PSY4505 - Psychological practice (Placement) A

Leader: Dr Gordon Walker

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2007 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2007 (Off-campus)
Caulfield Second semester 2007 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit involves students attending an organisation or agency (eg., personnel, counselling, forensic) for a total of approximately 15 days. During the placement the student has observer status, that is, all duties of a psychological nature are performed under supervision. The aim of this placement is to provide the student with the opportunity to become familiar with the role and practices of professional psychologists. Students can also develop some basic professional skills such as administering and scoring tests, conducting interviews and researching the literature on applied problems.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Identify work settings and professional roles of psychologists.
2. Describe some of the strategies psychologists use to apply concepts, knowledge, skills and techniques in real life settings.
3. Describe some of the various ethical and legal dilemmas encountered in applied work.
4. Demonstrate some basic practical professional skills such as administering and scoring test, assisting in research, conducting interviews, researching the literature on applied problems and/or helping to prepare policy statements on social issues for which psychological perspectives may be relevant.

Assessment

Log Book - containing structured, descriptive and objective notes as well as free flowing impressionistic responses relevant to each day's experience (40%)
Placement report - a more formal analysis of the work of the organisation, the psychologist and of the placement experience (60%).

Contact hours

15 day placement.

Prerequisites

A degree with a 3 year APS-accredited major in psychology and one semester enrolment in PSY4506

Prohibitions

PSY4506