60210 APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	60210 	S12 	D 	APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT	2.00

Contents

STAFFING:

Examiner: P. BRAMSTON
Moderator: M. THOMPSON

RATIONALE:



Psychologists in professional practice or research must be able
to conduct a substantial empirical scientific study concerning
the application of psychological knowledge and techniques and
then write a report of sufficient academic rigour to be published
and distributed such that they are worthy of the consideration of
their professional colleagues.

SYNOPSIS:


This will be an individual research project in a selected area
of psychology in which information concerning an approved
research topic is gathered, organised, analysed and discussed
in a critical and evaluative manner.  It will be supervised by
a staff member.  The study requires a knowledge of advanced
statistics and sophisticated research methodology.
Students who are not of a standard in statistics and methodology
of USQ graduates in the Applied Psychology major will be
required to do additional directed statistical/methodological
studies prior to, or early in the course.
Students will be expected to present their research plan as a
written proposal early in the semester.  At the conclusion of
the course, students will be required to present the whole
research project in thesis format and in a USQ conference
presentation.

OBJECTIVES:

  • successful completion of the unit students
    will be able to:
  • onstrate the ability to think analytically
    and critically about the chosen research topic
    and related issues within the discipline of
    psychology;
  • onstrate competence in each component of
    scientific research procedures, namely:
    identification of research problems, formulation
    of hypothesis, definition of variables,
    conducting research (observation), analysis
    of data, and drawing conclusions and
    interpretation of data;
  • ect and apply appropriate computer-oriented data
    analytical techniques;
  • petently present research proposals and
    findings in the format of a dissertation.
  • petently present research proposals and findings
    in a conference presentation.

    TOPICS:

     Description                                                    Weighting(%)
      

    1. Topics are to be selected by individual students
in consultation with staff members.

    TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

    American Psychological Association (1983). Publication
    Manual of the American Psychological Association,
    Washington DC, APA.

    RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

    SPSS Inc (1988),"SPSS - Users Guide, Chicago, SPSS Inc.
    Methods in Psychology" NY: A Knopf.

    STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

    	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Tutorials/Workshops                           	28
Seminars                                      	8
Private Study                                 	600
Other                                         	30
Supervisor Consultation                       	28

    ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

    No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   F              24/03/97  PROPOSAL                                            N
2   F              WK 10     CONFERENCE PRESENTATION                             N
3   S              03/11/97  DISSERTATION                              100.00    N

    *F=Formative, S=Summative

    OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

    Students are required to indicate their research
topic and supervisor by the end of the 2nd week
of the semester.
A written proposal should be submitted to the
examiner which specifies the research hypotheses
and basic methodology by the fifth week.
The final dissertation of no more than 20,000
words to be submitted by the due date.
Students are required to submit three copies of
the dissertation for assessment.  One copy
must be bound in the required manner for
lodgement in the USQ library.
Students are required to give a 15 minute seminar
on their proposed research in class during Semester 1.
Students are also required to present their findings
in a USQ conference presentation in October.
A detailed outline of unit requirements will be
presented at the commencement of the semester.
In accordance with University policy and Guidelines,
i     an Examiner will consider an extension of the due date only
      if prior deadlines have been met.
ii    no assignments will be accepted for assessment purposes
      after assignments or model solutions have been released
      except in extenuating circumstances;
iii   assignments submitted after the due date without any
      extenuating circumstances will attract a penalty of at
      most 20% of the assignment mark for each working day
      late;
iv    students who submit an assignment after the due date and
      wish to claim extenuating circumstances, must provide
      documentary evidence with the assignment explaining
      the circumstances;
v     the unit examiner shall consider a claim for extenuating
      circumstances and decide on the outcome;
vi    the decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute
      that may arise in the implementation of these guidelines.
    This information is accurate as at 28/11/97