Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

To ensure high quality practice, psychologists working in the area of educational and developmental psychology are continually required to monitor and modify their own practice to incorporate knowledge of the most recent research, assessment tools and interventions. This requires educational and developmental psychologists to have advanced skills in the critical evaluation, interpretation and application of research. The research thesis provides advanced skill development in these areas.

Aims

The aim of the research thesis is to provide you with the opportunity to develop high- level skills in the evaluation, interpretation and application of research. It will also enable you to research, in depth, an area of interest within educational and developmental psychology.

Objectives

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

1. conduct a competent advanced database search;


2. identify issues in the research literature and generate relevant research questions and hypotheses to examine these issues;


3. write a competent literature review;


4. apply appropriate procedures to examine research questions and hypotheses;


5. demonstrated advanced skills in the application of statistics; and


6. apply high level skills of critical analysis that include the interpretation and integration of research findings from a variety of perspectives, the application of research findings to practice and the identification of methodological issues.

Content

The content will depend on the topic in educational and developmental psychology that you choose as the focus of your research. The final outcome (to be submitted at the end of Thesis 4) may take two alternative forms. You may choose to submit a thesis in the conventional format or you may submit a 5,000 word literature review plus a prepared article that reports your research in a form that can be submitted for publication in an appropriate scholarly journal. If you choose the conventional format, the word count for your thesis should be 11,000 to 13,000 (approximately 40 to 50 pages without tables, figures or appendices and typed in not less than 1.5 line spacing on A4 paper). The thesis must be written in APA (5th Ed.) format with a couple of exceptions - see Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) Handbook.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning approaches will differ according to the needs of individual students. You should meet regularly with your supervisor, usually once a week and preferably face-to-face. This will vary at different stages of your thesis.

Assessment

You need to submit your application for ethical clearance by 5pm the Thursday in Week 4 at the absolute latest. It is highly recommended that Ethics Applications are submitted at the commencement of the university calendar year or alternatively at the end of the previous semester.

Your thesis, due at the end of the semester in which you enroll in the fourth thesis unit (PYN610-4), will be assessed by one internal university examiner and one examiner external to the university but within Australia. You are required to submit drafts of your work at periodic intervals, as arranged with your supervisor, so that written feedback can be given. A final draft of your thesis must be viewed by the supervisor before it is submitted for examination.

Assessment name: Ethical Clearance Applctn
Description: You need to submit your application for ethical clearance by 5pm the Thursday in Week 4 at the absolute latest. It is highly recommended that Ethics Applications are submitted at the commencement of the university calendar year or alternatively at the end of the previous semester.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 100%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

You will be required to access databases and library resources extensively. Resources may also be available from your supervisor.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 13-Sep-2012