Study information

Dissertation

Module titleDissertation
Module codePYCD015
Academic year2024/5
Credits150
Module staff

Mr Richard Mizen (Lecturer)

Dr Janet Smithson (Lecturer)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

All

All

All

Number students taking module (anticipated)

12

Module description

During this module you will develop a research proposal to undertake an extended research project, then carry this out and finally write it up as a Dissertation. There will also be a viva voce examination.This will be in one of the following areas: 

  1. Clinical treatment outcome 

  1. Clinical treatment process 

  1. Clinical treatment context 

  1. Conceptual research relevant to your area of clinical practice 

  1. Basic science underpinning elements relevant to an area of psychoanalytic theory or clinical practice. 

 

All other stage one and stage two modules are a pre-requisite to this module.This module is applicable from year three. 

 

 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to develop and undertake a research projectthat makes an original and novel contribution to an area of clinical practice. You will write a Dissertation as a single text with a maximum of 18,000 words, or alternatively write two papers that you will have accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, which will be submitted for examination along with a linking paper and will be subject to a viva. If you wish to take the linked papers approach you need to write your research proposal with this aim. Your Dissertation, if a single text, must be to a peer-review standard and be suitable (for example in a condensed form) for publication in a peer reviewed journal or as a book, even though you do not necessarily have to havehad it accepted for publication.  These papers should be original work written and accepted for publication during years 3 and 4 onwards of the doctorate, and not be work already published in alternative forms or undertaken in respect of any other course or written prior to commencement of years 3 and 4 of the doctorate.  

 

The aim of this module is for learners to create and interpret new knowledge through original clinical research of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of their discipline and merit publication. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Produce a piece of substantial original clinical research at a peer reviewed publication quality standard.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 2. Evidence great depth and systematic understanding of a substantial body of knowledge in clinical research practice.
  • 3. Synthesise new approaches to contribute to the development of methodology and understanding in clinical research practice.
  • 4. Communicate complex information clearly and effectively.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Analyse and manage the implications of ethical dilemmas, adjusting the research design in light of unforeseen problems, and actively work with others to formulate solutions.
  • 6. Manage complexity, incompleteness, and contradiction, and demonstrate effective team working.
  • 7. Function independently and self-critically as a learner, using a wide range of learning resources to aid the creation and interpretation of new knowledge.

Syllabus plan

Your topic will be determined by yourareas of research and clinical interests.   

 

With the help of your supervisors, you will formulate a research proposal. You will have two research supervisors, usually one person who is familiar with the research methodology which you have chosen and one who is familiar with your area of clinical experience and/or training. You may also have assistance from field collaborators. With the assistance of your supervisors/field collaborators and your peers you will carry out your research, analyse your data and write your Dissertation. 

 

You will have one to one supervision with your supervisors and meet in Learning Sets to discuss your ideas, put them into practice, analyse your data and formulate your conclusions. 

 

While it is possible for you to complete your research and write your Dissertation by the end of year four of the programme, you will have a maximum of 6 years if necessary.  

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
701430

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities 26Research supervision (26 x 1 hours) Lead supervisor minimum of 10 hours a year, second supervisor minimum of 3 hours a year, for two years.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities 24Group presentations (12 x 2 hours)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities 20Workshops over the course of the programme (ad-hoc over the course of the year, varying lengths)
Guided independent study930Practice based research
Guided Independent Study500Individual study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Group presentationsGroup learning set presentations. 45 minutes presentation including discussion and feedback. 1-7Formative oral feedback from staff and peers
Year 4 Presentation of Dissertation research 20-minute presentation of Dissertation research, to peers and staff. 10 minutes discussion/feedback. 1-7Formative oral feedback from staff and peers

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Research Dissertation submission and viva voce examination 100Max 18,000 words Dissertation and a viva. http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/presentationoftheses/ Format and presentation information can be found here, including information on the inclusion of previously published papers 1-7Written feedback from the Board of Examiners
*Summative assessments must be passed individually to pass the module; failure in this assessment will lead to failure in the module and the programme. 0
0
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Research Dissertation submission and viva voce examination Max 18,000 words Dissertation and a viva. http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/presentationoftheses/ Format and presentation information can be found here, including information on the inclusion of previously published papers. 1-7See Teaching and Quality Assurance Manual (TQA) http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/pgrexaminations/#after

Re-assessment notes

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/pgrexaminations/ 

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/pgrexaminations/#after 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Core reading: 

 

  • Altimir, C. Jimenez, J.P. (2020). Walking the middle ground between hermeneutics and science: A research proposal on psychoanalytic process. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 101(3):496-522. 

  • American Psychological Association. (2020) Publication manual (7th ed). American Psychological Association. Or online APA7 guidance at https://apastyle.apa.org/ 

  • Beebe, B. (2005). Mother-Infant Research Informs Mother-Infant Treatment. Psychoanal. St. Child, 60:7-46. 

  • Bryman, A. (2015). Social research methods. Oxford University Press. 

  • Field, A. (2017). Discovering statistics using SPSS. Sage.  

  • Fonagy, P. (2013). There is Room for Even More Doublethink: The Perilous Status of Psychoanalytic Research. Psychoanal. Dial., 23(1):116-122.  

  • Fonagy, P., Rost, F., Carlyle, J.A., McPherson, S., Thomas, R., Pasco Fearon, R.M., et al. (2015) Pragmatic randomized controlled trial of long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression: The Tavistock Adult Depression Study (TADS). World Psychiatry 14(3): 312–21. 

  • Harper, D., & Thompson, A. R. (Eds.). (2011). Qualitative research methods in mental health and psychotherapy: A guide for students and practitioners. John Wiley & Sons. 

  • Hinshelwood, R. (2013).Research on the couch. London: Routledge.  

  • Holmes, J. (2018). A practical guide to reflexive research. London: Routledge. 

  • Leichsenring, F. &Rabung, S. (2008) Effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. JAMA 300(13): 1551–65. 

  • Lepper, G, and Riding, N. (2006). Researching the Psychotherapy Process. A practical guide to transcript-based methods. Palgrave. 

  • Rohleder, P. and Lyons, A.C. (2015). Qualitative research in clinical and health psychology. Palgrave. 

  • Robson, C. (2002)Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner researchers (2nded). Blackwell. 

  • Rustin, M. (2010). Varieties of psychoanalytic research. Psychoanal. Psychother., 24(4):380-397.  

  • Rustin, M. (2019). Researching the unconscious. London: Routledge. 

  • Shedler, J. (2010) The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist 65 

  • (2): 98–109. 

  • Stamenova, K. & Hinshelwood, R. (2018). Methods of research into the unconscious. London: Routledge 

  • Taylor, D. (2010). Psychoanalytic approaches and outcome research: Negative capability or irritable reaching after fact and reason? Psychoanal. Psychotherapy. 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – you can find methodology references, lecture PowerPoints (usually with references on the final slide) and guides to research. 

Key words search

Dissertation 

Credit value150
Module ECTS

75

Module pre-requisites

 All other stage one and stage two modules are a pre-requisite to this module. 

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

8

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

27/08/2021

Last revision date

01/02/2023