psy4hnb honours psychology
HONOURS PSYCHOLOGY
PSY4HNB
2015
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-ordinatorBen Ong
Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Exchange StudentsNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites 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.
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects PSY40HON, PSY42HON
Equivalent subjects PSY42HON
Special conditions This unit of study represents the second 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, intervention 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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Melbourne, 2015, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorBen Ong
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One 2-hour workshop on ethics and professional issues."
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One 2-hour weekly seminar in psychological research methods in semester 2."
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One 2-hour seminar on Career Skills & post Honours options"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined assessment for PSY4HNA & PSY4HNB; one major essay equivalent to 5000-words | 15 | 01 | |
| an empirical research thesis equivalent to 10,000-words | Hurdle 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). | 50 | 05, 06 |
| one 2-hour ethics and professional issues examination | 10 | 04 | |
| one 3-hour theory, intervention and assessment examination | 15 | 02 | |
| one 3-hour psychological research methods examination | 10 | 03 |