Research in Clinical Psychology MSc

About the course

The main educational aims of the programme are to provide you with a thorough knowledge about clinical psychology as an academic and professional discipline, and to develop your research competence in a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods of particular relevance to clinical psychology. Core knowledge areas such as psychopathology, psychological assessment and various types of psychological intervention are each taught in specific modules. You will be introduced to leading theories or models in each field and the scientific evidence on which they are based will be critically discussed. Important research paradigms and controversies dominating current scientific debates within clinical psychology will be presented, and you will learn and practice how to critically appraise published research.

You will receive extensive training in a range of essential research skills and we will be discussing various types of research design for investigating the aetiology of mental health problems, for evaluating the effectiveness of psychological therapies and for auditing mental health services. The research training also includes advanced methods of statistical data analysis with exercises in SPSS and you will learn how to professionally report and communicate the findings. Qualitative research methods, for example, Grounded Theory will be taught in a specialist module and you will learn to use software for the coding and interpretation of transcripts. Finally, each student will be allocated to a senior researcher for a Research Apprenticeship, a particularly valuable learning experience enabling you to prepare an impressive MSc Research Project which will be your most important academic achievement of the programme.

The programme also includes a module Professional Clinical Skills introducing you to the role and competencies of professional clinical psychologists within mental health care settings as well as professional standards and ethical considerations. It also provides you with training in some essential clinical skills.

More specifically, the programme aims are to:

• provide students with in-depth knowledge about current theories of psychopathology covering both dimensional and diagnostic approaches for conceptualizing, defining, observing and assessing behavioural and mental indicators of psychopathology.
• provide students with detailed knowledge about psychiatric classification systems for mental health and personality problems as well as alternatives such as formulation
• provide students with thorough knowledge about different kinds of effective psychological interventions for the treatment or prevention of mental health and behavioural problems.
• educate and train students in various types of quantitative and qualitative research in the area of clinical psychology, their methodological justification as well as criteria of validity to critically evaluate strengths and weaknesses of research proposals or published research.
• provide education about professional standards for clinical psychologists as well as training in professional skills.

For further information contact:

Joerg Schulz, Dipl.-Psych.
Senior Lecturer in Research Methods & Statistics, School of Psychology,
2nd floor, CP Snow Building,
Office: 2H270
Telephone: 01707 285284
E-mail: J.Schulz@herts.ac.uk

Why choose this course?

This programme has been specifically designed for those intending to pursue a career in clinical psychology and to apply for a place on the professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, but it is also ideal for those interested in a research career or PhD in the area of clinical psychology and mental health. The programme enables students to gain detailed knowledge about modern theories and models in relation to psychopathology and psychological assessment as well as about effective psychological interventions and therapies. It also provides broad research training in quantitative and qualitative research, and offers education about the role of professional clinical psychologists along with training in essential clinical skills. The programme includes a Research Apprenticeship in clinical psychology which is a particularly attractive module enabling students to gain experience with professional research in clinical psychology.

• Designed to strengthen the research competence and academic profile of those intending to apply for professional training in clinical psychology
• Offers broad postgraduate research training in quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant to clinical psychology and mental health in general
• Includes a Research Apprenticeship in Clinical Psychology
• Provides education about the role of clinical psychologists as well as training in some essential professional clinical skills
• Uses a blend of adult learning approaches (i.e. lectures, seminars, group work, workshops) to engage students with the content of the taught modules

View course leaflet for Research in Clinical Psychology MSc.

Study routes

• Part Time,
• Part Time, 2 Years
• Full Time, 1 Years
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This course is ideal for those considering a professional or research career in clinical psychology and wish to strengthen their academic CV.

Teaching methods

We have our own dedicated postgraduate teaching rooms. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, practicals in class, workshops, group work, simulation exercises and individual supervision.

A blend of different assessment methods will be used. Part of the modules is assessed by exams, but the majority of the assignments constitute coursework such essays, data analysis reports, a written paper critique and oral presentations.

Professional Accreditations

Please note that this MSc does not replace an accredited doctoral training programme in Clinical Psychology, nor will it guarantee entry to such a programme or provide a professional qualification in clinical psychology.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Professional Clinical Skills I

  The module introduces students to the professional knowledge and skills that will enable them to work effectively within a professional clinical or research environment. Students will gain a critical understanding of ethical principles and their application in practice. The module will provide students with an in-depth understanding of verbal, non-verbal and written communication in relation to service users, research participants and colleagues, along with the opportunity to develop their practical skills in communication. The module will introduce students to the clinical problem solving cycle.

• Psychological Assessment

  The module familiarizes students with the basics of psychological assessment in clinical psychology, including often overarching psychiatric classification systems. Students will also be taught to understand and critically evaluate psychological assessment procedures, including the use of interviewing and psychometric assessments and formulation as an alternative strategy. The strengths and limitations of assessment procedures will be covered in depth, as will professional and ethical issues around the practice of clinical psychology assessments.

• Psychological Interventions

  The module will familiarise students with the major models of therapeutic intervention used in clinical psychology, and with both the distinctive and common features of the different approaches. It will be indicated how the interventions may be applied in individual, couple, family, and group therapy settings and with clients of different ages and presenting with different types of problems. The principal therapeutic techniques of the major models will be considered. The evidence base concerning the process and outcome of therapeutic interventions in clinical psychology will be outlined, and the implications of this evidence base for clinical practice will be considered.

• Psychopathology

  The module familiarizes students with the various approaches to psychopathology and develops a critical understanding for how mental disorders and behavioural problems develop, can be classified, diagnosed and researched. Leading theoretical approaches to psychopathology (i.e. developmental psychopathology, the bio-psycho-social model of health and illness) and their methodological implications for research will discussed in detail, but critical alternative views of mental health (i.e. social constructionist) will also be considered.

• Qualitative Research Methods

  The module aims to familiarise students with major approaches of qualitative research (e.g. phenomenological, conversational, theory development) in the area of clinical psychology. Different epistemological positions underlying qualitative research will be discussed as well as the nonlinear nature of the process of conducting qualitative research with the notion of an `emergent research design' as its central feature. The major method for data collection will be the open interview, and students will be given opportunities to develop essential research skills in relation to the development of an interview guide, conducting an open interview and the coding and interpretation of transcripts. Discussion of published research articles will enable students to develop a critical understanding of the notion of `rigour' in qualitative research as well as specific criteria of validity and strategies (e.g. audit trails, triangulation)

• Research Apprenticeship in Clinical Psychology

  The apprenticeship enables students to gain working experience in an academic research setting in the area of clinical psychology and provides opportunities to develop team working and professional skills.

• Research Methods and Data Analysis in Clinical Psychology

  This module provides an overview about some key positions of quantitative and qualitative research methodology as well as extensive training in a range of primary research skills. Principal aims of non-experimental, experimental and evaluation research in clinical psychology will be discussed as well as all relevant considerations for the selection of an appropriate study design vis-à-vis specific research objectives. Another important topic area concerns the design of professional questionnaires and interview schedules and the development and evaluation of clinical scales meeting specific criteria of validity and reliability. Particular emphasis is given to teaching and training in more advanced statistical data analysis, and especially on how to interpret statistical results using effect size indices and confidence intervals, comment on the robustness of the results and write reports that include professional tables and charts. An introduction to qualitative research will cover its basic aims, the notion of a flexible research design, the development and use of a semi-structured interview guide and the coding of transcripts using a thematic content analysis.

• Research Project in Clinical Psychology

  Students carry out a scientific investigation under supervision in an area of their interest in Clinical Psychology. Skills in planning, implementing, writing, discussing and presenting research will be developed to the level appropriate for an independent investigator.

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £5,250 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Full time: £10,500 for the 2013 academic year

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply