PSY4506 - Psychological practice (Placement)

Leader: Dr Gordon Walker

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Caulfield Full year 2008 (Day)
Caulfield Full year 2008 (Off-campus)
Caulfield Second semester to First semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester to First semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Singapore First semester 2008 (Off-campus)
Singapore Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit involves students attending an organisation or agency for a total of 30 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 students 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. Students are required to give a presentation during second semester where they describe their experiences while on placement to the class.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will have:

1. Been acquainted with some of the work settings and professional roles of psychologists;
2. Been introduced to some of the strategies psychologists use to apply concepts, knowledge, skills and techniques in real life settings;
3. Been acquainted with some of the various ethical and legal dilemmas encountered in applied work;
4. Developed some basid practical professional skills such as administering and scoring tests, 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

On-campus: oral presentation (40%)
report (2000 words) (60%). OCDL: Organisational analysis of the agency (40%)
an objective and subjective account of the placement experience (40%)
report on the student's performance (20%).

Prerequisites

a degree with a 3 year APS-accredited major in psychology

Prohibitions

students can only choose two units from PSY4506, PSY4503, and PSY4501