3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4015288ENR 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
Pass/Non pass
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
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Department
Klinische- en Levenslooppsychologie
Educational team
Olivier Mairesse (course titular)
Eva Staels
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
40 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

During the course Master thesis I, the student gets acquainted with the guidelines, parts (introduction, methods, results, discussion/conclusion) and formal aspects (APA, length, etc.) of the master thesis. How to conduct a thorough literature study is refreshed. The student is further informed on how one should carry out a preregistration for their planned research, and why this is important.
The student will follow the first steps of a research cycle including the identification and formulation of the research question, theoretically substantiating this question, selecting a research approach and research methods and creating a research plan.
Based on a paper the student will report on this process taking into account the parts and formal aspects of the master thesis. The goal is to reach an easy-to-read text which can serve as a basis for the Master thesis II.

Course material
Course text (Required) : Het reglement aangaande de masterproef in de psychologie., facultair document
Practical course material (Required) : De centraal georganiseerde snelcursus IMPROVE YOUR RESEARCH SKILLS voor een goede aanpak van de literatuurstudie
Digital course material (Required) : De slides die tijdens de hoorcolleges gebruikt worden
Handbook (Required) : Concise Rules of APA Style, American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition, APA, 9781433832734, 2019
Additional info

• The guidelines and rules ("Onderwijs- en Examenreglement") concerning the master thesis in psychology. 
• Concise Rules of APA Style, Sixth Edition (2009). APA Books, Washington DC.
• The slides which are used during the seminars.
• Exercises provided for refreshing how to approach the literature study.

Learning Outcomes

General competences

• The student is acquainted with the parts (introduction, methods, results, discussion/conclusion) and the formal aspects (APA, length, 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 can report on the research question and research methods in a scientific way.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
SELF Paper determines 100% of the final mark.

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

  • Final Paper Promotor with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Assessment by the promotor of the master thesis (Pass or Fail): based on the final paper to be submitted by the end of the 2nd semester

Additional info regarding evaluation

Based on the final paper the student submits at the end of the 2nd semester, the promotor of the thesis decides whether the student receives a Pass or a Fail.

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: Clinical Psychology (only offered in Dutch)