PSYCHOL 4300B - Honours Thesis in Psychology Part 2

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

This component encompasses the write-up of the thesis, including the preparation of a full literature review, data analysis, reporting of results and thesis submission. A small number of information seminars will be held to assist students with their thesis writing and to plan out future course-work applications.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 4300B
    Course Honours Thesis in Psychology Part 2
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 12
    Contact 6 x 2 hour seminars
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PSYCHOL 4301, PSYCHOL 4300A
    Assumed Knowledge PSYCHOL 3020 or equivalent
    Restrictions Available to B.Psychological Science (Honours) and B. Psychology (Advanced) (Honours) students only
    Course Description This component encompasses the write-up of the thesis, including the preparation of a full literature review, data analysis, reporting of results and thesis submission. A small number of information seminars will be held to assist students with their thesis writing and to plan out future course-work applications.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Paul Delfabbro

    Honours Program Directors: Dr MIchael Proeve; Dr Rachel Searston
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    1. Demonstrated original and useful contribution to psychological knowledge;

    2. Mastery of the content of psychology areas across the discipline

    3. Ability to develop clear arguments that justify the research aims and cogently discuss the research findings

    4. Deep understanding of sound research methodology in psychology

    5. The ability to apply appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis; and

    6. A critical awareness of the implications of the findings as well as the strengths and limitations of the research

    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)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    2, 4, 6

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    2, 4, 5

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    1, 2, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    All materials and support are detailed in the Honours Psychology handbook. Resources for the thesis component are detailed on page 9 and 10 of the Handbook. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Honours Program Director: Dr Michael Proeve (michael.proeve@adelaide.edu.au).
    Online Learning
    All seminar materials and details can be accessed via the MyUni page.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The thesis component represents a large amount of independent study in collaboration with the thesis supervisor(s). It is expected that students will meet frequently with supervisors and attend seminars on campus (2 hours in duration) throughout the semester.
    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary
    All students completing a research project must attend the Honours Research Seminars held on campus during semester 2.  We treat this requirement with utter seriousness.  Participation in the seminar series is part of your training and of your assessment and will ensure a smooth completion of the thesis component. 


  • 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
    The School offers opportunity for both quantitative and qualitative research without bias and across a wide range of topics. Our concern is that the methodology and report should be appropriate for the nature of the research. Given that quantitative and qualitative research have different conventions, the following should be read with care:

    The Australian Psychological Society Course Accreditation Guidelines for Fourth Year courses stipulates a research project with the following requirements:

    A Bachelor Honours Degree involves planning and executing project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some degree of independence.

    Students will undertake a research project that includes a research question, empirical literature review, data analysis, reporting of results and discussion. The research project should be structured so that students participate in the key steps involved, including the formulation of research questions, the analysis of data to test the research question, the interpretation of the findings and the writing of the report.

    The research question being pursued should be psychological in nature, relevant to the field of psychology, supervised solely or in collaboration with at least one member of academic staff from the School, written up in the format of a thesis and be 9,000 to 9,500 words in length

    Assessment Related Requirements
    Thesis research presentations in the form of powerpoint slides are to be submitted to the Course Coordinator prior to the student's research presentation. Research presentattions are to be presented to the Honours Thesis class at the date and time scheduled.


    Theses are to be submitted electronically via the MyUni submission portal and theses from previous years can be accessed from the Psychology Test Library - please contact the School of Psychology Office for access information.

    All theses are to be formatted using the APA 7th Edition. Thesis formatting details are detailed in the Honours Psychology Handbook.
    Assessment Detail

    Thesis presentation                             5%
    Thesis 9,000 words                           95%
    Details of thesis presentation, expectations, and rubric will be provided

    Details of expectations of performance and the associated grades are provided in the Honours thesis marking rubric.
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

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

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    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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