Introductory description

In this module, you will design and carry out a small-scale research project in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. In line with QAA Benchmark statement 3.10 and BACP accredited course content requirements sections 3.8 and 3.9, you will gain an understanding of various research methods and of how to evaluate and choose methods appropriate to your research topic, gain ethical approval and understand the ethical implications of your research practice, and conduct a literature search to contextualise and situate your own findings. You will learn how to structure and write a research project and will present your dissertation as summative assessment.
You will have the opportunity to develop your academic and critical thinking skills and your information literacy to a high level. At the end of the year, you can choose to present your research at our research conference, developing your communication and presentation skills.

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.

The nature and purpose of research
Research paradigms and philosophical issues
The research process and research design issues
Reviewing the literature
Ethical issues in research
Approaches to material collection and analysis
Appraising the implications of research findings
Structuring and writing a formal research paper

Learning outcomes

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

• Produce a research dissertation presented in appropriate written format
• Identify relevant existing literature and situate own research in the context of existing body of evidence
• Analyse and synthesise data from research project
• Conduct research within appropriate ethical parameters
• Describe how the research project makes a contribution to the field of counselling and psychotherapy
• Use appropriate research methods to collect data

Indicative reading list

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Small scale research project and report

Interdisciplinary

Methodologies from interdisciplinary sources in the social sciences. Individual projects will include various interdisciplinary theoretical elements.

Subject specific skills

This module requires you to engage substantially with research, offering subject specific skills from QAA benchmark section 3.10: "engaging in formal research to conduct projects which contribute to the developing knowledge and evidence base for [your] profession" and BACP accredited course requirements section 3.8 and 3.9: "Gain an awareness and working knowledge of research methodology to enable [you] to develop basic competences in small-scale research projects". You will deepen and apply your learning about appropriate research methods and methodologies for a counselling context and design and carry out a research project which contributes to the knowledge and evidence base within counselling and psychotherapy.

Transferable skills

This module enables significant development of transferable and employment skills in line with the Warwick Award, including communication, critical thinking, digital literacy, information literacy, problem solving and professionalism. You will liaise with other professionals to organise and collect data, leading your own project, and using your information literacy, critical thinking and communication skills to analyse your findings and present them as a coherent project.