Fourth Year Psychology 2021 - A/Prof. Katherine Johnson (Program Convenor) - Melbourne School of ...

Fourth Year
Psychology
2021

A/Prof. Katherine Johnson
(Program Convenor)

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Key People
                                Professional Staff Team:

                                    Brigitte Nguyen
                              (Academic Programs Manager)

A/Prof. Katherine Johnson              Sue Hill
  (Convenor of Fourth Year)   (Academic Programs Officer)

      Dr. Adam Osth
     (Deputy Convenor)

Key Information
1. 4th-year manual is available on LMS
2. LMS (Learning Management System:)
   https://canvas.lms.unimelb.edu.au/
3. The fourth year inbox
 •   the best way to contact us:
 •   fourthyear-psych@unimelb.edu.au
4. Student Portal: www.my.unimelb.edu.au
5. Stop 1 http://students.unimelb.edu.au/stop1
6. MSPS website: www.psych.unimelb.edu.au

Key Information
What is Stop 1?
• Admissions information: getting information on prospective
  courses and entry requirements
• Administrative services: student cards, fees, transcripts,
  graduation
• Enrolment services: course planning, enrolment assistance,
  special consideration, student equity
• Support services: Disability; housing; financial aid, elite
  athletes and safety on campus
• Skills and development services: careers; academic skills;
  student connect; study abroad and exchange.

Problem solved
              Seeking answers                                                                  Problem solved

                                                              Consult LMS site     Problem     Contact subject
  A quick process guide:                                      for that subject    not solved     convenor
                                         A specific
                                          subject
                       What does the     My research            Contact your                    Problem not
                       issue concern?     project                supervisor                        solved
                                         Something
                                           else                 Contact the
                        Problem not
                           solved                              4th year inbox

I have a question /    Consult the 4th
     need help          year manual                     Katherine or Sue will respond,
                                                       refer on, or schedule meeting if
                                                                  necessary
                      Problem solved

The Program
• A transitional year on the way to becoming an
  independent researcher and/or practitioner

• A research apprenticeship
 • Semi-autonomous research project
 • 1-on-1 collaboration with a research academic

• Advanced coursework & electives
 • Builds foundational competencies in psychology
 • Feeds into research training
 • Also introduces some pre-professional skills

The Program
• Supervised research project
 • 50 credit points
 • Whole year subject

• Two core subjects
 • Total of 25 credit points
 • Semester 1

• Two advanced elective subjects
 • Total of 25 credit points
 • Semester 2

Core Subjects – first semester
• Advanced Design & Data Analysis (ADDA)
 • PSYC40005
 • Multivariate statistics and data analysis
 • Convenor: Dr. Adam Osth

• Ethics and Evidence-Based Practice
 • PSYC40006
 • Code of ethics, scientist-practitioner framework,
 • Pre-professional applied skills (e.g., assessment &
   evaluation)
 • Convenor: Dr. Margaret Osborne

Elective Subjects – second semester
Current Topics in Developmental Psychology
 • PSYC40001; Convenor: A/Prof. Judi Humberstone
Current Topics in Social Psychology
 • PSYC40002; Convenor: Prof. Yoshi Kashima
Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
 • PSYC40004; Convenor: Dr. Christian Nicholas
Models of Psychological Processes
 • PSYC40012; Convenor: Prof. Philip Smith

The Research Project PSYC40010
• No two projects alike
• Different supervisory styles
• No project is ‘better’ for clinical (or any other) pathway

Assessments
• All tasks must be completed to enable a passing grade for this subject
• 3,000 word draft Introduction. Hurdle Requirement, due June 25th (before
  8am)
• 10-min presentation at ‘mini conference’. Hurdle Requirement, semester 2
  (Monday of the mid-semester break, 27th September)
• 9,000 word empirical report due. 100% weighting, due October 22nd
  (before 8am)

Variations in the Research Project
• Multi supervisor teams
• Use of existing data
• Joint / group projects
• What makes for a top thesis?

Chat with your supervisor
1. When to meet, and how often?
2. Ethical approval? (You can’t collect data without it)
3. Data collection? (What’s involved?)
4. Analyses (What might these look like?)
5. Timeline (What are the milestones?)
6. Absences (Are you or your supervisor away at any point
    during the year?)
7. Readings (Any references to get you started?)

Wellbeing
Fourth year can be a stressful process
•   Ignore the ‘rumour mill’
•   Make a schedule/workplan
•   Your supervisor is your mentor and advisor – ask
    for their advice
•   If things get bad, contact us and/or Student
    Services (see 4th year manual)
•   Keep balanced

Stay Connected
• Check announcements (LMS, your University of Melbourne email)
• Attend lectures unless absolutely impossible
• Regular supervision meetings - your supervisor is your mentor and advisor…
• If you have a lab group/team, get involved
• Go to talks, seminars, events
• Connect with GRiPS
• Form study groups

What else?
The orientation will be an ongoing process…
• Please read the 4th-year manual
• The two core first semester subjects
• Get to know your supervisor and lab group/team
• Learn the skills you need for your project

Any queries – contact us: fourthyear-psych@unimelb.edu.au

Thank you!

      Q&A?
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