Psychophysiological Project
Overview
To apply and develop skills that have been learned during the undergraduate years to carry out a research project within the area of Psychophysiology/Cognitive Neuroscience. This “Capstone†group-based project provides students with an opportunity to experience real research. Topics may arise from their work in other Swinburne units of study. For example, students may carry forward and complete projects designed in NEU30002 Sleep and Attention. In other cases, students will be given the opportunity to work on projects developed by academic staff or generated by external agencies.
Requisites
Assumed Knowledge
Students need to have completed the second year Psych/Psychophysiol at Swinburne (or equivalent)
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Develop and execute a research study
- Locate resources and develop skills to achieve the project/study aims
- Manage project workload and resources
- Demonstrate the ability to work in a collaborative team to achieve project outcomes
- Understand the ethical implications of the research proposed and working within an ethics-based environment
- Carry out a research project, documenting project progress and showing reflective practice
- Communicate the results of research in a coherent fashion designed for a professional research career
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Contact (Phasing out) Synchronous Lectures | 1.00 | 6 weeks | 6 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Tutorial | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Other | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Individual Study | 9.00 | 12 weeks | 108 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | Group | 20% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Reflective Journal | Individual | 20% | 2,3,4,5,6 |
| Research Manuscript | Group | 60% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Content
The aim of this project is the self-directed education of students in many of the aspects associated with performing research in Psychophysiology/Cognitive Neuroscience under professional research supervision. This subject gives the students the opportunity of applying techniques and skills introduced in the psychophysiology, psychology and statistics disciplines. Students will work in small groups (2-5) to plan and review the literature, and to carry out any analytical or experimental work involved. While experimental and theoretical studies are acceptable, experimental projects are preferred.
For studies involving empirical research students should base their study on previously published research, allowing a clear delineation of their own experimental extensions. Students should collect experimental data on the basis of methodologies they have explicitly replicated from the literature or developed themselves.
The analysis of data that someone else has collected does not generally form an adequate basis for an experimental study. However, the collection of additional data to increase research power, or the development of new analytical goals from derived data, has validityÂ
In addition to mastering the substantive content relevant to their chosen project, students will have to consolidate skills and knowledge developed throughout their degree including library skills, laboratory techniques, computer skills, statistical techniques, report writing, management, and teamwork skills.
Any projects undertaken involving human subjects will require approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee before they commence. Please aim for low-risk research applications as transit through the ethics process will be much quicker.
Minimum Risk is defined under the Swinburne ORGS site:
http://www.research.swinburne.edu.au/researchers/ethics/human-research/
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.