Unit Guide
  

EDF5564
Research applications for practitioners

Semester 2, 2019  

Table of contents
EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
1
 Table of contents
University information 4
Indigenous acknowledgement 4
Student Charter 4
Fieldwork risk assessment statement 4
Technological requirements 4
Your feedback to us 5
Extensions, penalties, resubmission and special consideration 5
Reference requirements 5
Learning resources 5
Required resources 5
Prescribed resources 5
Other Information 6
Academic Language, Literacy and Numeracy Development - Faculty of Education advice
and support 6
English Connect 6
Policies 6
Student academic integrity policy 6
Special Consideration  6
eSolutions service desk (ICT services and help) 6
Graduate attributes policy 6
Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) 7
Information for Singapore based students 7
Monash University Library 7
Student services 7
Disability support services 8
Unit information 9
Mode of delivery 9
Unit relationships 9
Pre-requisites 9
Prohibitions 9
Co-requisites 9
Synopsis 9
Learning outcomes 9
Workload requirements 9
Assessment requirements 10

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Prescribed text(s) 10
Teaching team 11
Chief Examiner 11
Unit Coordinator(s) 11
Lecturer(s) 11
Teaching approaches 12
Unit in a nutshell 12
Teaching approaches for this unit 12
Student evaluations of this unit 12
Unit schedule 13
Assessment summary table 14
Assignment submission 14
Returning assignments 14
Assessment feedback to you 14
Assessment tasks 15
18
Unit guide prepared by 19
Last updated 19

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 University information
Indigenous acknowledgement
We acknowledge and pay respects to the Traditional Owners and Elders - both past and present -
of the lands and waters on which our four Australian campuses operate.
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/indigenous/
 

Student Charter
The Monash Student Charter sets out the key expectations of all students as they foster and
contribute to Monash's learning community.
https://www.monash.edu/students/academic/policies/student-charter
 

Fieldwork risk assessment statement

Staff members in charge of field activities and supervisors of students are responsible for ensuring
that the risk assessment procedure has been completed before the commencement of the field
activity.

Students are responsible for following procedures and instructions given by staff whilst undertaking
fieldwork and for reporting any risks and incidents that they encounter as part of their fieldwork to
their fieldwork supervisor immediately.

For more information on fieldwork in the Faculty of Education, see the following link:
http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/postgrad/edu-04.html

Technological requirements
It is assumed that students undertaking this unit will have the ability to word process, search and
retrieve information from the internet and download readings and other learning documents. For
further information, please see the handbook http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks
/undergrad/edu-02.html

Students may also be required to access a range of information and communications technology
(ICT) equipment and applications as part of their participation in the unit.
Useful links:

● IT/e-Solutions Services:
http://intranet.monash.edu.au/esolutions/students/student-it-brochure.pdf
 
● Library Services:
​http://www.monash.edu/library/services/users/students

Your feedback to us 4
EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Your feedback to us
One of the formal ways students have to provide feedback on teaching and their learning
experience is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The feedback
is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied with
and areas for improvement.
 

Extensions, penalties, resubmission and special

consideration
Please read Faculty Assessment procedures for information about extensions,
penalties, resubmission of assignments and special consideration: 
http://monash.edu/education/current-students/academic-and-study-support/academic-progress/
 

Reference requirements
American Psychological Association (APA) 6th edition is the standard referencing style used within
the Faculty of Education. Please see the following Monash University Library Guide on APA 6th
edition citing guidelines: http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing/apa

Learning resources
Required resources
Students generally must be able to complete the requirements of their course without the
imposition of fees that are additional to the student contribution amount or tuition fees. However,
students may be charged certain incidental fees or be expected to make certain purchases to
support their study. For more information about this, refer to the Higher Education Administrative
Information for Providers, Chapter 18, Incidental Fees at http://education.gov.au/help-resources-
providers.

Prescribed resources
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit): http://monash.rl.talis.com/index.html
Research and Learning Online: www.monash.edu/rlo

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Other Information
Academic Language, Literacy and Numeracy Development - Faculty of
Education advice and support
https://www.monash.edu/education/current-students/academic-language-literacy-numeracy-support

English Connect
Join English Connect to enhance your English language skills and cross-cultural communication.
Programs are a fun, free way to meet and talk with other students, ask questions and share your
time at Monash.
https://www.monash.edu/English-connect

Policies
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that
staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how
they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at: http://www.monash.edu
/policy-bank/academic/education

Student academic integrity policy

www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/801841/Student-Academic-Integrity-Policy.pdf

Special Consideration 
For information on applying for special consideration, please visit: www.monash.edu/exams
/changes/special-consideration

eSolutions service desk (ICT services and help)

http://www.monash.edu/esolutions/students

Graduate attributes policy

Monash courses are underpinned by Graduate Attributes that reflect the philosophy of Sir John
Monash to "...equip yourself for life, not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole
community." [1923].

All Monash courses are designed to prepare Monash graduates to be:

1. responsible and effective global citizens who:

● engage in an internationalised world
● exhibit cross-cultural competence
● demonstrate ethical values
2. critical and creative scholars who:
● produce innovative solutions to problems

● apply research skills to a range of challenges

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 2.

● apply research skills to a range of challenges

● communicate perceptively and effectively

http://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/786969/Course-Design-Policy.pdf

Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS)

http://www.monash.edu/about/indigenous/students/scheme

Information for Singapore based students

Attendance rolls are taken to meet Ministry of Education requirements in Singapore and are not
used by Monash University in marking students.

Monash University Library

http://www.monash.edu/library

Student services
Faculty of Education - The Learning Spaces (TLS): http://monash.edu/education/current-students
/academic-and-study-support/teaching-technology-learning-centre/

Student information:
     University: http://www.monash.edu/students
     Faculty of Education: http://www.monash.edu/education/current-students

Disability support services 7

EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Disability support services
Students who have a disability, ongoing medical or mental health condition are welcome to contact
Disability Support Services. Disability Support Services also support students who are carers of a
person who is aged and frail or has a disability, medical condition or mental health
condition. Disability Advisers visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis.

● Website: www.monash.edu/disability
● Telephone: 03 9905 5704 to book an appointment with an Adviser
● Email: disabilitysupportservices@monash.edu

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Unit information
Mode of delivery
Clayton (On-campus)

Unit relationships
 
Pre-requisites
Successful completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited fourth
year sequence in psychology.

Prohibitions
EDF5513; EDF5720

Co-requisites
None

Synopsis
The aim of this unit is to promote the development of students as independent researchers in their
everyday practice. The focus will be on the connections between practice and research, using the
frameworks of evidence-based practice and practice-based research. Students will develop
'research literacy' as an essential tool for practice and for the utilisation of research evidence in
practice. Students will be provided with opportunities to extend their understanding of different
research methodologies, obtain skills and knowledge related to the research process, appreciate
the importance of conducting research that is well-grounded in practice, and manage ethical and
other issues related to research. Students will learn to formulate answerable practice-related
questions, search for, and evaluate and apply evidence, and reflect on their own performance.
These skills and knowledge will facilitate and complement students' learning for placement and
future professional practice.

Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. appreciate the iterative relationship between research and practice

2. apply and critique various research approaches
3. understand how different research processes can be used to inform practice in workplace
settings
4. locate, critique, synthesize and apply relevant evidence to practice

Workload requirements
Minimum total expected workload equals 12/144 hours per week/semester comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 (a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
2 hour workshop per week
(b.) Additional requirements (all students):
10 hours of independent study per week

Assessment requirements
Critical literature review (1600 words, 40%)
Research project (2400 words, 60%)

Prescribed text(s)
Merten, D.M. (2014).  Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity
with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, USA: Sage.  

Teaching team 10
EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Teaching team
Chief Examiner
Name: Professor Andrea Reupert
Campus: Clayton
Email: andrea.reupert@monash.edu
Phone: 03 9902 4587
Contact hours: Please email andrea.reupert@monash.edu for any queries or issues

Unit Coordinator(s)

Name: Dr  Louise McLean
Campus: Clayton
Email: louise.mclean@monash.edu
Phone: +61 3 990 51310
Contact hours: Please email louise.mclean@monash.edu for any queries or issues

Lecturer(s)
Name: Dr Louise McLean
Campus: Clayton
Email: louise.mclean@monash.edu
Contact hours: Please email louise.mclean@monash.edu for any queries or issues

Name: Dr Nerelie Freeman
Campus: Clayton
Email: Nerelie.Freeman@monash.edu
Contact hours: Please email nerelie.freeman@monash.edu for any queries or issues

Teaching approaches 11
EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Teaching approaches
Unit in a nutshell
This unit focuses on explicating the scientist practitioner model. It is essential students appreciate
the importance of research informed practice and research that is informed by practice. This
understanding will inform their future work in psychology and serve as a foundation for some to
undertake further research training.

Teaching approaches for this unit

To meet the needs of students with varying levels of practice experience and research knowledge,
a range of teaching approaches will be adopted. These will include those led by academic staff
such as lectures, those led by students such as small group discussions and independent activities
that require students to engage critically with the research articles and review them. In addition,
scenarios and case studies will be employed to prompt students to consider various research
methods for evaluating psychological practice and interventions.  Critique and the application of
intervention research will be utilised to develop critical thinking skills and to demonstrate the bi-
directional association between practice and research. 

Student evaluations of this unit

The Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) is a survey in which students are able to
rate their satisfaction of their units and teaching staff.

This is a new unit and your feedback on the unit will provide faculties with an insight into your
learning journey and how the unit, course and teaching staff can be enhanced in future teaching
periods.

If you would like to know more about SETU, please go to: www.monash.edu/ups/setu

Unit schedule 12
EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Unit schedule
For units with on-campus classes, teaching activities are normally scheduled to start on the hour
(teaching will commence on the hour and conclude 10 minutes prior to the scheduled end time).

