PSYCHOL 3011A - Advanced Career & Research Skills in Psychology A

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

The aim of this course is to assist students in developing career-readiness skills, with a particular focus on areas beneficial for progress into the psychology profession, psychological research, or allied areas involving the application of psychological skills and knowledge. This course will have a focus on advanced communication and small group work skills; project design and management in small group contexts; and the commercial and entrepreneurial elements of psychological research and practice.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 3011A
    Course Advanced Career & Research Skills in Psychology A
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Completion of 2nd year units in accredited sequence and unique content for Advanced degree in 1st and 2nd year.
    Restrictions B. Psych (Honours) (Advanced) students
    Course Description The aim of this course is to assist students in developing career-readiness skills, with a particular focus on areas beneficial for progress into the psychology profession, psychological research, or allied areas involving the application of psychological skills and knowledge. This course will have a focus on advanced communication and small group work skills; project design and management in small group contexts; and the commercial and entrepreneurial elements of psychological research and practice.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Daniel Carragher

    School of Psychology Office:
    Ph - +61 8313 5693; Email - psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.au 
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 Apply principles of project management
    2 Deliver an effective presentation
    3 Work effectively within a team environment 
    4 Display knowledge of business and entrepreneurial skills required for psychological research and practice
    5 Critically evaluate published psychological research
    6 Communicate psychological science to laypeople
    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, 4, 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.

    1-6

    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.

    2, 3

    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.

    1-6

    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.

    3, 4

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

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

    1-6

    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.

    1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Lecturers involved in the course will provide powerpoint slides and lecture components will be recorded as is standard. Where applicable, pre-recorded material may also be made available in MyUni.
    Online Learning
    Online resources will included uploaded powerpoint presentations from weekly lectures; recordings of the lecture components; related web-based materials linked to Youtube where applicable.
    Material will be released on a weekly basis.
    All standard MyUni resources will be utilized, apart from quizzes, as the course is designed to encourage learning through practice.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Each week will involve a blended style of delivery. The main focus each week will be 1 x 2-hour small group workshop which will feature a face-to-face lecture of 30-45 mins in traditional format and subsequently a 60-90 minute workshop that allows for more in depth analysis of the concepts and ideas presented in the lecture. For example, students may be asked to complete a range of tasks; critically evaluate propositions or concepts; undertake problem-solving sessions; critically evaluate an article or other material. These sessions will provide the opportunity for group discussion and working in teams to analyse ideas.
    Workload

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

    * 12 x 2 hour lecture/workshops = 24 hours
    * prep for lecture/workshops and consolidation of learning = 12 hours
    * research proposal - literature review = 40 hours
    * research proposal - methodology = 40 hours
    * group presentation = 40 hours

    TOTAL = 156 HOURS

    Learning Activities Summary
    In this course, you will have workshops from a number of guest lecturers. As such, the exact order of the workshops will vary from year to year. 

    Week Topic Workshops
    1-6 Research Skills
    - Including: Writing Abstracts, Developing a Research Project, Preparing a Research Proposal, and Research Ethics  
    6
    7-12 Career Skills and Pathways
    - Including: Commercialisation and Pitching Ideas, Engaging with Different Sectors, Psychological Research in Industry, and Building Your Resume
    6

    *Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change.
  • 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 Task Type Weighting Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Workshop engagement Summative 10% 1 - 6
    Research proposal - Literature Review Summative 30% 1, 3, 4
    Research proposal - Methodology Summative 30% 1, 3, 4
    Group presentation Summative 30% 1 - 6

    Assessment Detail
    Workshop engagement (10%)
    Students will receive 10% of their total mark based on their attendance and participation in workshops during the semester.

    Research proposal – Literature review (30%)
    Students will conduct a literature review to form the basis of a proposal for a research project that is aimed at addressing a real-world problem provided to students in the form of an externship [i.e., a problem currently being encountered by an organization outside of the university]. The literature review should lead to clear research aims and/or hypotheses.

    Research proposal - Methodology (30%)
    Students will prepare a research proposal which outlines a proposed quantitative methodology for addressing the research aims and/or hypotheses identified in the literature review assessment task. The form of the assessment will vary according to current need.

    Group presentation (30%)
    Students will prepare a group presentation either in person or as a poster or a Youtube video, in which they critically review a topic relevant to career skills in psychology as it relates to leadership and/or team/groupwork.
    Submission
    Unless otherwise noted, this course will follow the assessment submission guidelines for the School of Psychology.

    • Assignments will be submitted electronically via MyUni.
    • Assignments are due at 9am on Monday.
    • A 24-hour “grace period” automatically applies to assignment submission. Assignments submitted before 9am Tuesday will not receive a late penalty.
    • The late penalty is a deduction of -5% per day (including weekends).
    • Extensions longer than 24 hours must be approved by the course coordinator.
    • We aim to provide feedback and marks within 4 weeks of assignment submission.

    Anticipated Exceptions
    - The materials for the Group Presentation will be submitted via MyUni. However, students must also attend the weekly workshop to deliver their oral presentation for this assessment. 
    - Workshop participation is assessed in the weekly workshop class.

    *Disclaimer: This information is provisional and subject to change. The course coordinator will advise you of the submission requirements at the start of the semester.
    Course Grading

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

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.