User:Jtneill/Research/Supervision


 * Initial guidance for psychology student research projects supervised by James Neill
 * Feel free to get in touch and we can discuss

APAC
A Bachelor Honours Degree ... involves planning and executing project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some degree of independence.

Students will undertake a research project that includes a research question, empirical literature review, data analysis, reporting of results and discussion. The research project should be structured so that students participate in the key steps involved, including the formulation of research questions, the analysis of data to test the research question, the interpretation of the findings and the writing of the report.

APAC Evidence Guide v1.3

A Masters Degree (Coursework) requires students to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills to plan, formulate a research question and execute a research-based project that is applicable to the field of work. This includes implementation of a structured method of enquiry, a reputable approach to data analysis and interpretation and demonstration of critical analysis of the relevant literature.

The research project, incorporating a critical review of the literature, may take the form of one or more of the following: reviews, answer that question.
 * a program or service evaluation study,
 * a study based on experimental single case design,
 * a pilot study and grant application,
 * a systematic, meta-analysis or structured reviews, including scoping, umbrella and rapid
 * a qualitative or quantitative study using primary or secondary data analyses,
 * a traditional empirical research project, and
 * a capstone experience in which a question is posed, and evidence is gathered to

A case report will not suffice the research requirements of Professional Competency 3.17

APAC Evidence Guide v1.3

Idea sources
There are three main sources of research project ideas:
 * Student-driven projects: Start by generating some of your own research ideas (see brainstorming; see also previous theses). These projects often collect new data, but could also analyse secondary data.
 * Supervisor-driven projects: Check out some research ideas below and my publications
 * Industry-driven projects: These projects involve an industry-partner, such as a non-profit organisation, usually established through student- or supervisor- contacts

Methods
Methodologically, there are three main approaches:
 * Quantitative - analysis of numerical data
 * Qualitative - analysis of non-numerical data
 * Mixed - a combination of quantitative and qualitative

Brainstorming

 * Brainstorm ideas without getting too critical. One idea can lead to another — and a "bad" idea could lead to a "good" one. So, generate lots of ideas before ruling any out.
 * Brainstormed ideas might be based on your own curiosities and/or supervisor interests, but should emerge out of previous research.
 * The aim of the research project should be to solve a problem or mystery (a knowledge gap) by testing a psychological theory.
 * Ignore "how to do research" during brainstorming — it really doesn't matter. Consider research methods later, if a research question turns out to be worth pursuing. Considering methodology too early (e.g., "I could do a survey of ...") is an avoidable pitfall. Don't get the cart before the horse.
 * After brainstorming, refine down to about 2 to 4 ideas.
 * Then express each research idea as one or more research questions. Constructing research questions will push your thinking to the next level. Remember, the research questions should address some aspect of psychological theory. If you can't frame the idea as a research question, the project might not be viable.
 * Brainstorming and then developing some possible research questions will provide a healthy start for further discussion with a potential supervisor.

Possible topics
This is a brainstorm of some possible areas/ideas for projects. The sources for these ideas are generally either:
 * Current or past projects, sometimes with external clients/industry partners
 * Previous student research projects
 * Interesting studies that have caught my attention and could be replicated/extended

Arts-based interventions
I am broadly interested in interventions that seek to improve people's psychosocial lives. Often these are experiential, group-based interventions run by community organisations. During 2023-2024, we have been conducting industry-requested research with the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) and with Messengers, Tuggeranong Arts Centre:
 * Art for wellbeing at NGA program evaluation. The project got underway in 2023 with an Honours student interviewing participants and a Masters student interviewing staff, and could continue with follow-up studies in 2024. This project also has collaboration with members of the Ageing Research Group at UC, including academic staff from Nutrition and Occupational Therapy. The focus has been on what attracts people to the program, what the impacts on the program are on participants, and the mechanisms of change. The approach has been qualitative because this is exploratory research. Next steps for future projects could be discussed with the NGA.
 * A student in 2023-2024 is conducting an adolescent art intervention research project with Messengers, conducted by the Tuggeranong Arts Centre. This Honours project started mid-2023 and will conclude mid-2024.

