Course coordinator
Associate Professor Kirsten Way
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 6
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Psychology School
Develops skills in research design, implementation and reporting for students completing postgraduate coursework degrees. Topic must be approved by the program director and should be field-based.
Scope
The MPsychOrg dissertation should be conducted in an area of relevance to any area of organisational psychology and must have as its central focus the scientific analysis of a problem.ﾠThus, it is important the research undertaken is firmly rooted in theories and principles of organisational psychology and related areas, and should represent a well-defined investigation of an empirical nature.ﾠThere is a vast scope for the discovery and analysis of the impact of various organisational processes at the individual, group, and organisational levels that are theoretically rigorous and have applied benefits to the practice of organisational psychology.
Research conducted for PSYC7400ﾠmust meet the requirements for postgraduate professional courses of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).ﾠThus, when deciding on the scope of the dissertation, the following issues should be considered:
- a variety of research designs are permissible, including basic and applied research, conducted either in laboratory or field settings (e.g., a program evaluation, experimental single case design, critical review and meta-analysis, critical review and secondary data analysis, or traditional empirical research project)
- a set of research questions or hypotheses should be tested and formulated in advance of data collection
- the research may be exploratory in nature, but its significance should be well-connected to the existing literature
- both quantitative and qualitative methodologies are permissible in organisational psychology and related areas
- testing may involve individuals, groups, or organisations
- sample sizes should be adequate to permit valid statistical tests of the hypotheses
- the research should have applied implications for the practice of organisational psychology and related areas
ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
The courses in the first year of the MPsychOrg program are designed to expose students to a wide variety of research areas in the field of organisational psychology. In addition, Applied Research Methods (PSYC7474) is designed to assist students to design and carry out their research.ﾠ
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PSYC7414
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in MPsychOrg
Course contact
Timetable
Additional timetable information
There are no scheduled classes for this course.ﾠ Students are expected to meet with their supervisors regarding their independent research at mutually agreeable times.
Aims and outcomes
The aims of the dissertation are to:
- reinforce a research orientation to the practice of Organisational Psychology
- encourage skills related toﾠanalysisﾠofﾠproblems
- develop skills in analysis andﾠand evaluation ofﾠrelevant information
- develop skills associated withﾠsynthesising a solution to effectively intervene to resolve organisational issues.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
demonstrate originality
LO2.
demonstrate critical thought
LO3.
demonstrate logical interpretation of data
LO4.
demonstrate capacity to undertake independent research
LO5.
demonstrate capacity to report on independent research including the theoretical and applied implications of the research
LO6.
demonstrate the ability to make informed judgements about the limitations of ones own work
LO7.
recognise and demonstrate interprofessional practice skills including role clarification, team functioning, interprofessional communication, conflict management, collaborative leadership and client-centred care.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
GEMS IPCP Curriculum Assessment
|
Pass/Fail, must Pass |
21/02/2025 12:01 pm 28/02/2025 4:01 pm |
| Presentation |
RESEARCH PROJECT DESIGN PRESENTATION
|
Hurdle Task - program requirement |
28/05/2025 - |
| Thesis | ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION | 100% |
16/10/2025 3:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
GEMS IPCP Curriculum Assessment
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- Pass/Fail, must Pass
- Due date
21/02/2025 12:01 pm
28/02/2025 4:01 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L06, L07
Task description
The assessment will be completed in the tutorial class by Friday in week one.
This is a team assessment and all team members are expected to contribute equally to the team’s assessment items during the tutorial. Teams will be assigned prior to the tutorial. There are two (2) parts to this assessment both based upon a client case conference role play that your team will complete during the tutorial class.
Part one requires you to complete a worksheet and will draw on your case conference role play, focusing on role-clarification, team functioning and client-centred care.
Length: There is no word limit for the worksheet.
Part two requires you to complete a team reflection on the processes adopted during your case conference role play specifically focusing on interprofessional communication, team functioning, conflict management and collaborative leadership.
Length: The team reflection will be limited to 500 words.
Teams will need to submit both assessment pieces in the Assessment tab on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site prior to the end of the tutorial class. Additional information regarding submission will be provided on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site.
Please refer to the assessment information on Learn.UQ for further details and requirements for the assessment.
Hurdle requirements
The IPCP module is a Pass/Fail assessment task. Students who pass the module will receive a course grade based on the remaining assessment in the course. Students who are unable to attend the module because they are away from Brisbane or ill on the day of the tutorial class, will be given an opportunity to complete the assessment individually. Successful completion of the assessment will enable a PASS grade for the module. Students who engage with the module, participate in the group work and submit a genuine attempt but do not achieve a pass grade for their submitted work, will be given a second opportunity to pass the module by completing a reflective essay. If this is task is successfully completed, a grade will be awarded based on the remaining assessment in the course. Students who do not engage with the module, fail to participate in the group work, or do not submit a genuine attempt, will be given an opportunity to complete a 5,000 word assignment on teamwork. Successful completion of this assignment will enable to be eligible to achieve a Pass grade for the course. Students who fail the module who do not complete either the reflective essay nor the teamwork assignment will be awarded a Fail grade for the course (if the remaining assessment in the course would result in a Pass, a Fail grade will be awarded).Submission guidelines
Online submission via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
RESEARCH PROJECT DESIGN PRESENTATION
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- Hurdle Task - program requirement
- Due date
28/05/2025 -
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Presenting your work formally is a requirement for obtaining your thesis grade. Students must present proposed projects within the CBOP lab group early in the academic year. It is up to you to ask when you are expected to present and to ensure you are absolutely clear about the presentation date, venue, and time.
The aim of earlier presentations is an improved learning experience: we hope to provide a forum for students to receive feedback on their proposed project design.
There are a small number of rules we need to adhere to:
- Students must present their material (brief literature review, research question/s, research methodology) in person.
- At least 2 academics must be present in the audience, including your supervisor.
- As proof that they have presented, students must complete this presentation by the 30 May 2025 and have their attendance noted by their supervisor and/or the course coordinator.
Hurdle requirements
Hurdle Task - program requirementSubmission guidelines
As proof that they have presented, students must complete this presentation by the 30 May 2025 and have their attendance noted by their supervisor and/or the course coordinator.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Weight
- 100%
- Due date
16/10/2025 3:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students are required to conduct an empirical research project of no less than 5,000 words and no more than 8,000 words (excluding abstract, tables, figures, and appendices) in an area of relevance to organisational psychology and to present this work in the form of a dissertation. Students are encouraged to write up the dissertation in the form of a Research Report for the Journal of Applied Psychology (see: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/apl/index.aspx).
The ideal length for the dissertation is around 5,000 – 6,000 words (approximately 20 pages, double spaced).ﾠSee dissertation manual on Blackboard site for the course for further guidance.
Submission guidelines
The School of Psychology requires that all dissertations be submitted in electronic format for Turnitin originality checking, thus, students must upload their thesis by this date and time.
Save the dissertation using the following naming convention:
SURNAME_Firstname_student number_course code_semester_year
Example: SMITH_Jane_S#24682468_PSYC7400 Organisational Psychology Dissertation Semester2_2025.pdf
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.
Students need to make contingency plans in the year of their dissertation to cater for unexpected problems conducting their research. If students require an extension, they must put a request in writing to the PSYC7400 Course Coordinator as soon as possible. For an extension, students must have valid reasons that have hindered progress and have documented evidence. In addition, students must acquire a supporting statement from their dissertation supervisor (an email is sufficient). In this documentation, students must indicate when they intend to submit the dissertation (please note that the length of extension granted will reflect the degree of disruption to the research). If approved, the PSYC7400 Course Coordinator will then set a new date for submission of the dissertation.
Except in exceptional circumstances, extensions are only granted for a limited period.
If an extension is requested beyond this extended 4-week timeframe, approval from the Associate Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences is required. If the request is denied, a failing grade may be awarded and students may be required to re-enrol in PSYC7400, which would incur the associated tuition fees.
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.
It is the responsibility of students to ensure that their work is submitted on time. The dissertation will lose 10% of the available marks for each day late, including for each day of the weekend or public holiday. Dissertations submitted more than 2 weeks late will receive an automatic failure. There are no variations to these requirements.
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. Course grade description: Absence of relevant work that allows for assessment of acheivement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: At this level, the work is clearly inadequate and does not complete the basic objectives and requirements of the MPsychOrg dissertation.ﾠPerhaps the project was not suitable or it was conducted in a way that was grossly inadequately, or a literature review was not undertaken.ﾠAlternatively, the written product may not contain the the required sections of anﾠintroduction, method, results, discussion, references of the dissertation.ﾠGiven the selection criteria for entry to the MPsychOrg program, instances of work in this band are exceedingly rare. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: At this level, the work is not considered to be a serious attempt to complete the basic objectives and requirements of the MPsychOrg dissertation.ﾠPerhaps the project was not suitable or it was conducted inadequately.ﾠAlternatively, the written product may not contain the essential information required in the introduction, method, results, and discussion of the dissertation.ﾠGiven the selection criteria for entry to the MPsychOrg program, instances of work in this band are rare. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A dissertation receiving a pass meets the basic requirements for the conduct and reporting of Psychological research. The various components of the project (e.g. identifying a problem, conducting a study designed to address it, analysis and interpretation of results) have been completed and the study potentially provides some information on the problem. Compared with a credit, the there may be some faults or deficiencies in one or more areas; for example, design of the project, reviewing the literature, explaining the rationale, interpreting the results, data analyses.ﾠThus, the work suggests that reading and thought about the research problem could be more adequate, and/or that the student had someﾠdifficulty in executing or describing the project and methods. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Dissertations in this band meet the basic requirements for the conduct and reporting of psychological research.ﾠFor example, it identifies a problem or issue, conducts a study designed to address the issue, and provides an informative analysis and interpretation of the results.ﾠCompared to the distinction dissertation, there may be minor inadequacies in the handling of one or more phases of the project.ﾠFor example, there may be some misinterpretation or errors of analysis of the data; in the writing there may be some inconsistencies, unclear sections, or there may be misconceptions or omissions in relation to theoretical issues.ﾠWhile a dissertation in this band may have some errors or omissions in the execution of the project or weaknesses in the reporting or argument, a significant point is that the student has not recognised and/or addressed these problems. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Dissertations in this band exhibit competence on the part of the student in dealing with all parts of the dissertation.ﾠA dissertation that potentially has the qualities of a high distinction may be classified as a distinction if the writing is not completely clear. Compared to a high distinction dissertation there is less evidence of originality or independent thought about the issues.ﾠThere is sound, thorough, and generally clear treatment of all aspects of the dissertation (i.e., introduction of the problem, rationale and execution of the project, analysis and interpretation).ﾠThere are no serious flaws with respect to knowledge, comprehension or application (e.g., in analysis, interpretation of results, understanding of issues). |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Dissertations in this band show evidence of considerable insight, critical skills, and sophistication on the part of the student. Errors of understanding or analysis are non-existent or only trivial; limitations in the design or procedures are recognised by the student and remedies are suggested.ﾠThe hallmarks of a dissertation in this band are an impressive grasp of the problem and its issues, together with unquestionable competence in the execution of the project.ﾠThe dissertation will be characterised by clarity of exposition, critical insight and analytical thought to a level of substantial conceptual complexity.ﾠFinally, there will be evidence of originality in the conceptualisation of the issues and/or the interpretation of the results. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Please see the Dissertation manual and other resources on the Blackboard site for this course.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From O-Week (first semester) To Week 1 |
Tutorial |
GEMS Interprofessional Collaborative Practice You will work in small teams in a single 3-hour tutorial with students from; Audiology, Dentistry, Dietetics, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Social Work and Speech Pathology. This is one module consisting of on-line preparation and a face-to-face tutorial class. You will be allocated to a small team of students from different discipline backgrounds to engage in a range of learning activities, including a case conference role play, to develop your knowledge and skills to help prepare you for working in interprofessional collaborative teams when caring for clients. Learning outcomes: L06, L07 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 23 |
Not Timetabled |
Organisational Psychology Dissertation Under the supervision of their supervisor, students to conduct an empirical research project of no less than 5,000 words and no more than 8,000 words (excluding abstract, tables and figures) in an area of relevance to organisational psychology and to present this work in the form of a dissertation. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Workshop |
Hurdle Task Student Presentations Student presentations of thesis research design. Students are also expected to attend a range of their peers' presentations to gain exposure to different research designs. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
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 - Students 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: