Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Thesis I

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

 

 


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1244

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2015

BESC1244

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Dr Simone Mizzi

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0313

Course Coordinator Email: simone.mizzi2@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

During this course you are required to complete a review of the relevant literature for your research thesis. The model to be adopted is that used by two journals: Psychological Bulletin and Annual Review of Psychology. The length of the review must be no more than 5,000 words. The literature review is to be written in APA copy/manuscript style that is publication ready (i.e., as if it were going to be submitted to a journal for peer review). You will also be required to write a research proposal and present it in the form of a poster presentation. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for MC002 Master of Clinical Psychology: 

  • PLO 1: demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the theories, models and scientific underpinning of professional psychological practice and its application across behavioural and organisational systems.
  • PLO 5: demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of empirical investigation or inquiry as a scientist-practitioner, predicated on the principles of clinical psychological practice, with a variety of psychological phenomena or problems.
  • PLO 6: demonstrate the ability to undertake effective communication across a range of individual and organisational contexts to engage clients and to convey, appraise and interpret information relevant to professional practice and the client population.


On successful completion of this course students should be able to: 

  1. Critically evaluate relevant scientific literature showing evidence of logical, theoretically consistent argument.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to identify a research topic, create a title, a strong rationale for the research being proposed and a statement of the specific research question(s) to be asked.
  3. Articulate and justify a research design, including participants, data collection, and/or other aspects as appropriate to the particular type of research.
  4. Consider ethical challenges in preparation of submission to the research ethics committee 


Overview of Learning Activities

You must learn how to: (1) search databases for relevant literature; (2) critically evaluate and synthesise scientific research; (3) identify gaps in the research literature; and (4) develop aims and hypotheses to empirically and theoretically answer questions raised by gaps identified in the research and theoretical literature.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1:Presentation  
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4 

Assessment Task 2: Ethical Challenges Task
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4 

Assessment Task 3: Reflective written pieces
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.