The Cairnmillar Institute School of Psychology Counselling and Psychotherapy has developed a Research Strategy Plan. This plan considers what is required by external bodies invested in developing the quality of research in Australia, and research integrity in the discipline of psychology. Initiatives include those by Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), and The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Research questions related to professional practice are most central to the research direction for the School. However, other areas related to mental health are also pertinent. Examples could include, using evidence, including social-economic position evidence in clinical mental health practice, evaluation of specialist mental health services and their effectiveness, client characteristics and effectiveness of interventions, expert opinion and what this is and effectiveness of treatments, and supervision and its outcomes.
Research designs pertinent to the evaluation of interventions are also relevant, such as clinical audits, case studies and case studies series. Complementary to this approach to research is the recent acceptance by APAC of a range of research projects suitable for fifth and sixth year psychology programs of study.
Postgraduate projects must take the form of one or more of the following:
- A program evaluation study;
- A study based on experimental single case design;
- A critical review, pilot study, and full grant application;
- A critical review and meta analysis;
- A critical review and secondary data analysis;
- A traditional empirical research project; or
- A literature review and an article suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed international scientific journal.
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy students are encouraged to choose clinical case studies as their research method as a means of developing their knowledge and skills in reflective practice and in practice-based evidence.
Educating Practitioners