Syllabus: M.Psych

Programme details for the Master of Psychology

Courses Presented in this Programme

The M.Psych includes the following compulsory courses and components:

• Research Methodology
• Proposal & Research Reading
• Advanced Psychology project
• Dissertation Defence
• Masters Dissertation (150-200p)

Duration of the Programme

This programme has a minimum duration of one year before the qualification certificate can be issued. The maximum learning duration is normally two years.

Prerequisites

Completion of the B.Psych (Hons) or having been granted the status of a B.Psych (Hons) qualification through the process of recognition of prior earning (RPL), as confirmed by the CU Senate.

Single courses may be enrolled for to complete other qualifications. In such cases the student must consider that the courses were planned and selected sequentially by CU to serve as foundational knowledge for the more advanced courses.

Research Methodology

Credits: 20 — Incorporated in the dissertation.

Synopsis. This course guides the student, step by step, through the research process, from problem selection through writing up results. It provides all of the basics necessary to complete a research project in any discipline.

Outline. The following aspects are reflected in this course:

• What is research?
• Tools of research
• The problem: the heart of the research process
• Review of the related literature
• Planning your research design
• Writing the research proposal
• Qualitative research
• Historical research
• Descriptive research
• Experimental and causal - comparative designs
• Statistical techniques for analysing quantitative data
• Technical details: style, format, and organization of the research report

Proposal & Research Reading

Credits: 20

Synopsis. Research students are expected to present a written research proposal within three months after commencement. The proposal is handed in to the study leader. Assessors of this proposal are selected by the Faculty for their understanding of the field and the research involved.

The purpose of a research proposal is to set out a plan for conducting the research and writing the dissertation within the available time. It should take account of the availability and guidance of the study leader.

The starting point for a research proposal is the topic, which is the field of interest in which the research is to be carried out. In introducing the topic, the proposal should clarify the field that it falls into, and the specific part of that field which the research will explore. It should clarify why the topic area is of interest and importance, and how the proposed research will contribute to the the field of knowledge or profession.

The proposal should clarify the research questions, ensuring that these are specific and answerable. It is important to show how these questions relate to the topic area, and how they will advance the student's contribution.

The proposal should detail the research to be carried out, and clarify the research methods, the timeframe and the reasons for selecting particular methods. Where a period of literature review or research should precede any empirical research, this should be factored in as part of the research. It is important to estimate any periods of field research, and to flag their duration and cost, in your research proposal.

Advanced Psychology Practicum

Credits: 20

Synopsis. The aim of the practicum is to put advanced psychology theory into practice. It is expected of our students to participate and apply their acquired skills in an approved practicum in a real life or organisational environment. The candidate will perform a variety of tasks designated to him/her by the appointed project leader and the course professor. These tasks are divergent in nature and will be determined by the nature of the practicum.

The student's contribution to the effective functioning of the study-group and the successful completion of the practicum will be assessed. In order to maintain a set standard of assessment, guidelines for assessing group participation are provided.

Colloquium Doctum

Credits: 30

Synopsis. It is expected of our masters candidates to defend their dissertation by means of a colloquium doctum (academic discussion). The purpose of the meeting is for the candidates to convince a panel of experts in the field of the dissertation how well they have done in the conducting of their research study and the preparation of their dissertation.

Dissertation

Credits: 90

Synopsis. This programme requires students to complete a dissertation as part of the final assessment for the MBA degree.

Doing a dissertation means that, instead of knowledge and information being presented and following a prescribed route for answering questions, students are thrust into an active role of managing an investigation into a topic area. This means researching and discovering things for themselves. They will have to set their own targets and parameters, pose their own central research question and decide on the appropriate sources of information to support the research. It therefore requires the use of the higher-level cognitive skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Students may choose an area of particular interest to them within the scope of Course Title.

A dissertation is an individual effort and the student, his/her academic tutor and the course professor will work together on constructing an approved topic (research question) and methodologies.

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