Body image
Several students have conducted body image studies. The focus has usually been on the role of social media and/or has a focus on positive body image. I am currently supervising a student (Anna Brichacek) who is nearing completion of a PhD investigating body image flexibility (which is an adaptation of psychological flexibility) and there is potential to apply this work in Honours projects e.g.,
 * The mediating/moderating role of body image flexibility in the effects of social media idealised body images on body image
 * Self-compassion and body image flexibility

Ecopsychology / Environmental psychology
Environmental psychology is a broad area, but ecopsychology in particularly is rapidly expanding, as we turn to nature-based experiences to help ameliorate distress and promote wellbeing. There are many potential projects in this area:
 * Actively noticing nature (not just time in nature) helps promote nature connectedness. e.g., replication and/or extension of Richardson et al. (2021)
 * Attitudes towards reconciliation in Australia: Relationships with connectedness to nature, animal–human continuity, and moral expansiveness. Australian replication of Canadian study by Starzyk et al. (2021). Also see this article in The Conversation.
 * Green exercise effects on mood
 * How do childhood nature experiences influence adult outdoor activities? e.g., replication and/or extension of Sugiyama et al. (2021)
 * Landcare ACT Wellbeing Through Nature program research evaluation
 * Motivations for pro-environmental volunteering behaviour. For example, replicate/extend McDougle et al. (2011). Could use a functionalist approach (Clary and Snyder)
 * Natural stimuli (imagery, sound) effects on mood - past examples
 * Nature connectedness and eco-distress. For example, replicate/extend Smith et al. (2021)
 * Peak experiences in nature
 * Secondary data analysis of the large population datasets about the role of gardening in physical and mental health
 * Sensory awareness inventory intervention: A simple intervention study could use the sensory awareness inventory (through which a person can map their sources of pleasure through sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) and potentially structure their lifestyle around receiving sensory pleasure through each of these senses each day
 * Vitalising effects of being outdoors and in nature. For example, replicate/extend Ryan et al. (2010)

Educational psychology
Educational psychology projects at Honours-level can be challenging, especially if they involve minors and getting permission from education boards, schools parents, students etc. So, these projects need careful planning and usually work best when educational institutions are already on board. But there are also opportunities for researching adults (e.g., teachers and university-level projects).
 * Development of psychological literacy in undergraduate psychology students. Possible collaboration with Samantha Newell from Uni of Adelaide.
 * Occurrence, prevention, and recovery from occupational violence experienced by high school teachers in the ACT using mixed methods. The ACT Directorate of Education (Occupational Violence Team) is keen to conduct further research in 2024, following a successful Hons study in 2020 with primary school staff (Stevenson et al., 2022).
 * Open educational resource benefits and barriers from the perspectives of staff and students at the University of Canberra. For example, replicate/extend Appiah et al. (2020) and/or Luo et al. (2020).
 * University student perspectives about online learning preferences. For example, replicate/extend Wan Art et al. (2020).

Emotion
Emotions are vast and complex. So, studies in this area tend to work best if they drill down to specific emotions and maybe contemporary emotions (e.g., eco-emotions). For example, an Honours student previously conducted a project to see how a short intervention could stimulate awe. Emotion can be investigated experimentally (e.g., through a manipulation) and then consequences/differences in attitude, behaviour, decisions etc. can be measured.
 * Compersion has been surprisingly under-researched, yet represents a fascinating (if challenging) pro-social emotion
 * Mediating effects of cognitions (e.g., associative and dissociative) on mood changes during exercise
 * Prosocial emotions: Differences between compassion, empathy, sympathy, and/or kindness. For example, see Gilbert (2019) for a conceptual review of compassion. Could replicate and/or extend Gilbert et al., 2019).

