Title
Practice Based Project (Modules 9 – 12)
Code (if
known)
SHE
M
Level
SCQF
Level 11
Level
Module Co-ordinator
Semester &
Mode of Study
Part time
Module Team
Dr. Sean Harper, Melanie Sharpe, Leeanne Nicklas,
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Prohibited
Combinations
Successful completion of Diploma
Credit Rating
60
Dr Sean Harper
Aims
1)
enable students to develop and apply the skills of research and inquiry as it applies in practice
to a specialised area in the field of CBT
2)
engage students in practice and study which demands a professional approach, academic
rigour, independence and self-direction
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module the student will be
able to:
Explore and apply relevant research approaches and clinical
L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
L6
skills, to the chosen option.
Critically evaluate the existing literature appropriate to the
chosen research topic.
Develop critically, strategically and in depth a topic or area
of interest within the chosen option.
Critically appraise the ethical implications of the proposal,
focusing on an examination of the roles and responsibilities
of a (neophyte) researcher
Develop further skills of practice and inquiry, demonstrating
an ability to set the project in its wider context, to sustain
argument and to present conclusions.
Present and be able to defend the rationale, approach or
methodology, outcomes and conclusions of their project
Assessed in this
module
A B
Yes
√
Yes
√
Yes
√
C D
√ √
√
√
√
Yes
Yes
√
√ √
Yes
√
√
√
A – Knowledge and Understanding
B – Intellectual Skills
C – Practical Skills
D – Transferable Skills
Learning Experiences
The module will engage the student in the following types of learning experiences:
Students will select one of the specialised options: Personality Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Eating
Disorders, Psychosis, CBT Supervision, developments in CBT training, practice and dissemination
or the student’s specialist interest as approved by course team.
10 hours maximum supervision.
590 hours self directed learning.
6 hours research skills workshops.
Assessment Pattern
Dissertation of the research project which is an investigation of a topic within the chosen specialist
area of CBT (13,000 words). The project will involve an exploratory piece of research which would
include designing and undertaking a research project including choosing appropriate research
questions, epistemology, methodology, collecting data, analysing data and drawing appropriate
conclusions from your study. Due consideration should be given to ethical requirements of the study
and appropriate Research and Development procedures should be observed. This could be in the
form of a small scale, service related audit, service based evaluation, a single N or case series
design. A range of research approaches or project methodology may be adopted, drawing for
example from phenomenological, case study, implementation science or action research paradigms
and using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods of data collection and analysis.
The components of the dissertation would include:
a. A research proposal; (2000 words.) This would detail the title and rationale of the chosen
research project, and then appraise the relevant research methodologies, epistemology and
comprehensive consideration of ethical issues.
b. A literature review: (6000 words.) This would be a comprehensive literature review focusing
on a topic related to a specific aspect of the research proposal which critically appraises and
synthesises the evidence pertaining to a specific area explored in the proposal.
c. Paper for publication (5000 words) in journal article format. The student should identify an
appropriate journal in which they wish to publish and follow appropriate style. The paper
would summarise the above literature review and detail the actual project undertaken and
present ready to be submitted for publication, with some discussion of a potential route of
dissemination such as work based report, publication, poster, etc.
Can this Module be Anonymously marked?
an explanation.
Yes/No
If No please provide
The dissertation will be marked by internal supervisors so cannot be done so anonymously
Content
This is dependent on the option undertaken.
Supervision will be provided by specialist supervisors.
Main Texts
These will be defined by the option area and appropriate to area of study. See option specific
section of project handbook for details.
Barker, C., Pistrang, N. and Elliot, R. (2002). Research Methods in Clinical Psychology: An
Introduction for students and Practitioners- 2nd Edition. Chichester: Wiley.
Becker L (2004) How to manage your postgraduate course. Palgrave Macmillan
Bell J. (2005) (4th ed) Doing Your Research Project: a guide to first time researchers in education
and social science. Maidenhead OU Press.
Blaxter, L., Hughes, C., & Tight, M. (2010) How to Research-4th Edition. Open University Press.
Clarke, M., & Oxman, A.D., (2003) Cochrane Reviewers Handbook. 4.2.0 Oxford: The Cochrane
Collaboration; 2003.
Coolican, H., (2009) Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology-5th Edition. Routledge.
Cuttie D (2005) Developing and applying study skills, writing assignments, dissertations and
management reports London Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Day, A., (2008.) How to get research published in Journals -2nd Edition. Gower.
Denscombe, M., (2010). The Good Research Guide for Small Scale Social Research Projects.
Buckingham, Open University.
Fairbairn G.J. & Fairbairn S (2001) Reading at University: a guide for students Buckinghamshire
OU Press
Field A, and Hole G, (2003) How to design and report Experiments. Sage, London.
Hart C (1998) Doing a literature review. Sage, London
Jarvis P Holford J Griffin C (2003) The theory and practice of learning London Kogan Page
Jasper M (2003) Beginning reflective practice Cheltenham Nelson Thornes
Katrak, P., Bialocerkowski,A.E., Massy-Westropp, N., Kumar, S., & Grimmer, K.A. (2004) A
systematic Review of the Content of Critical Appraisal Tools. BMC Medical Research Methodology
2004, 4:22
O’Brien, P.M.S., & Pipkin, F.B. (1999) Introduction to Research Methodology for Specialists and
Trainees. RCOG Press.
Parker,R.I., & Brossart D.F.(2003) Evaluating Single Case research data: A comparision of seven
statistical methods . Behavioural Therapy, 34, 189-211.
Parry, G. & Watts, F.N. (1996) Behavioural and Mental Health Research: A Handbook of Skills and
Methods-2nd Edition. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Ltd. Hove.
Petermann, F. & Muller, J.M. (2001) Clinical Psychology and single case evidence: A practical
approach to treatment planning and evaluation. Wiley.
Sommer, B. & Sommer, R. (2001) A Practical Guide to Behavioural Research: Tools and
techniques-5th Edition. Oxford University Press.
Wallace M Wray A (2006) Critical reading and writing for Postgraduates London: Sage
Other relevant details
Programme specific issues will be outlined in the project handbook
Signed
Module Co-ordinator Dr Sean Harper
Date
March 2014
Registry use only
Date received