The research project, leading to the honours thesis, represents a significant proportion of the workload in the Honours program and will contribute 50% of the students’ final mark. The primary aim of this part of the Honours program is to develop students’ skills as researchers. The research project also represents an opportunity for students to learn, in depth, about a particular topic area in psychology. Students will have the opportunity to conduct empirical research within a range of broad topics. The focus of the project will develop (at least to some extent) as a function of the Supervisor’s areas of expertise and interest.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation of a chosen research topic to generate new knowledge in psychology.
2. Systematically identify and evaluate relevant theory, concepts and practice in psychology, relate these to appropriate research and applied methodologies and evidence, including in relation to cross-cultural perspectives, and draw appropriate conclusions.
3. Demonstrate sufficient mastery to understand and apply relevant experimental techniques and methods in psychology to collect original research data, and to analyse and interpret original psychological research data with statistical or other analytical methods where appropriate.
4. Communicate and justify complex theoretical concepts and empirical results clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Research-Led Teaching

The research project, leading to the Psychology Honours Thesis, represents a significant proportion of the workload in the Psychology Honours program, and it will contribute 50% of the final mark. The primary aim of this part of the Psychology Honours program is to develop students' skills as researchers. The research project also represents an opportunity for Honours students to learn, in depth, about a particular topic area in psychology. Students will have the opportunity to conduct empirical research within a range of broad topics. The focus of the research project will develop (at least to some extent) as a function of the Supervisor's areas of expertise and interest.

Field Trips

NA

Additional Course Costs

NA

Required Resources

Please refer to the Learning Management System (LMS).

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
12	The Honours year commences on Tuesday 27 January 2026.The standard pattern of enrolment for a full-time Honours student is 24 units x 2 consecutive semesters, with PSYC4200 (i.e., the research thesis component of the Honours program) comprising 12 units x 2 consecutive semesters.The focus of PSYC4200 will be on completing a research thesis, which is undertaken throughout the Honours year. There will be four milestones to complete during the Honours year. Full details of milestones and assessment requirements can be found in the 'Assessment Tasks' section of the Class Summary.Thesis Submission Due Date is Thursday 22 October 2026 at 5pm.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Milestone 1. Presentation of Research Proposal (Hurdle)	0 %	30/04/2026	1,4
Milestone 2. Mid-Course Progress Report Presentation (Hurdle)	0 %	25/06/2026	1.2.4
Milestone 3. Major Data Collection and Data Analyses Completed (Hurdle)	0 %	24/09/2026	3,4
Milestone 4. Thesis Draft Submitted to Supervisor and Feedback Returned by Supervisor (Hurdle)	0 %	08/10/2026	1,2,3,4
Submission of 8000- to 10000-Word Research Thesis	100 %	22/10/2026	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

The University has returned to on campus only delivery for in person courses.

Students are expected to attend lectures and contribute to discussions. In addition to lectures, attendance and participation in laboratories/practical's is crucial to successful completion of your course. The School of Medicine and Psychology considers the laboratory/practical components to be an integral part of each course. Laboratory/practical classes may supplement and consolidate material covered in lectures and/or they may introduce entirely new material pertinent to the objectives of the course.

Examination(s)

NA

Assessment Task 1

Milestone 1. Presentation of Research Proposal (Hurdle)

Milestone 1. Presentation of Research Proposal (Learning Outcomes: 1, 4) 

Each student will present a summary of their research aims, design, methods, and hypotheses to a panel of academic staff. This will give students an independent perspective on their planned project. Students will be expected to present for approximately 15 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes allowed for discussion. The presentation of the research proposal is to be completed in Semester 1, prior to the commencement of data collection. The research proposal presentation should be made in April, which is approximately three months after the start of semester.

Due Date: 30/4/26

Assessment Task 2

Milestone 2. Mid-Course Progress Report Presentation (Hurdle)

Milestone 2. Mid-Course Progress Report Presentation (Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 4)

The mid-course progress report presentation must include a meeting with the Honours Convenor (or their delegate) to discuss progress, as it pertains to timely submission of the thesis. The mid-course progress report presentation should be made in June, which is approximately five months after the start of semester.

Due Date: 25/6/26

Assessment Task 3

Milestone 3. Major Data Collection and Data Analyses Completed (Hurdle)

 Milestone 3. Major Data Collection and Analyses Completed (Learning Outcomes: 3, 4)

Four weeks prior to submission of the thesis, both the supervisor and the student must sign off on the scope of all data collection and data analyses required for the completion of the thesis, indicating that they think the thesis is on track for submission. If the supervisor or the student think the thesis is not on track, this will need to be discussed with the Honours Convenor immediately and the reasons for the problems explained. Extensions to the thesis due date will only be given for delays caused by unforeseen factors outside of the student’s control.

Due Date: 24/9/26

Assessment Task 4

Milestone 4. Thesis Draft Submitted to Supervisor and Feedback Returned by Supervisor (Hurdle)

Milestone 4. Thesis Draft Submitted to Supervisor and Feedback Returned by Supervisor (Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Two weeks prior to submission of the thesis, both the supervisor and the student must confirm that the first draft of the thesis (excluding the Discussion section) has been submitted to the supervisor and has been returned to the student by the supervisor with comments.

Due Date: 8/10/26

Assessment Task 5

Submission of 8000- to 10000-Word Research Thesis

Submission of 8,000- to 10,000-Word Research Thesis (Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Research Thesis students will:

• Engage In-Person in 2-hour Monday workshops on thesis writing skills.
• Attend weekly meetings with their Research Thesis Supervisor.

The Research Thesis will take the form of a scientific research paper, consisting of: Title, Table of Contents, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References.

The length of the thesis must not exceed 10,000 words.

The 10,000-word limit includes: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, In-Text Citations, and In-Text Statistics.

The 10,000-word limit does not include: Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, In-Text Tables, In-Text Figures, References in the Reference section, and Appendices.

Research Thesis Assessment Criteria include:

• Review of Relevant Research: Statement of the problem and its justification in the light of previous theory or applied importance, and previous research.
• Competence and sophistication of research design and choice of methods and operationalisation, such as skills in design of measurement, equipment, or selection of subjects.
• Competence in data analysis, and presentation of results.
• Ability to relate results to previous research, to discuss their theoretical significance, and to suggest possibilities for further research.
• Structure of the argument, clarity and elegance of expression, and adherence to APA 7 guidelines.

Due Date: 22/10/26

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

Psychology Honours Students are required to complete the Editorial Services and Generative AI Declaration Form, and to include this Declaration Form as an Appendix in their thesis.

The Editorial Services and Generative AI Declaration Form asks about the use of paid editorial services as well as the use of generative AI in the thesis. 

If Generative AI has been used for thesis writing, please: 

(a) Cite the generative AI tool used in the main body of the thesis—refer to the ANU Library Guide on Generative AI, which includes general guidelines for citing a generative AI tool.

(b) be prepared to provide evidence (e.g., records of the Generative AI search history) if any concerns are raised by the Thesis Examiners.

Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education), thesis submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education).

Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students