students are asked to either calculate clinically relevant statistics and/or interpret and critique research information on a range of research/statistical techniques such as
- identifying misleading presentation of research findings
- identifying legitimate publications
- identifying levels of research evidence
- use of research quality tools
- effect sizes
- interpreting clinical ‘cut-offs’
- determining reliable clinical change scores
Due Dates: Within one week of the module release. Assigned for weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12.

Task Length:

Variable (no more than 30 minutes per week)

Due Date:

Week 2

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply skills and concepts from this unit to interpret clinical research evidence and/or calculate and interpret clinically relevant statistics.	LO1, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Research Proposal

Task Description:

Students will develop a clinically relevant research project in conjunction with an appropriate supervisor. Students will then provide a written proposal that provides a rationale for the project, and outlines the proposed method for conducting the research, analysing data, and ethical considerations relevant to the project. The research proposal will then be presented to staff in a 10 minute presentation (+5 minutes for questions).

Due Date: Informal proposal Aug 28, formal presentation in o-week or after OSCE

Task Length:

4 pages, single-spaced + 10 minute formal presentation

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Research topic: Theoretical basis of study is sound and of appropriate scope	LO2
2	Research methodology: Methodology appears appropriate for the research question and is well justified	LO2
3	Proposed analyses: Proposed plan for the approach to examine aims/hypotheses is appropriate	LO2
4	Ethical considerations: ethical considerations are identified and appropriately managed	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Development of an evaluation plan

Task Description:

Development of an evaluation plan (2000 words)
Students will develop an evaluation plan for a real-world intervention program. The plan must outline practical process and outcome indicators, a pragmatic methodology, and develop associated measurements of those indicators.
Due Dates:
Presentation Week 11 (Oct 9)
Evaluation plan 4PM, Oct 25

Task Length:

10 minute presentation, Evaluation plan (up to 2000 words)

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Specification of project goal; objectives & activities: Emphasis on clarity and completeness	LO1
2	Specification of process indicators and measurements: Emphasis on practicality of methods, concreteness and completeness	LO1
3	Specification of outcome indicators and measurements: Emphasis on practicality of methods, appropriateness of methods, specificity of assessments, completeness	LO1

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes.

Your grade will be determined in the following way:

All assessments within the Postgraduate Professional Training Programs at the University of Tasmania adhere to an ungraded pass profile. Similarly, your academic transcript will use this same grading system. This means all assessable work will be graded as either UP (ungraded pass) or NN (fail grade), which indicates you need to continue towards developing that competency. You are required to achieve a UP on all assessment pieces in order to successfully pass a unit of study – be that coursework, placement, or thesis. A UP grade equates to achievement of 70% or higher on a given task, and this benchmark must be achieved to be awarded a UP.

These criteria are consistent with both the required performance on the National Psychology Exam, as well as within the School of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania. Marks are reviewed by the Unit Coordinator and Psychology’s 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 for PSY704. Psychology’s grades and marks are also reviewed by the Faculty Assessors’ Committee. Note: In order to obtain a full passing grade in this unit, students are expected to submit and achieve a UP grade on all assessable work.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.