Motivation
Applied aspects of motivation can be measured or manipulated to examine their relation with outcomes of interest. Perhaps consider the most problematic aspects of motivation such as procrastination and time management. What do we need to know to be able to better self-regulate?
 * How does cuteness/kawaii affect task performance. And why. For example, see Yoshikawa and Masaki (2021).
 * Procrastination
 * Academic procrastination and factors contributing to its overcoming. For example, replication and extension of Nábělková and Ratkovská (2015).
 * Procrastination and self-determination. Based on one of the recommendations from van Eerde and Klingsieck (2018).
 * To do lists and sleep. For example, replicate/extend Scullin et al. (2018).
 * Self-tracking: Motivations for, and consequences of, self-tracking. Could use a functionalist approach (Clary and Snyder)
 * Time management - This is a life skill that people typically rate themselves poorly on
 * Volunteering - Using Clary and Snyder's functionalist perspective

Outdoor education and adventure therapy
This area works best for those with an existing interest and experience, and when there is engagement with a specific organisation. However, I have some industry contacts, so can help set something up if there is a particular interest.
 * Adventure therapy and recividism: A meta-analytic and/or systematic review (Masters)


 * Landcare ACT Wellbeing Through Nature program evaluation - ongoing industry project
 * The role of social support in developing psychological resilience through outdoor education programs

Positive psychology
Positive psychology examines psychological strengths and how they can be developed.
 * A 2023 Honours student conducted a secondary analysis of the large HILDA dataset to test the inverted-U hypothesis that a moderate level of life stress may lead to optimal wellbeing outcomes (rather than low or high stress). Interestingly, the data did not support the hypothesis, but there wasn't a linear relationship eager. But the sense of mastery (i.e., sense of control and coping) and social support positively predicted wellbeing. We could try to replicate this study using a different large dataset.
 * Coping, coping effectiveness, stress, and psychological resilience (e.g., based on the Lazarus and Folkman transactional model of stress and coping). More info
 * Psychological benefits of aversive psychological states (e.g., feeling sad/failing)
 * Successful versus unsuccessful attempts at life change (e.g., Heatherton & Nicholls, 1994)

Psychoactive drugs
Psychoactive drugs are as hot a topic in psychological research as ever. Although clinical/forensic/psychopharmacological type studies are very difficult to conduct in a short time-frame with minimal resources by an inexperienced researcher, some creative and critical thinking can lead to workable research problems and designs. For example:
 * A 2022 Honours student examined ACT community attitudes to psilocybin assisted therapy just prior to the TGA's more permissive rescheduling of psilocybin

Social psychology
I like the idea of practical social psychology investigations, such as:
 * Deep versus shallow conversations (e.g., Kardas et al., 2021).
 * Emotional effects of minimal social contact
 * The role of parasocial relationships

Stress and coping
Stress, coping, and resilience (e.g., based on Lazarus' transactional model of stress and coping) provide a dynamic way of understanding how stress is now]t always bad and, in fact, can be good! But how? Via effective coping.
 * Coping efficacy/effectiveness. For example, see:
 * Coping self-efficacy
 * Directed coping (Wright, 2020).
 * Stress control mindset. For example, see Crum et al. (2013) and Keech et al. (2020).

Supervisory style

 * My aim is to support you to conduct a publishable research study (and for you to learn about the topic and process of research along the way)
 * I am reasonably open about the topic. If it aligns with previous work I've been involved with, then I can provide more expert support.
 * In terms of supervisory meeting arrangements, I am flexible. We can negotiate to suit our mutual needs. Usually supervisory meetings are virtual, with some face to face options. Expect to meet for at least an hour a week, especially over the first few months while the project is being set up.
 * We'll use a collaborative file sharing and messaging platform (e.g., Google Drive or Microsoft 365) throughout the project
 * We both have other responsibilities, but if we collaborate and communicate, a rewarding learning experience and a useful output is achievable