Professional Practice Portfolio: Extended Case Study and Presentation

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenors: Hayley Lewis, Clare Mulligan-Foster
• Guest speakers: various
• Assessment: a 4000-word case study (80%) and a simulated 'client' presentation (20%)

This module is the last of six modules within Part 1 of the Professional Doctorate in Organizational Psychology, and enables you to apply your psychological knowledge from the first five modules (which cover the five key areas in OP) directly to the workplace and across the whole consultancy cycle. Interactive learning with peers and expert practitioner psychologists is combined with work-based practice, with a clear focus on experiential learning and reflection on action. The module brings together the learning across Part 1 and enables you to demonstrate your competence, in evidence-based, reflective and increasingly autonomous practice.

Indicative module syllabus

• Contracting with clients
• Information gathering and analysis of issues
• Using an evidence-based approach to formulate plans and actions
• Implementing and reviewing solutions
• Evaluating outcomes
• Reporting and reflecting on outcomes

By the end of this module, you will:

• know about issues concerning knowledge acquisition and dissemination in OP, including the ability to critically evaluate existing research and practice across OP
• understand how to integrate psychological knowledge into the whole consultancy cycle (from contracting to information gathering and analysis, to formulation of plans and actions, to implementation of solutions, evaluating outcomes and reporting on outcomes)
• have a command of relevant knowledge at the cutting edge of OP and the capacity to apply this knowledge in practice
• be able to translate relevant psychological knowledge into practice and appropriate language
• be able to analyse and manage the implications of ethical dilemmas in practice, working with individuals, teams and organisations, working with legal and ethical boundaries of the profession
• be able to make informed judgements on complex issues in work and business environments, often in the absence of complex data
• have the capacity to apply professionally relevant knowledge at the cutting edge of the field of OP
• be able to identify appropriate investigative approaches for a chosen client project
• be able to contract, diagnose, formulate, conduct, direct, monitor, evaluate and report upon the implementation of applications of OP
• be able to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge in OP and practical implementation of that knowledge
• be able to act professionally and largely autonomously and with initiative in complex and unpredictable situations
• be able to critically reflect on the practical applications of theory and research findings in OP
• be able to record reflections on your own learning and development as required for future professional practice.