psy4hna honours psychology

HONOURS PSYCHOLOGY

PSY4HNA

2016

Credit points: 60

Subject outline

This is one of two parts (PSY4HNA, PSY4HNB) of the Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours degree. It requires the completion of 120 credit points, either over one year of full time study or over two years of part time study.The main components of the course are (a) three streams of seminars on current issues in psychology and evidence-based psychological assessment and practice, and psychological research methods, (b) a blended learning online unit on ethical and professional issues, and (c) a supervised research project.

SchoolSchool of Psychology & Public Health

Credit points60

Subject Co-ordinatorEmiko Kashima

Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo

Subject year levelYear Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG

Exchange StudentsNo

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites Students must be enrolled in either SHPS (Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours) or SHP (Bachelor of Psychology Honours).

Co-requisitesN/A

Incompatible subjects PSY40HON, PSY41HON

Equivalent subjects PSY41HON

Special conditions All requirements for the Bachelor of Psychological Science, a minimum weighted average of 70% in PSY1EFP, PSY1HPM, PSY1CFP, PSY2PRM, PSY2COG, PSY2SOC, PSY2DEV, PSY2ACH, PSY3PAS, PSY3PIN, PSY3RPA and PSY3RPB (or the equivalent) and a high standard in other units. This unit of study represents the first semester of a year-long program designed to prepare students for postgraduate studies. Students MUST complete both PSY4HNA and PSY4HNB in the one academic year. Part-time study over two years may be granted. For La Trobe students from all campuses, admission is by application only and is dependent on staff availability for thesis supervision.

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Understand and evaluate key historical and theoretical features of a major area of psychological research.

Activities:
Formative: Seminars on current issues in psychological science. Summative: Write an essay that is a critical evaluation of current issues in a selected area of psychological science

02. Understand the principles behind the Scientist-Practitioner model in terms of the theoretical evidence for assessment and practice.

Activities:
Formative: Seminars and teamwork in small-group discussions on evidence-based assessment and professional practice. Summative: Exam.

03. Understand and evaluate psychological research methods in empirical research

Activities:
Formative: Seminars and teamwork in small-group discussions on psychological research methods in which students learn to evaluate a selected research paper on a variety of criteria (e.g., operationalisation, internal and external validity, power, and selection of appropriate methods of statistical data analysis. Summative: Exam in which students evaluate the positive and negative aspects of another selected research paper.

04. Understand the role and responsibilities of a psychologist in terms of ethical and legal issues, and professional code of conduct.

Activities:
Formative: Online blended learning on ethical and professional issues. Summative: Exam on role of a psychologists, the APS and Code of Ethics, ethical principles and legal issues.

05. Conduct a research project by undertaking a comprehensive literature review on a selected topic, developing an appropriate research design, presenting the proposed research at a conference, analysing the data collected and, finally, reporting on the work done in a thesis

Activities:
Formative: Independent reading and discussions with the research supervisor. Hurdles: Research proposal, conference presentation, ethics application. Summative: Thesis

06. Participating in the academic community

Activities:
Formative: Attending colloquia and post-colloquium discussions. Hurdles: Colloquium summaries

Subject options

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Start date between: and    Key dates

Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolmentYes

Maximum enrolment sizeN/A

Enrolment information

Subject Instance Co-ordinatorBen Ong

Class requirements

SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One 2-hour weekly seminars on psychological assessment & practice."

SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One 2-hour weekly seminar in psychological research methods."

SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One 2-hour weekly seminar on current issues in psychology."

WorkShopWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 days workshop per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Attendance at one full-day research presentation conference."

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
Combined assessment for PSY4HNA & PSY4HNB; one major essay equivalent to 5000-words1501
an empirical research thesis equivalent to 10,000-wordsHurdle req: research proposal (5000-word) conference summary (750-word) 2 presentations (10 & 15min) ethics application & report (1600-word) 8 colloquium summaries (2400-word) & journal (1000-word)5005, 06
one 3-hour psychological research methods examination1003
one 3-hour psychological assessment and practice examination1502
one 2-hour ethics and professional issues examination1004