southampton

Module overview

Trainees will identify a core research topic that will form the basis of their research thesis. The thesis will need to include a review relevant theoretical, empirical and professional practice literatures and trainees will be required to generate clearly defined research questions and select appropriate research methods for data collection and analysis. Trainees will engage with the implications of their proposed research for educational psychology science and practice, and associated ethical implications. Trainees will gain experience of managing a research project and research budget.

Towards the end of year 1 trainees will be supported by the Research Director to identify a team of supervisors (one of whom must be a member of Academic Staff in the School Psychology) who will provide research supervision and guidance throughout the thesis. Trainees work with their supervisory team to develop a research proposal that provides a clear rationale for the project, identifies testable research questions and hypotheses (if appropriate) or clear research questions and aims, and specifies the participants, methods of data collection and analysis as well as data storage via a Data Management Plan. The research proposal is submitted in December of Yr 2 for approval by supervisors and with oversight of the module coordinator. Following approval, trainees conduct a risk assessment and submit the final project plans for approval by the University of Southampton Ethics and Research Governance Office (ERGO) (trainees are responsible for also checking whether any external ethics committees and/or R&D departments where appropriate). Data collection and analysis is completed throughout years 2 and 3.

The written thesis takes the form of a two paper thesis – a systematic review and an empirical study written in publishable form, with a substantiative introduction that demonstrates understanding of the broader field in which the research is situated. The thesis is submitted towards the end of Sem 2 Yr 3. Trainees present their thesis findings at the annual Postgraduate Research Conference (June, Yr 3), and for viva in the summer of Yr 3. Trainees subsequently amend their thesis in accordance with the examiner reports and archive the ratified thesis with the Graduate School and on efolio. Where appropraite, trainees are asked to prepare their research for submission to a suitable peer-reviewed journal prior to completing the Programme.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This is a 120 CATS (60 ECTS) module, which translates into a total study time of 1200 hours. Learning methods include lecture sessions, meetings with your supervisory team and independent study.

You will be spending the majority of your time for this module on independent study, reading and interpreting empirical and theoretical research, developing your research question and hypotheses, choosing and implementing appropriate methods, analysing and interpreting your data, and writing this work up in an academic style. You will receive support and guidance from your supervisory team throughout the planning, implementation and write-up of your project. Following introductory teaching sessions led by the module coordinator trainees will consider their research interests and identify primary academic research supervisors (based in the School of Psychology) that best fit these research interests. Initial meetings with the supervisors will focus on the identification of a research question that is theoretically and empirically justifiable and that is sufficiently specific to allow the generation of one or more testable hypotheses or answerable research questions. As the project develops, trainees (under supervision), take initiative and responsibility in moving the project forwards to identify appropriate methods/measures, recruit participants, to think through the project at a procedural level, and to understand the implications of the project for educational psychology.

Trainees complete two progress reports that are reviewed by the supervisor team and the module coordinator.

The module assumes basic prior knowledge of research methods equivalent to that provided during the Masters year of your doctorate and developed through your Small Scale Research Project.

Study time
Type	Hours
Project supervision	24
Lecture	10
Independent Study	1166
Total study time	1200

Assessment

Assessment strategy

The submitted thesis proposal needs to provide the reviewer with sufficient information to make a reasonable judgement about the relevance and appropriateness of the project. The proposal must not exceed 3,000 words and must clearly articulate the purpose, design, measures, participant group(s), data management, ethical issues and theoretical/practical relevance of the project. There is no minimum word limit although a proposal less than 1500 words is unlikely to provide the required information in sufficient detail.

The thesis is made up of an introductory chapter, a systematic review of a body of psychological theory and research and a related empirical paper. The word count for the full thesis may be around 20,000 words; though the broad aim of writing two papers for publication may result in a thesis of fewer words, depending on Journal word limits. Third year students are also asked to present orally at the annual Faculty PGR conference as part of training around dissemination of research and sharing of topics with colleagues and peers. The thesis is examined through a viva with an internal examiner (an academic from the School of Psychology who is not the supervisor) and an external examiner (from another University). Trainees have to satisfy a number of criteria for examiners to recommend that the degree is awarded. These criteria and the recommendation of examiners are outlined in the examiners’ recommendation form (see Appendix 6) and recommendations made by examiners are usually subject to a trainee making minor or modest corrections.

As per the regulations for DEdPsych students, students may refer in this module but may not repeat, please see the Regulations for Research Degrees paragraph 58.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Thesis	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Thesis	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External

Research Thesis