PYH400-4 Thesis
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PYH400-4 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | PYH401 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | The Commonwealth supported place student contribution amount for this unit depends upon the course of study. Find out more |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,024 |
| International unit fee | $4,224 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PYH400-4 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | PYH401 |
| Coordinator: | Trish Obst | p.obst@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The thesis component of the honours program comprises four 12 credit point units which culminate with the submission of a 48 credit point research thesis. PYH400-4 is the final unit of this sequence of units. The thesis provides an opportunity for you to extend, synthesise and apply the knowledge, skills and digital capabilities gained in your undergraduate degree and the honours program. Under the guidance of an academic supervisor, you will undertake a research project that makes an original contribution to knowledge in the broad discipline of psychology, which will provide an opportunity for you to engage in all parts of research and scholarship. The thesis provides skill and dispositional development in the critical evaluation of research, research methods, digital tools relevant to your project, and application of research findings, key capabilities in the discipline of psychology. The four thesis units are assessed through the submission of a 10000 word research thesis.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Source, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant empirical and theoretical information to identify a clear original contribution to the existing literature in your defined area of research, leading to clear well justified original research questions.
- Design and execute appropriate research methodologies, and technologies to investigate your research questions and employ appropriate procedures and technologies to analyse data.
- Formulate strategies to address the ethical and health and safety implications of your research methodology.
- Critically evaluate your research methodology and interpret your research findings and position these into the extant literature and make recommendations for future research in the field.
- Communicate research findings with a high standard of scholarship, and present according to current APA formatting guidelines.
Content
The thesis units will involve planning, designing, and executing an original piece of research in the field of psychology under the guidance of a supervisor. This process will culminate in the preparation and presentation of a 10000 word thesis. The thesis will include a clearly stated research question, an empirical literature review, data analysis, results and discussion. Full and detailed information about the thesis can be found in the PY09 Handbook. PYH400-4 is the final unit in the sequence of four thesis units and will culminate with the submission of your final thesis.
Learning Approaches
The honours thesis provides you with the opportunity use your research, critical analysis and enterprise skills to develop and answer an original research question. You will be allocated to a supervisor by the Course Coordinator to guide and support you in this process. You will need to meet regularly with your supervisor, with the format and frequency of these meetings negotiated between you and your supervisor. A student supervisor checklist is provided to help develop mutual expectations for the student and supervisor relationship in regards to the supervisory process. The supervisor's role will be to guide and assist you through the planning, execution and reporting of the research project.
Your thesis work is supported by workshops and seminars in the Psycholinks Peer Support Program. There are also a range of online resources such as the interactive thesis writing tool available on the Psycholinks community Canvas site.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback regarding your progress from your supervisor at your regular meetings. Written feedback on your research proposal will be provided from both your supervisor and the Thesis Coordinator. Formal feedback on your submitted written thesis will be in the form of two examiners reports.
Assessment
Overview
The thesis units involve one formative assessment piece the research proposal submitted in PYH400-1. The proposal requirement is designed to assist you in making progress, receiving feedback from your supervisor and in producing a high-quality thesis. The sole summative assessment item for the four thesis units is the submission of a written thesis which is done in PYH400-4. Your grade for each of the thesis units will be based on the grade you receive for your final thesis. With the submission of your thesis the assessment continues grade for PYH400-1, PHY400-2 and PHY400-3 will be updated to reflect your final thesis grade. You will be required to submit a PDF of your full thesis on the upload link on the PYH400-4 Canvas site.
Assessment items submitted after the due date will receive a penalty. If special circumstances prevent you from meeting the assessment due date, you can apply for an extension. QUT's assessment submission requirements reflect the expectations of professional practice where you will need to meet deadlines.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Research Proposal
Formative: An overview of your proposed research that outlines the research questions, provides a literature review leading to your rationale for the proposed study and describes the methodology that will be used to address the research question and the ethical implications of your proposed method.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Threshold Assessment:
Your research proposal must be submitted to the Thesis Coordinator to ensure your proposed research meets the scope of an honours project and has the Ethics and Health & Safety approvals required for the completion of the research project. The Thesis Coordinator will contact you and supervisor if any further information or changes to your proposal are needed in order to progress your thesis research. Detailed feedback on your research proposal will be provided by your supervisor for you to incorporate into your final thesis. Submission of the research proposal is a mandatory requirement of the unit.
Assessment: Thesis
You are required to submit an APA formatted 10,000 word thesis (word length not including figures and tables) to the PYH400-4 unit learning site. Your thesis presents the work undertaken as part of your honours research project. It should contain an introduction which sets out your original research question, a method detailing your methodology, a full results section and a discussion which relates your findings to your research aims and the broader research in the field. Your thesis is marked by two examiners who are independent of the supervisory process.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Risk Assessment Statement
A Health and Safety Risk Assessment application must be approved by the School/ Faculty Health and Safety Officer before data collection can commence.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) Required Pre-Professional Competencies for a Level 2 Honours Degree
2.5:
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PY09 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours Psychology)
- Critically evaluate empirical findings, major concepts, and theoretical bases of core areas in psychology, including first-nations perspectives.
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis - Investigate a substantive original research problem relevant to the discipline of psychology with intellectual independence, application of scientific research methods and technologies and ethical principles.
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis - Employ evidence based decision making and digital capabilities to formulate solutions to address complex problems including psychological assessment and intervention strategies across a range of settings and diverse populations.