Week Topic Assignment

Due

1 Overview and an introduction to research 

2 Literature review and focusing the research 

3 Evaluation 

4 Experimental and quasi-experimental research

5 Casual comparative and correlation approaches; survey methods

6 Single case studies

7 Qualitative methods  Critical

literature
review due: 
Friday 13
September,
2019

8 Mixed methods research 

9 Sampling and data collection 

10 Data analysis, interpretation and use 

11 Brief oral reports on project

12 Brief oral reports on project: Celebration  Research

project
due: 
Week 12:
Friday 25
October,
2019

SWOT VAC No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC

Examination LINK to Assessment Policy: 

period http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education
/assessment/
assessment-in-coursework-policy.html​

Assessment summary table 13

EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Assessment summary table
Assessment task Value Due date

Critical Literature Review 40% Week 7: Friday 13 September, 2019 (11:59pm)

Research Project 60% Week 12: Friday 25 October, 2019 (11:59pm)

Assignment submission
✔ Moodle - You will need to submit your assessment task via the Moodle assignment box.

Late Assignment Submission

The Faculty of Education assessment procedures outline how late assessment submissions will be 
managed by Chief Examiners for Faculty of Education units.  For more information visit: 
https://www.monash.edu/education/current-students/policies-and-procedures/assessment-
procedures​
 
Returning assignments
✔ Your assessment tasks will be returned via Moodle assignment dropbox.

Assessment feedback to you

For information regarding when you can expect to receive feedback from your assignments, see:
Faculty Assessment Procedures

Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:

✔ Graded assignments with comments

Assessment tasks 14
EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Assessment tasks

Critical Literature Review

Due date: Week 7: Friday 13 September, 2019 (11:59pm)

Estimated return date: Week 9: Friday 27 September, 2019

Assessment task link to unit learning outcomes: This assessment is linked to the following learning outcomes:

1. Appreciate the iterative relationship between research and practice

2. Apply and critique various research approaches
3. Understand how different research processes can be used to inform practice in workplace settings
4. Locate, critique, synthesize and apply relevant evidence to practice

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers​: Not applicable

Details of task: Students are required to critically review the literature of a pertinent, professional topic.  The review needs to specify an
 area of practice and how effective it is for a particular population group,  for example, using animal assisted therapy with children with
anxiety disorders, or music therapy with  elderly patients with dementia.  Students will need to describe the intervention and then report
on, and critically review the evidence base for this particular intervention, for this particular population.  More information will be provided
in class.  

Word count/equivalent: 1600

Weighting/Value: 40%

Presentation requirements: Not applicable

Individual assessment in group tasks: This is an individual assessment task.

Additional information: Not applicable

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Criteria for marking: 

Assessment of degree divisions is multi-dimensional and excellence in one direction can compensate for poor performance in
another.  A comment on the notion of "originality":  this usually reflects new insights into an already established area of thought. 

HD D C P

Ability to focus literature on

research question(s)

Evaluation and integration of

literature

Insight and originality

Choice of literature

Quality and  appropriateness

 of presentation

                                                             

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Research Project

Due date: Week 12: Friday 25 October, 2019 (11:59pm)

Estimated return date: Friday 14th November, 2019

Assessment task link to unit learning outcomes: This assessment is linked to the following learning outcomes:

1. Appreciate the iterative relationship between research and practice

2. Apply and critique various research approaches
3. Understand how different research processes can be used to inform practice in workplace settings
4. Locate, critique, synthesize and apply relevant evidence to practice

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers​: Not applicable

Details of task: 
This assignment requires students to identify an issue within an organisation, program or a clinical population and propose a study to
explore or evaluate it. This will require students to critically review the available research that has been conducted to examine the
problem, describe the context of the issue within the organisation/project/clinical population being studied, devise research questions to
be answered, and describe the methodology that would be used to conduct this research.  
The proposed research project may take the form of one or more of the following:
• a program or service evaluation study using qualitative and/or quantitative approaches
• a study based on experimental single case design
• a qualitative approach using for example interviews or focus groups

Other formats may be appropriate and will need to be discussed with your lecturer.  More information will be provided in class.  

Word count/equivalent: 2400

Weighting/Value:  60%

Presentation requirements: Not applicable

Individual assessment in group tasks: This is an individual assessment task.

Additional information: Not applicable

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Additional information: Not applicable

Criteria for marking: Assessment of degree divisions is multi-dimensional and excellence in one direction can compensate for poor
performance in another. 

HD D C P

Definition and clarification of a worthwhile

problem

Evidence of insight and original thought

in dealing with the critical issues

Appropriateness and quality of the

literature review

Superior evaluation and integration of

existing literature

Suitability of design of the inquiry, and

use of data gathering techniques

Analysis of data

Quality and appropriateness of

presentation

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019
 Unit guide prepared by

Name: Dr Louise McLean
Campus: Clayton
Email: Louise.McLean@monash.edu

Last updated
19 Jul 2019

  

Copyright @ Monash University 2019. All rights reserved. Except as provided in the Copyright Act 1968, this work may
not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the host Faculty and School/Department.

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EDF5564 Research applications for practitioners - Semester 2 (S2-01) - 2019