This course will reflect the independent clinical outcomes based research undertaken during the final semesters of the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) research program and will be an integrated supplement to the students' major independent research program.

The aims of the course are to enhance the students' capacity to undertake independent, high quality clinical outcome research in a real world setting and to take a higher level of autonomy and responsibility in their clinical practice. The course aims to be the main mechanisms for demonstrating the higher level of integration of psychological theory, research and clinical practice expected from a Doctoral level clinical psychologist.  

Students must develop independent research skills in clinical psychology coupled with the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, research expertise and the development of required clinical competencies necessary for independent clinical practice.

The extra 500 hours of supervised clinical placements for the D.Psych degree (taken across PSYC9203 and PSYC9204) takes the form of independent clinical research in areas of specialisation related to the students' research interest. This involves the trainee working as a psychologist in clinical settings and conducting applied research that is demonstrably related to their main thesis topic. This research may employ a range of methodologies accepted in the field of clinical psychology and could include inter alia: a connected series of single-case studies; an evaluation of a particular intervention; or an evaluation of an intervention program instituted by an agency.

Assessment will rest on the production of a formal research report of a formal clinical research study using appropriate research design, analysis and implementation. These studies can be N = 1 case studies, a reported series of related single cases, assessments of intervention outcomes with clinical groups or evaluation of clincial programs.  Importantly, the topics or themes of the applied clinical research undertaken as part of this component would be closely related to the topic or theme of the major independent research program being undertaken by the student.