3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4020016ENR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
For this course you have to meet certain enrolment requirements. For an overview of the enrolment requirements check https://www.vub.be/en/studying-vub/practical-info-for-students/study-guidance/study-path/individual-study-path#paragraph--id--71647 Students must have taken 'Statistics III: univariate data analysis' and you are also following (or have already passed): 'Statistics IV: Multivariate data analysis' before they can enroll in Master Thesis Psychology I: Clinical Psychology.
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Department
Experimental and Applied Psychology
Educational team
Joeri Hofmans (course titular)
Sarah Cameron
Yara Bouckaert
Activities and contact hours
6 contact hours Lecture
6 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
50 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content
In this course we focus on the process that one goes through when carrying out a literature review and when working towards research questions and hypotheses. Special attention is given to critical reading of literature, theory building and the development of scientific writing skills. The classes consist of both theory and the practical application of this theory by students.
 
For the paper, the student works on the intro and theoretical framework of his/her own master's thesis.
Course material
Practical course material (Required) : Masterproef I Arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie
Additional info

• The guidelines and rules concerning the master thesis in psychology. 
• Concise Rules of APA Style, Seventh Edition (2019). APA Books, Washington DC.

• Slides and handouts used during classes

Learning Outcomes

general competences

- The student is acquainted with the parts (introduction, theoretical framework, discussion/conclusion) and the formal aspects (APA, size, etc.) of the master thesis and can apply this to his/her own master thesis.

- The student can formulate a research question based on the scientific literature.

- The student knows how to find and build good scientific theory

- The student develops academic writing skills

- The student acquires the skills of critical and effective reading of academic literature

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
LEC Paper determines 85% of the final mark.
Other determines 15% of the final mark.

Within the LEC Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Paper with a relative weight of 85 which comprises 85% of the final mark.

    Note: Scientific report

Within the Other category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Participation in class with a relative weight of 15 which comprises 15% of the final mark.

    Note: If the student is not present in the course, he / she will receive 0/1 for that course; if the student is present but has no active contribution, he / she will receive 0.5 / 1, and if the student is present and he / she has an active contribution, the student will receive 1/1 for that course.

Additional info regarding evaluation
The evaluation is based on several elements:
 
1) End products (100%)
- A written scientific report in APA format (85%)
- Attendance and active participation in class (15%)
 
*In this evaluation task, it is permitted to use generative AI only for translations and text improvement. Any use of generative AI should be properly referenced (see reference list AI).
 
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Psychology: Afstudeerrichting arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie (only offered in Dutch)