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Course profile

Work and Research in Applied Psychology (PSYC4221)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Psychology School

Enrolment Note:This course has a delayed enrolment date and will open following the allocation of Honours streams. Students will be advised of the specific date each year when their Honours stream is confirmed and should contact the School of Psychology for further information. This course is restricted to fourth year students enrolled in PSYC4091 Team Research Thesis. There is an enrolment quota in place each year. The quota for each semester is half of the total number of students enrolled in PSYC4091.

The aim of this course is to enable students to critically apply psychological knowledge to workplace contexts. Participation requires the completion of a period of approved work-integrated learning, in the form of work placement, to be conducted in an organisation that deals with issues relevant to psychology. This course also aims to promote the translation of psychological knowledge into effective practice through on-campus workshops and assessment designed to help students critically reflect on their learning and workplace performance. Enrolment is required two weeks prior to the start of semester to ensure that a suitable placement can be arranged. Enrolment after this date will only be allowed with approval, please contact honours.psychology@enquire.uq.edu.au for further information.

This course has been developed to enable students to critically apply knowledge from their psychology degree to workplace contexts. Participation in this elective requires the completion of a period of approved work-integrated-learning, in the form of work placement, to be conducted in an organisation that deals with issues relevant to psychology. This course will draw upon knowledge and skills developed throughout their undergraduate degree and will useᅠworkshops to help students develop skills to critically reflect on their learning and workplace performance.ᅠ

Course requirements

Restrictions

Restricted to students in the BPsySc(Hons), BA(Hons), BSc(Hons) enrolled in PSYC4091 Team Research Thesis.

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of this unit is enable students to develop their work-literacy and work-readiness, by providing opportunities to apply psychological knowledge toᅠworkplace contexts.

Through this course students will:

1.ᅠᅠᅠᅠ Gain a minimum of 60 hours of work-integrated learning placement in an applied psychology setting

2.ᅠᅠᅠᅠ Develop skills necessary to critically reflect on their learning and professional skills, assisted by on-campus workshops and assessment activities

3.ᅠᅠᅠᅠ Develop an understanding of employment options in applied psychology, and key employability skills

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Demonstrate your ability to engage with an organisation and critically evaluate the literature on a social, organisational, or clinical issue being addressed within that organisation.

LO2.

Demonstrate your ability to apply evidence-based principles from psychology, critical thinking and problem solving to address applied problems in a work context.

LO3.

Demonstrate effective written and interpersonal communication skills and your ability to work effectively in professional settings.

LO4.

Demonstrate ability to monitor and manage your learning in a work context.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Reflection Reflective journal 20% four journal entries, each worth 5%

22/07/2024 - 24/10/2024

Participation/ Student contribution Workshop participation Pass/Fail (attendance is compulsory to pass the course)

22/07/2024 - 21/10/2024

Participation/ Student contribution Placement timesheet (minimum 60 hrs of placement) Pass/Fail (must be signed by placement supervisor)

22/07/2024 - 24/10/2024

Paper/ Report/ Annotation Pre-placement portfolio 50%

4/09/2024 2:00 pm

Role play/ Simulation Mock interview 25%

15/10/2024 2:00 pm

Presentation Placement Summary Poster 5%

21/10/2024 - 21/10/2024

21 Oct 23 14:00 - 21 Oct 23 17:00

Performance Work placement evaluation Pass/Fail (verified by placement supervisor)

24/10/2024 2:00 pm

Assessment details

Reflective journal

Mode
Written
Category
Reflection
Weight
20% four journal entries, each worth 5%
Due date

22/07/2024 - 24/10/2024

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

A key aim of this course to encourage students to critically reflect on and monitor their work performance and to link this to their undergraduate training in psychology. In completing the reflective journals students will identify work-related activities undertaken and clearly show how the student's skill and knowledge base (from their psychology courses) was used to successfully complete the tasks. Students will also identify gaps in their knowledge or challenges they experienced during placement, and identify concrete plans/strategies for better approaching/resolving the problem on their next day of placement. Students will complete four (4) reflections. Each reflection is worth 5%.

Reflections should be submitted throughout the semester so that feedback can be provided on progress. It is recommended you start early and space out your reflections across your placement and engage with the feedback we provide on your reflection prior to submitting your next reflection. 

