Dissertation (Forensic Psychology)

PSYC68790 Dissertation (Forensic Psychology) 60 Full year Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Verity Wainwright Unit coordinator Division of Psychology and Mental Health 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 30.0 The dissertation involves you working closely with their supervisor to develop and implement an empirical forensic research project. You identify a topic of interest prior to commencing the programme (e.g. considering research questions and methodologies to examine this topic). This is refined this during Semester one in collaboration with the research supervisor. You will present a research proposal to a small group of peers and staff early in Semester two. You will work with your supervisor to develop the design and submit for ethical approval. Once approved by the University Ethical Review Committee (UREC) you conduct the study and analyse the data before writing up the project. Understanding and applying relevant ethical and professional standards are key to this unit, as are skills in working under supervision. You will write the empirical study in publication format (e.g. for a scientific journal) and communicate the key findings to a lay audience (e.g. general public The dissertation involves you working closely with their supervisor to develop and implement an empirical forensic research project. You identify a topic of interest prior to commencing the programme (e.g. considering research questions and methodologies to examine this topic). This is refined this during Semester one in collaboration with the research supervisor. You will present a research proposal to a small group of peers and staff early in Semester two. You will work with your supervisor to develop the design and submit for ethical approval. Once approved by the University Ethical Review Committee (UREC) you conduct the study and analyse the data before writing up the project. Understanding and applying relevant ethical and professional standards are key to this unit, as are skills in working under supervision. You will write the empirical study in publication format (e.g. for a scientific journal) and communicate the key findings to a lay audience (e.g. general public Provide you with the opportunity to design, conduct, analyse and report on an empirical study relevant to forensic psychology. The unit aims to offer you the opportunity to engage in supervision and refine your applied research skills (e.g. identifying and applying ethical principles and standards). The unit also ensures you demonstrate in-depth critical understanding of your chosen research area. Finally the unit offers the chance to disseminate the findings of the empirical project in an accessible and meaningful way to a suitable audience By the end of the unit you should be able to:<ul><li>Critically evaluate the knowledge, theory and evidence base relevant to the research topic</li><li>Understand and apply ethical standards to applied forensic research</li><li>Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and application of appropriate methodologies to develop appropriate research question(s)</li><li>Identify appropriate methods and techniques by which to address the research question(s)</li><li>Develop and present oral presentation of research proposal</li><li>Apply and interpret advanced research methods/analysis in relation to forensic/forensic mental health applied research working with relevant software where appropriate</li><li>Implement and manage appropriate data collection strategies</li><li>Manage and work with datasets</li><li>Present analysis and findings in academic style suitable for publication</li><li>Communicate findings to lay audience</li><li>Demonstrate responsibility to improve on own learning now and in the future</li><li>Demonstrate sensitivity, respectful and non-discriminatory language in relation to forensic clients/settings</li><li>Develop effective working supervisory relationships</li><li>Demonstrate independent thought, presentation skills and time management.   </li></ul> The unit will provide students with high quality research design, analysis and dissemination skills. Learning will be through regular individual or small group meetings with the research supervisor, and co-supervisor, field supervisor/s/clinical collaborator/s (if applicable), guided reading, independent study and self-directed learning. One taught session will outline the process of the dissertation (e.g. the processes of supervision and ethical  approval). There are three formal progress review meetings with the dissertation supervisor. The first occurs before the end of November to discuss ideas for the empirical project. The second meeting occurs early February to determine planning and progress. The third formal review meeting occurs at the end of July to ensure the student has attained the grades in their taught modules to complete the dissertation module.   0 Other 100% Formative assessment:1. Critical appraisal of literature (pass/fail)Summative assessment1. Oral presentation of research proposal to group of peers. Time: 10 minutes duration. Weighting: 20%2. Dissertation - thesis consisting of: Study written in publication format (approx.. 4000-6000 words) Reflective account of research process (approx. 1000 words) Word count: max 10,000 words. Weighting: 70%3. Summary of research for lay audience. Word limit: 500 words. Weighting: 10% Student representation plays a vital and important part in helping the programme maintain and improve the quality of its provision. Student representatives liaise between staff and students on matters of concern to either side; provide two-way feedback on the course and on teaching quality, and promote active student involvement in course development. Student representatives are also invited to speak confidentially to the external examiner at the end of the academic year, and to participate in end-of-year course review meetings. Representatives are asked to feedback information from these meetings to the other students. In addition, at the end of each semester students are asked to complete an on-line evaluation questionnaire for each course unit they have taken. At the end of the course they complete a general evaluation for their overall programme of study. This anonymous feedback is circulated to unit leaders. This helps to ensure quality assurance.   PSYC68801 Research methods I: Design and principles Pre-Requisite Compulsory PSYC68812 Research Methods II: Advanced analysis Pre-Requisite Compulsory MSc Forensic Psych&Mental Hlth MSc Forensic Psych&Mental Hlth PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc Forensic Psych&Mental Hlth MSc Forensic Psych&Mental Hlth PGDT Taught Component Mandatory N Students will be expected to supplement their reading, and source their own relevant articles as demonstrated by their Canvas learning. Additional contemporary publications will be discussed during dissertation supervision and design of the project.  <ul><li>American Psychological Association (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition. APA,  </li><li>Bem, D.J.B. (2003). Writing the Empirical Journal Article. In, Darley, J. M., Zanna, M.P., & Roediger III, H. L. (Eds) The Compleat Academic: A Practical Guide for the Beginning Social Scientist, 2nd Edition. APA</li><li>British Psychological Society (2013). Ethics Guidelines for Internet-mediated Research. BPS</li><li>British Psychological Society (2014) Code of Human Research Ethics. BPS  </li><li>Brown, S & Sleath, E (2015) Research Methods for Forensic Psychologists: a Guide to Completing your Research Project. Routledge Criminology.</li><li>Field, A. (2005). Discovering statistics using SPSS (Second ed.). Sage.</li><li>Field, A. & Hole, G. J. (2002). How to Design and Report Experiments. Sage.</li><li>Hart, C (2005) Doing your Masters Dissertation. Sage.</li><li>Goodwin, A., Richardson, P & Vine, E. (2011) Research Methods and Design in Psychology. Learning Matters Ltd.</li><li>Shaughnessy, J., Zechmeister, E.B., & Zechmeister, J.S (2014) Research Methods in Psychology. McGraw Hill</li></ul> Lectures 2 Project supervision 28 0 570