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis - Employ effective professional collaboration, and communication skills in diverse formats, digital platforms and settings appropriate to socially and culturally responsive psychological practice and research.
Relates to: Thesis
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PYH400-4 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | PYH401 |
Overview
The thesis component of the honours program comprises four 12 credit point units which culminate with the submission of a 48 credit point research thesis. PYH400-4 is the final unit of this sequence of units. The thesis provides an opportunity for you to extend, synthesise and apply the knowledge, skills and digital capabilities gained in your undergraduate degree and the honours program. Under the guidance of an academic supervisor, you will undertake a research project that makes an original contribution to knowledge in the broad discipline of psychology, which will provide an opportunity for you to engage in all parts of research and scholarship. The thesis provides skill and dispositional development in the critical evaluation of research, research methods, digital tools relevant to your project, and application of research findings, key capabilities in the discipline of psychology. The four thesis units are assessed through the submission of a 10000 word research thesis.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Source, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant empirical and theoretical information to identify a clear original contribution to the existing literature in your defined area of research, leading to clear well justified original research questions.
- Design and execute appropriate research methodologies, and technologies to investigate your research questions and employ appropriate procedures and technologies to analyse data.
- Formulate strategies to address the ethical and health and safety implications of your research methodology.
- Critically evaluate your research methodology and interpret your research findings and position these into the extant literature and make recommendations for future research in the field.
- Communicate research findings with a high standard of scholarship, and present according to current APA formatting guidelines.
Content
The thesis units will involve planning, designing, and executing an original piece of research in the field of psychology under the guidance of a supervisor. This process will culminate in the preparation and presentation of a 10000 word thesis. The thesis will include a clearly stated research question, an empirical literature review, data analysis, results and discussion. Full and detailed information about the thesis can be found in the PY09 Handbook. PYH400-4 is the final unit in the sequence of four thesis units and will culminate with the submission of your final thesis.
Learning Approaches
The honours thesis provides you with the opportunity use your research, critical analysis and enterprise skills to develop and answer an original research question. You will be allocated to a supervisor by the Course Coordinator to guide and support you in this process. You will need to meet regularly with your supervisor, with the format and frequency of these meetings negotiated between you and your supervisor. A student supervisor checklist is provided to help develop mutual expectations for the student and supervisor relationship in regards to the supervisory process. The supervisor's role will be to guide and assist you through the planning, execution and reporting of the research project.
Your thesis work is supported by workshops and seminars in the Psycholinks Peer Support Program. There are also a range of online resources such as the interactive thesis writing tool available on the Psycholinks community Canvas site.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive formative feedback regarding your progress from your supervisor at your regular meetings. Written feedback on your research proposal will be provided from both your supervisor and the Thesis Coordinator. Formal feedback on your submitted written thesis will be in the form of two examiners reports.
Assessment
Overview
The thesis units involve one formative assessment piece the research proposal submitted in PYH400-1. The proposal requirement is designed to assist you in making progress, receiving feedback from your supervisor and in producing a high-quality thesis. The sole summative assessment item for the four thesis units is the submission of a written thesis which is done in PYH400-4. Your grade for each of the thesis units will be based on the grade you receive for your final thesis. With the submission of your thesis the assessment continues grade for PYH400-1, PHY400-2 and PHY400-3 will be updated to reflect your final thesis grade. You will be required to submit a PDF of your full thesis on the upload link on the PYH400-4 Canvas site.
Assessment items submitted after the due date will receive a penalty. If special circumstances prevent you from meeting the assessment due date, you can apply for an extension. QUT's assessment submission requirements reflect the expectations of professional practice where you will need to meet deadlines.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Research Proposal
Formative: An overview of your proposed research that outlines the research questions, provides a literature review leading to your rationale for the proposed study and describes the methodology that will be used to address the research question and the ethical implications of your proposed method.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Threshold Assessment:
Your research proposal must be submitted to the Thesis Coordinator to ensure your proposed research meets the scope of an honours project and has the Ethics and Health & Safety approvals required for the completion of the research project. The Thesis Coordinator will contact you and supervisor if any further information or changes to your proposal are needed in order to progress your thesis research. Detailed feedback on your research proposal will be provided by your supervisor for you to incorporate into your final thesis. Submission of the research proposal is a mandatory requirement of the unit.
Assessment: Thesis
You are required to submit an APA formatted 10,000 word thesis (word length not including figures and tables) to the PYH400-4 unit learning site. Your thesis presents the work undertaken as part of your honours research project. It should contain an introduction which sets out your original research question, a method detailing your methodology, a full results section and a discussion which relates your findings to your research aims and the broader research in the field. Your thesis is marked by two examiners who are independent of the supervisory process.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Risk Assessment Statement
A Health and Safety Risk Assessment application must be approved by the School/ Faculty Health and Safety Officer before data collection can commence.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) Required Pre-Professional Competencies for a Level 2 Honours Degree
2.5:
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PY09 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours Psychology)
- Critically evaluate empirical findings, major concepts, and theoretical bases of core areas in psychology, including first-nations perspectives.
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis - Investigate a substantive original research problem relevant to the discipline of psychology with intellectual independence, application of scientific research methods and technologies and ethical principles.
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis - Employ evidence based decision making and digital capabilities to formulate solutions to address complex problems including psychological assessment and intervention strategies across a range of settings and diverse populations.
Relates to: Research Proposal, Thesis - Employ effective professional collaboration, and communication skills in diverse formats, digital platforms and settings appropriate to socially and culturally responsive psychological practice and research.
Relates to: Thesis