 

Submission guidelines

Via eportfolio/blackboard. NOTE: You will no longer receive an automatic submission receipt from Turnitin confirming your assignment has been received. You should download a copy of the digital receipt from the Assignment Dashboard and keep this as a record.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Workshop participation

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Participation/ Student contribution
Weight
Pass/Fail (attendance is compulsory to pass the course)
Due date

22/07/2024 - 21/10/2024

Learning outcomes
L03

Task description

Attendance at course workshops is compulsory. Students must attend the workshops and must participate in workshop activities to successfully pass this course. For students who demonstrate that they are unable to attend the workshop live, they must contact the course co-ordinator in advance, and demonstrate that they have viewed the recordings of the workshop content.

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Placement timesheet (minimum 60 hrs of placement)

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Participation/ Student contribution
Weight
Pass/Fail (must be signed by placement supervisor)
Due date

22/07/2024 - 24/10/2024

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

A minimum of 60 hrs (recommended one day per week for ~8 weeks) of supervised and approved work placement must be accumulated throughout the semester. Students must log hours and have these verified by their placement supervisor. 

 

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Pre-placement portfolio

Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
50%
Due date

4/09/2024 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Each student will complete a pre-placement portfolio, designed to prepare them for placement. This has two components;

(1) Placement contract: in which students meet with their placement supervisors to negotiate the terms of their placement (including expectations of dress code, attendance days, and tasks). Students are asked to identify three learning goals for their placement.

(2) Critical literature review: Students will provide a review of the aims and goals of their placement organisation and identify a social/organisational/health/policy/or clinical issue related to their organisation’s goals. Students will then review current literature related to the identified issue (1200 words).

Submission guidelines

via blackboard/ePortfolio. NOTE: You will no longer receive an automatic submission receipt from Turnitin confirming your assignment has been received. You should download a copy of the digital receipt from the Assignment Dashboard and keep this as a record.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Mock interview

Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Role play/ Simulation
Weight
25%
Due date

15/10/2024 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Each student must complete a Mock interview in which students will use the skills developed in workshops, combined with their reflective exercises, to prepare a video response to a series of behavioural (job) interview questions. 

Submission guidelines

via eportfolio and blackboard

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Placement Summary Poster

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Presentation
Weight
5%
Due date

21/10/2024 - 21/10/2024

21 Oct 23 14:00 - 21 Oct 23 17:00

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Students will prepare and present a poster summarising their placement experience. The poster will include details about the student's worksite, its role and focus, and as well as the student's activities and professional development. The poster will be presented during the final course workshop. 

 

 

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Work placement evaluation

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Performance
Weight
Pass/Fail (verified by placement supervisor)
Due date

24/10/2024 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Student's placement performance will be evaluated by their placement supervisor at the completion of placement. Supervisors will complete a short post-placement survey on student performance. 

 

Submission guidelines

Eportfolio

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 29.99

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 46.99

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49.99

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64.99

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74.99

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84.99

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.

Supplementary assessment will only be available to students who receive a grade of 3 due to having failed the Pre-placement portfolio and/or Post-placement portfolio pieces of assessment.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
O-week

(15 Jul - 21 Jul)

Workshop

Orientation session

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 1

(22 Jul - 28 Jul)

Workshop

Preparing for placement

Overview of placement, and professional workplace behaviour, introduction to reflective practice and critical thinking skills (Compulsory).

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 2

(29 Jul - 04 Aug)

Workshop

Employer expectations and workplace culture

In this workshop students will learn how to assess their employability strengths and weakness as well as learn strategies for dealing with them in the workplace. The practical skills developed in this workshop will help students network and make the most of their placement experience (Compulsory).

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 7

(02 Sep - 08 Sep)

Workshop

Reflecting on professional skills and job seeking

Job searching strategies, understanding and articulating your skills and experience, interviewing for a job (Compulsory).

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04

Week 8

(09 Sep - 15 Sep)

Workshop

Placement debrief and professional connections

In this workshop, students will learn how to wrap up and initiate the evaluation of their placement, prepare for the poster presentation, and develop skills for developing professional connections related to the poster convention (compulsory).

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 13

(21 Oct - 27 Oct)

Workshop

Placement summaries (presentations)

Poster presentation providing background and context to the student's work placement to encourage sharing of information between students regarding careers in psychology (Compulsory).

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: