Research 1

Module overview

This module has been designed to prepare trainees to undertake the subsequent Research focused module (Research 2) on the DClinPsych Programme. As part of a series of research modules, it provides trainees with knowledge and skills to develop proficiency in the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency 12 and 13. In the current module, trainees will undertake a small scale research project (SSRP; this project, assessed in Research 2, will comprise an academic research paper) and iteratively prepare a research proposal for their research thesis (the final thesis, assessed in Research 3, will ultimately comprise a bridging chapter, empirical project, and a systematic literature review). During the first term, trainees will identify a suitable small-scale research project, and explore potential research topics for their thesis and identify possible supervisors (one of whom must be a member of staff at the University, most commonly from within the School of Psychology), all with support from the DClinPsych Research Team. In the second term, trainees will undertake their SSRP, and will further develop their ideas for their thesis proposal. The summative assignment will be submitted in the third term, and will be a thesis proposal, with detailed description of their empirical project rationale, design and methods, initial ideas for the systematic review, a data management plan and project timeline (typically in the form of a Gantt chart) . This will prepare trainees to undertake their doctoral level research projects in years two and three of their DClinPsych studies (within modules Research 2 and Research 3).

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

The module will include four lectures and drop-in sessions for trainees to consult the members of the DClinPsych Research Team when preparing their formative and summative assignments. Following introductory teaching sessions led by the DClinPsych Research Team, trainees will consider their research interests and identify potential research topics and supervisors (based in the Psychology AU) that best fit these research interests. Initial meetings with the supervisors will focus on the identification and specification of a research question that is theoretically and empirically justifiable and that is sufficiently specific to allow the generation of one or more testable hypotheses or, if qualitative, research questions that address a demonstrably important novel research question. As the projects develop (throughout this module and the subsequent Research 2 and Research 3 modules), trainees (under supervision), will take initiative and responsibility in moving the project forwards to identify and use appropriate methods/measures, recruit participants, to think through the project at a procedural level, and to understand and explain the implications of the project for clinical psychological science.

Study time
Type	Hours
Independent Study	88
Teaching	12
Total study time	100

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Kazdin, A. E. (2009). Bridging science and practice to improve patient care.

Barker, C. Pistrang, N. & Elliott, R. (2016). Research Methods in Clinical Psychology: An introduction for Students and practitioners. Chichester: Wiley.

Assessment

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Research proposal	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Resubmit assessments	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal