Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (Performance Psychology) (REDU11024)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | The Dissertation is a major study demanding of the course member a high level of individual application and commitment to research and enquiry. It provides the course member with the opportunity to identify, reflect on and explore a topic that has implications for his/her own professional development within the area of performance psychology. The Dissertation will involve a critical interrogation of the relationship between professional practice, academic theory and the design, ethics and interpretation of research.
The dissertation will build on the research training provided through the Understanding Research Concepts and Research Process courses. The assessment for Research Process requires students to submit a research proposal, ethics application form and risk assessment, which must be completed satisfactorily prior to commencing the dissertation. Supplementary research training will be provided through bespoke group research training sessions and through one to one supervision. |
| Course description |
The dissertation will involve planning, execution, and interpretation and write-up of an independent study in the field of performance psychology. Dissertations studies may be field, laboratory or desk-based.
Students will be supported through specialist training clinics at the beginning of the process, and by a designated supervisor through individual and/or group tutorials throughout the dissertation process. Additional research training will be provided through completion of Understanding Research Concepts (REDU11010) and Research Process (REDU11011) courses.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must have satisfied MSc progression requirements according to assessment regulations. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
| Course Start Date |
18/09/2017 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
572 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The dissertation assessment is undertaken through two forms of coursework:
1. Oral presentation of research plans prior to data collection, including research questions and detailed overview and rationale for the methodology (20%)
2. A journal article (30 pages) (80%)
A dissertation handbook is available for guidance. |
| Feedback |
Students will be provided with on-going formative feedback (written and oral) from their individual supervisor throughout the dissertation process. Detailed summative, individualised (written) feedback from two examiners will be provided following the assessed oral presentation. Detailed written feedback from two examiners will be provided on the journal article following its submission. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Specify a topic of enquiry suitable for a dissertation and justify its theoretical significance, professional relevance and practical feasibility.
- Identify and reflect critically on relevant up-to-date literature, research reports and other scholarly evidence.
- Ensuring that relevant ethical guidelines are followed, collect and analyse evidence, justifying the approaches and techniques used, and identify the implications of these decisions in terms of the status of the evidence, and the findings based upon it.
- Examine critically the contribution and limitations of the study undertaken in theoretical and applied terms with regard to the practices and roles of relevant professionals.
- Present work, observing appropriate academic conventions in relation to style, tone, paragraphing, paraphrasing, sectioning of the text, proof-reading and referencing.
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Reading List
Coolican, H. (2009). Research methods and statistics in psychology. London: Hodder Education.
Field, A. (2012). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. London: Sage.
In addition, students will directed by staff to specific journal article readings based on the research questions under investigation. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Graduate Attributes: knowledge and understanding
critical knowledge and understanding of the current research evidence relating to interventions pertinent to performance psychology
critical knowledge and understanding of current recommendations for scientific practice of psychology, across domains, with an emphasis on performance
specialist knowledge of assessment, needs analysis, monitoring and evaluation protocols that are required to investigate clients issues in the field of performance psychology
a critical understanding of research methods employed within the area of performance psychology
Graduate Attributes: research and enquiry
search for, access, critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant literature in order to develop their knowledge and understanding relating to performance psychology
critically question current issues in performance psychology and question applied recommendations and how they relate to pertinent challenges facing the profession (e.g., development needs vs. performance)
identify and evaluate typical research methods employed in psychological research
plan and execute a significant research project including undertaking data collection and analysing data systematically
Graduate Attributes: personal and intellectual autonomy
be independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning, and are committed to professional development, self-evaluation and self-improvement
be able to exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in academic activities, including decision making on the basis of independent thought
be able to recognise and evaluate the validity of diverse opinion in performance psychology, reflecting and evaluating this range and formulating justified and evidence-based ideas for application
be able to reflect on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments in performance psychology
Graduate Attributes: skills and abilities in communication
be able to communicate using oral and written methods to specialists (e.g., psychologists, managers & coaches in performance settings, client groups) and non-specialist audiences (e.g., performers, research participants)
be able to use communication as a means for collaborating and relating to others including staff, fellow students, research participants
be able to identify and effectively communicate with relevant individuals and organisations beyond their immediate professional domain
Graduate Attributes: personal effectiveness
be able to plan, execute and critically evaluate a significant research project in the area of performance psychology
have the confidence to make informed decisions relating to problems and issues in applying psychology to performance domains
be able to identify and manage risks appropriately
Be able to effectively work collaboratively with others (e.g. peers, staff, research participants, client groups)
Graduate Attributes: technical/practical skills
be able to use data collection methods appropriate for their research project
be competent in the use of word-processing, spreadsheets and presentation software to analyse data and prepare communications effectively through oral and text based approaches
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Hugh Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 6092
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Cristina Roman
Tel: (0131 6)51 6265
Email: |
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