Research 1

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate adequate consideration of ethical and legal issues around undertaking research, and collecting and storing research data.
• Articulate a coherent and compelling scientific case for your empirical research project.
• Apply skills in planning research timelines and setting goals for completing research.
• Demonstrate an ability to describe thoroughly the design and methods for your empirical research project.

This module occurs and is assessed in the first year of DClin training. There are relatively few teaching sessions in this year (or years two or three) for the thesis. Rather, teaching on the research methods modules will provide the technical skills required for design, conduct and data analysis for research at doctoral level.

The current module will help trainees build on these skills by helping them to think critically about research to identify issues/gaps in the literature and potential areas for future research. They will then use these skills to help you identify an SSRP and a potential empirical project with their supervisor. By the end of the module they will develop a clinical and scientific rationale to justify why their empirical research project is important and needed, as well as a proposal outlining their empirical study design, data management, and timelines.

Teaching topics:

• Introduction to DClin thesis and SSRP
• Principles of evidence-based practice and thinking critically about research.
• Developing a clinical and scientific rationale and persuading others about the importance and need for your empirical research study.
• Writing up small-scale research projects

There will also be drop-in sessions in terms one, two and three to support trainees with their SSRP and thesis.

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.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

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

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

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

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

Referral

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

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal