PSYCHOL 7130 - Evidence-based Practice

North Terrace Campus - Summer - 2018

This course provides the student with the advanced research and professional skills required to practice within the scientist- practitioner model. On completion of the course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of a practising psychologist. The student will have the ability to identify ethical issues and to locate, understand and apply the major supporting documentation (e.g. Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics). Additionally, the student will have the knowledge and skills to undertake applied research and evaluation in a range of settings.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 7130
    Course Evidence-based Practice
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Summer
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact 3 hours per day for 12 days
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Acceptance into a Master of Psychology coursework program
    Restrictions Available to M Psych (Clin) and PhD/MPsych(Clin) students only or by permission of Head of School
    Course Description This course provides the student with the advanced research and professional skills required to practice within the scientist- practitioner model. On completion of the course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of a practising psychologist. The student will have the ability to identify ethical issues and to locate, understand and apply the major supporting documentation (e.g. Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics). Additionally, the student will have the knowledge and skills to undertake applied research and evaluation in a range of settings.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Michael Proeve

    School of Psychology Office:
    Ph - +61 8313 5693
    Email - psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Room 410 Hughes Building
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1. Demonstrate application of skills to evaluate and undertake research in applied settings.
    2. Demonstrate knowledge of and aptitude for fulfilling statutory and other professional responsibilities.
    3. Demonstrate knowledge of psychological case formulation approaches.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2, 3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    2
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    Online Learning
    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:
    - Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    - Submission of assessment 
    - Access to resources such as additional readings
    - Self-directed learning activities

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Face-to-face interactive seminars.

    On-line seminar and exercises.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Seminars: 12 x 3 hours - 36 hours
    Self-directed learning: 25 hours
    Independent reading: 84 hours
    Assignments: 11 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    Session Topic Lecture
    1 Introduction:Evidence Based Practice; Diversity Evidence-Based Practice
    2 Reading the Evidence Evidence -Based Practice
    3 Making sense of the numbers Evidence -Based Practice
    4 Meta-analysis Evidence -Based Practice
    5 Qualitative Research Evidence -Based Practice
    6 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Psychological Practice Online
    7 Case Formulation Evidence -Based Practice
    8 Case Formulation Evidence -Based Practice
    9 Cultural Competency Evidence -Based Practice
    10 Reflective Practice and Self-Care Evidence -Based Practice
    11 Ethical theories Evidence -Based Practice
    12 Integration of Evidence-Based Practice Evidence -Based Practice
    This is a summer intensive course run over 12 days.
    Specific Course Requirements
    On the initial enrolment into one of the Master’s programs, all students (unless already a Registered Psychologist) MUST apply for and obtain provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. All students are required to provide a copy of their registration details to the Program Administrator on their first day in the Program: this will be required for the Summer School courses Interviewing & Intervention and Evidence-Based Practice. The application form and details of fees payable are available from the PBA website: http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Forms.aspx.  

    Candidates are required to consent to a police check as part of their application to the Psychology Board of Australia for Provisional Registration, a requirement of enrolment in the program. A satisfactory current police check is a mandatory requirement for acceptance to and continuation within the program.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    • Through class-based group practice of case formulation using varied case material.
    • Through class-based problem solving regarding cultural adaptation of evidence-based interventions.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Case based exercise Summative, non-graded pass 70% 1,2,3
    Professional context test Summative, non-graded pass 30% 2
    Assessment Detail
    1. Short Answer Test of Statutory and Professional Requirements on Psychologists (30%). Non-graded pass.
    An open-book test to assess knowledge of regulatory and professional organizations relevant to psychological practice in Australia, statutory and professional requirements of psychological practice, ethical issues.

    2. Case-based Review Exercise (70%). Non-graded pass.
    Students select a case study and critically review six research articles about interventions to address issues raised in the case study. They address contextual factors in the case scenario in relation to possible interventions and then propose a suitable intervention based on integration of the literature with features of the case.
    Submission
    Usual supplementary examination opportunities apply. Assessments are forwarded to the course coordinator electronically via MyUni. The School of Psychology undertakes to adhere to the University’s Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, Procedure 6a, which requires that assessments are returned within 4 weeks of the deadlines for submission.

    Extension of time for an assignment may be granted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, to whom students should apply in writing (or email) before the due date and time.

    No requests for extensions will be considered if made after the due date and time.

    For further information re the Assessment Policy please refer to the relevant Master of Psychology Program Handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    RP Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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