Advanced Topics in Psychology II (PSYC4882)

Course overview

Enrolment Note:This course has maximum quota of 25 students per semester, seminars with less than 10 students may not run.
Enrolment for Seminars opens in O Week following the Honours Orientation information session. Enrolment will close once the quota has been reached.

This course provides students with the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the primary research literature within the context of the wider theoretical framework in relation to relevant topics that vary from year to year.

From evidence to care: navigating ethics, stakeholders and impact in translational psychological research using pregnancy loss care as a case study

This seminar provides students with the opportunity to critically engage with translation research involving vulnerable populations in real-world settings, using pregnancy loss care as a case study. Students will read and present research papers, critically evaluating methodological design, ethical considerations, and the implications of the findings for research, clinical practice, and policy.

Discussions will emphasise the implications of real-world and lived-experience perspectives, ethical considerations, research translation, and the contribution of findings to the field.

Formal assessment includes developing an ethics protocol for a future research study, weighing potential risks against benefits, and generating further knowledge to improve mental health outcomes for individuals experiencing pregnancy loss and/or their health care providers.

Course Co-ordinator and Lecturer: Dr Marjolein Kammers

Dr Marjolein Kammers is a research psychologist, with a background spanning both fundamental cognitive neuroscience and clinical translational research. She is also an AHPRA-registered psychologist and actively works with clients in clinical practice.

Her research spans three distinct research lines, applying both quantitative and qualitative methods at fundamental and applied clinical levels:

Her PhD and postdoctoral research (completed in part at UCL in London) focused on basic science: understanding the interactions between neural body representations and pain. Using a range of bodily illusions, such as the now well-known Rubber Hand Illusion, she investigated how bodily experiences interact with basic sensory processing and physiological responses.

More recently, she led the clinical translation project M-HELP: Mental Health and Early Loss of Pregnancy. This project aimed to improve the mental health care provided to women and partners who experience early pregnancy loss (i.e. miscarriage), developing Australia's first evidence-based, empirically-tested intervention program that significantly improves both the mental health outcomes of bereaved parents as well as the confidence and competence of healthcare providers.

Finally, her third research line investigates ways to support individuals and families with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and ASD. Combining her clinical experience as a registered psychologist with her research background, she investigates how best to provide post-diagnosis support.

Course requirements

Assumed background

There is no assumed background knowledge for this seminar.ﾠ

Restrictions

BPsySc(Hons), BSc(Hons) in Psychology, BA(Hons) in Psychology students only.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to develop skills in critical evaluation and to deepen understanding of contemporary research on a topic in psychology.

ﾠ

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Seminar presentation on a selected topic

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Presentation

Weight

40%

Due date

2/03/2026 - 29/05/2026

You will present in the week you are assigned in the first class.

Other conditions

Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

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

If you are unable to complete your presentation you should submit appropriate documentation (as per the extension policy) to your course coordinator to arrange for an alternate time to complete your presentation. However, please be aware that timing of presentations is tight and that we may not be able to accommodate extension requests, or provide you with an alternative time.

Essay on a selected topic

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

40%

Due date

1/06/2026 5:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Via Turnitin in Word format.
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.

 For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam (the web link can be found on the Policies and Procedures tab)

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.

Attendance and Participation

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

20%

Due date

27/02/2026 - 29/05/2026

Throughout the semester

Task description

Submission guidelines

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.

Additional course grading information

Attendance – students must attend at least 6 of the seminar presentations in order to pass the course as a whole. Students must attend their presentation on their assigned day for a guaranteed opportunity to gain the marks for the presentation.

ﾠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Attendanceﾠ– studentsﾠmust attend at least 6ﾠof the 10 seminar presentations to pass the course.ﾠIf a student cannot attend a seminar, they should contact the course coordinator.

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.

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:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
• AI for Assessment Guide
• Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure

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

School guidelines

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

• School of Psychology Student Guidelines