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Introduction To Research Methods
Unit Description
This capstone unit introduces students to the role and significance of research in developing the evidence base for counselling and psychotherapy.
This capstone unit introduces students to the role and significance of research in developing the evidence base for counselling and psychotherapy. Students will be introduced to a range of research paradigms, research designs and methodologies, with an emphasis on qualitative methodology. Social, legal and ethical aspects of research in the discipline will be addressed.
Students will learn how to develop a research question and a draft research proposal, including a timeline for implementation. Students will be encouraged to give feedback to each other on the merits of each other’s proposals.
Students will also be introduced to systematic literature search techniques, and ways to record and display searches of literature. Students will conduct a search of published peer- reviewed research for the research question they develop, relevant to the counselling and psychotherapy discipline, and will produce a quality literature review synthesising and evaluating these findings.
UNIT CODE
203
UNIT TYPE
Core Unit
STUDY PERIOD
Year 2, Semester 1
CREDIT POINTS
3.0
UNIT COORDINATOR
Claire Jankelson
CONSULTATION TIMES
30 minutes before and after workshop intensives and by appointment during semester
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
(a) Clearly articulate the role of research in advancing the counselling and psychotherapy profession
(b) Critically analyse social, legal and ethical aspects of conducting counselling and psychotherapy research
(c) Critically analyse epistemological and methodological differences between qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research paradigms
(d) Develop and evaluate sound research questions for exploring a topic relevant to process work
(e) Critically evaluate published peer-reviewed research in the selected research topic
(f) Critically review the body of literature pertaining to the selected research topic and synthesise the findings in a literature review
Student Workload
The total unit workload is equivalent to 6.56 hours per week over the semester (105 hours in total).
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12 hours on-campus workshop intensive
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3 hour Zoom classes
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12.6 hours study buddy work
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77.4 personal study hours
Delivery Mode
Workshop intensive on-campus
On-campus teaching comprises 12 hours in total - 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Online delivery
Two x 1.5 hour Zoom discussion
Study Buddy activities
12.6 hours over the semester
Graduate Attributes
Attributes | Statement |
|---|---|
Ethical practice and integrity | Our graduates will demonstrate high ethical standards in their practice and follow professional Codes of Ethics to do good (beneficence) and avoid harm (maleficence) |
Professionalism | Our graduates will have a highly developed understanding of their work roles and responsibilities and uphold a high level of professional conduct in their work |
Holistic awareness | Our graduates will have an in-depth understanding of how the physical body, the psyche and mind/ spirit/self are in constant interaction and relationship with each other and with the environment |
Communication | Our graduates will have well-developed written and oral communication skills, including listening deeply and receiving, interpreting and transmitting complex information, on many levels of awareness with colleagues, clients and the community |
Critical thinking | Our graduates will have critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate and analyse information and make informed professional judgements |
