TS5U001 - Doctoral Research Thesis 15 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | TS5U001 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Doctoral Research Thesis | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Therapeutic Studies | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Professional Learning in Education | ||
| Module Leader: | Shelley Gait | ||
| Module Team: | Gina Dolan, Annie Beyer, Rachel Davies, Kirsty Richards | ||
| First Intended Intake: | Final Year of Intake: | ||
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 300 | Credit Level: | 8 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | |||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | |||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 15 Sep 2022 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2027 |
Module Aims
Introduction:
The Doctoral Research component of the course is equivalent to 300 credits and meets USW Research Regulations. All Doctoral research degrees adhere to a code of practice which sets out guidelines of good practice and the responsibilities of the student, the supervisory team and the University at the various stages for students pursuing a research degree at the University. A significant feature of a Professional Doctorate is that it reflects the subject or field of study of the candidate. The aim of the professional doctorate is to advance professional practice or use practice as a legitimate research method. The Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology is therefore primarily concerned with researching real professional issues in Counselling Psychology practice via the critical review and systematic application of appropriate theories and research to professional practice.
QAA Doctoral Research Aims:
The Qualification Characteristics Statement about the characteristics of doctoral degrees, describes the distinctive features of the doctorate in the UK. It has become a reference point for the purposes of reviews coordinated by QAA from August 2016.
- the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication
- a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice
- the general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems
- a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry.
Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:
- make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches.
And holders will have:
- the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.
Content Summary
Quality Assurance:
The course will operate in accordance with the University’s regulations for Doctoral study, as outlined in the University’s Research Degrees Regulations. The course is also subject to the University’s regulations governing assessment, progression and academic policy including its procedures for dealing with academic appeals; allegations of plagiarism and unfair practice; illness or other valid causes affecting student performance; and the assessment of students with special needs.
The QAA (2015) qualification descriptors for doctoral studies include:
- Creation and interpretation of new knowledge
- Ability to make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields
- Will have qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments
All Faculties undertake the quality assurance of research degrees via a Faculty Research Programmes Committee (FRPC).
- The FRPC considers applications and undertakes the registration, transfer, extension/suspension and changes thereto of research students.
- The Research Programmes Sub Committee (RPSC) will discharge, on behalf of Research Committee and Quality Assurance Committee, the responsibilities for the quality and standards of its research programmes.
- The responsibility for the admission of research students to the University rests with the Faculty Research Programmes Committee (FRPC).
Ethical Principles:
The University has set up a structure for ethical issues with responsibility shared between the University Ethics Sub Group (UESG) - a committee of Quality Assurance Committee - and the Faculty Research Ethics Panel which will consider all research proposals. There has recently also been introduced a School- level Research Ethics Panel which takes a first line overview of ethics proposals.
Ethics is a complex subject, but in professional contexts its four central concerns are:
- to treat people Fairly
- to respect the Autonomy of individuals
- to act with Integrity
- to seek the best Results - by avoiding or minimising harm and by using resources as beneficially as possible
Student Responsibilities & Expectations:
Research students, including Counselling Psychology Doctoral students, contribute to the research ethos of the University through supervised work which carries forward projects which advance knowledge and, in some cases, lead to commercial exploitation by taking intellectual property or products to market.
The Qualifications Frameworks level descriptor for the doctoral degree includes generic information about what all holders of the doctorate will be able to do, and the qualities and skills that they will have.
The Quality Code, Chapter B11: Research Degrees, states that higher education providers 'provide research students with appropriate opportunities for developing research, personal and professional skills'.
This course therefore will ensure that each student has support in place to develop as Doctoral level research-competent practitioner psychologists, which will make an original contribution, which both informs and advances Counselling Psychology professional and evidence based practice.
Students will be supported by an advanced research methods module, which will prepare them for all aspects of the research process, including the writing of a 3,000-assessed research proposal. In the final year, students will submit their Doctoral research thesis, which will be a maximum of 50,000 words, and this will be examined by viva voce. The thesis will include the report of a research study. Students will also submit a draft article based on this study, in a format appropriate for submission to a specified peer reviewed journal.
The research environment:
It is widely acknowledged and highlighted in the Quality Code, Chapter B11: Research Degrees, the quality of the research environment is critical to the provision of doctoral degree programmes.
Access to an active and vibrant research environment, including contact with other researchers, is fundamental to doctoral candidates' success, irrespective of subject, mode of study, or location. Chapter B11 summarises some of the conditions that are present in high-quality research environments.
The role of the supervisor/s:
The Quality Code, Chapter B11: Research Degrees emphasises the fundamental role of supervisors in maintaining quality and consistency across doctoral programmes. It promotes the use of supervisory teams, not only to provide effective support for candidates but to provide a framework in which new supervisors can gain experience alongside those with more experience.
All supervision arrangements for doctoral candidates comply with University regulatory frameworks, these include:
- The supervisory team includes a Director of Studies (DoS), the principal supervisor in the research team. The Director of Studies has both administrative and pastoral responsibility for the student and responsibility for day to day guidance in relation to the student’s research degree (see table below for overview of research supervisors).
- In addition, the supervisory team includes one or more additional supervisors (second supervisor(s)), to provide support to Director of Studies, and provide support in specialist areas.
- The supervisory team as a whole need to have experience of supervising previous research students through to completion.
- The role of the Director of studies is offer support to ensure the doctoral student develops a clear plan of work, a realistic estimate of the content and scope of the project and the time it will take. The plan will be subject to regular review.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tutorial | 67 |
| Independent Study | 2933 |
| Total Hours Selected | 3000 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Undertake an original empirical piece of research in Counselling Psychology which advances professional practice and/or uses practice as a legitimate research method. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Assessment (EX) | Practical / Clinical Viva (EX) 1 | Examination of the thesis involves a document submission and an oral exam (Viva). PASS OR FAIL | 0 | 30000 | 100 | No | 50 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | |||
| Practical / Clinical Viva (EX) 1 | ✔ | ||