Outline

Overview

This research project is arguably the culmination for your undergraduate studies. Not only will you apply the content knowledge, research skills, and statistical acumen you have gained in your other psychology units of study, you will also create your own independent research question. Specifically, you will participate in all of the steps involved in research including formulation of research questions, the design of the study including selection of appropriate methodology, and the collection and analysis of data to test the research question. Most importantly, you will interpret the findings and write a thesis reporting all phases of the project. By doing this you may create new knowledge, and you will improve your research skills, cultivate your critical thinking, and demonstrate your ability to carry out a substantial research and writing project.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Bruce Burns, bruce.burns@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Honours thesis	Empirical Thesis See Canvas for details.	100%	Ongoing Due date: 09 Oct 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 09 Oct 2024	12000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Written thesis. See details in Honours Handbook on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Category	Mark range	Within-Category Criteria
HD	85-100	Upper 96-100 The thesis is outstanding in all aspects. The level of original, creative thinking and the independence of execution is striking – the highest quality to be expected of an Honours student. Such a mark should be reserved for the exceptional thesis. Middle 90-95 The thesis is at least superior in all aspects and outstanding on some. Generally excellent; substantial sections of the thesis demonstrate originality (note that results are out of students’ control and statistically significant results are not required). Shows considerable independence of thought and execution. Lower 85-89 The thesis is superior in the large majority of aspects, but there may not be areas of “outstanding” performance; or there may be one area which is adequate, but this is compensated for by outstanding performance elsewhere. Still well written, clear argument, appropriately analysed and well interpreted, with some novel insights. However, less independence of execution than expected for Upper HD.
DI	75-84	Upper 82-84 The thesis is at least adequate in all aspects, and is superior in more than one aspect. An overall competent piece of work but less well evaluated for the grasp of issues and methods than required for an HD. No substantial errors in the design or conduct of the study, its analysis or interpretation. Middle 78-81 The thesis is at least adequate in all aspects, or may have a weakness in one area that is compensated for by superior performance in another area. No substantial errors in the design or conduct of the study, its analysis or interpretation. Lower 75-77 The thesis is adequate in most aspects, but may have a weakness in one area or a couple of weaknesses that are compensated for by superior performance in other areas.
CR	65-74	Upper 72-74 The thesis is adequate in most aspects, but has more than one weakness or a serious flaw that is not compensated for by superior performance in another area. Middle 68-71 Thesis is generally adequate, but has many weaknesses or some serious flaws that are not compensated for by superior performance in other areas. Lower 65-67 Thesis is generally weak or has several major flaws in more than one aspect.
PS	50-64	Thesis is weak with several major flaws.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Methods of Working Together * Communication (including provision of constructive feedback) * Expectations	Project (150 hr)
	Scheduled Regular Supervision Meetings	Project (150 hr)
	Empirical Thesis Research Proposal	Project (150 hr)
	Formative Ethics Task (if applicable)	Project (150 hr)
	Ethics Application (if applicable)	Project (150 hr)
	Collect data (if applicable)	Project (150 hr)
	Analyse data (if applicable)	Project (150 hr)
	Draft of Introduction, Method, & Results sections	Project (150 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. source, collate, synthesise and critically evaluate information from a range of relevant sources and identify knowledge gaps for investigation
LO2. develop a research question with creativity and lateral thinking
LO3. use appropriate methodologies to design experiments, and collect and analyse data to investigate a research question
LO4. demonstrate a command of relevant disciplinary conceptual and theoretical frameworks
LO5. communicate research methodologies and ﬁndings in written form for a scientiﬁc audience
LO6. produce independent research which is an original contribution to the discipline.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Updated tasks relevant to the empirical thesis and included the thesis marking criteria.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PSYC4103: Psychology Honours Research Project A

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect