Introductory description

Research dissertation for MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Teaching (Lectures and group supervision) will be on 5 Saturdays, plus three evenings of group supervision
Sat 1 Embarking on your research project; Revisit Literature review and planning your project, and group research supervision
Week 6 Group research supervision
Sat 3 Methodology and Collecting your data, and group research supervision
Week 12 Group research supervision
Sat 5 Analysing data and drawing out themes, and group research supervision
Week 18 Group research supervision
Sat 7 Writing up findings, and group research supervision
Sat 8 Writing up conclusions, recommendations and the abstract, and group research supervision

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1.Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a substantial empirical research project, systematic review or systematic case study informed by wide current understandings in the discipline
• 2. Identify, describe and effectively operationalise an appropriate topic related to psychotherapy and counselling; research questions; research methods and ethics.
• 3. Critically apply, integrate, evaluate and interpret the knowledge listed above through completion of a dissertation.
• 4. Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate key ideas and applications from psychotherapeutic theory and research, including holistic and integrative approaches, and apply in writing a research dissertation to a sophisticated level.
• 5. Exhibit a capacity to consistently think, analyse and write about research to a suitably high standard (Level 7), blending in critical reflection and synthesis of theoretical ideas to generate a high level of discussion and analysis.
• 6. Demonstrate ability to present a research dissertation to Level 7 standard, with adequate spelling, grammar and structure.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Research element

Dissertation.

Subject specific skills

Identify, describe and effectively operationalise an appropriate topic related to psychotherapy and counselling; research questions; research methods and ethics.
Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate key ideas and applications from psychotherapeutic theory and research, including holistic and integrative approaches, and apply in writing a research dissertation to a sophisticated level.

Transferable skills

Critically apply, integrate, evaluate and interpret knowledge through completion of a dissertation.
Present material in clear written form by identifying,
analysing and applying key texts and practices, using
appropriate and adequate structure, spelling, grammar,
syntax, length and referencing.