The award is made annually to assist a student enrolled in an accredited fourth year psychology program or Masters by coursework psychology program in carrying out an empirical project on a peace related topic or disseminating its findings.

Criteria for the Award

Projects will be judged on their scientific merit and their potential contribution to theory or practice in:

  • the peaceful resolution of conflict
  • understanding and preventing aggressive behaviour
  • the fostering of harmonious relationships whether at global, intergroup or interpersonal levels.

The assessment may take into account the academic record, experience and other qualifications of the student, which may be relevant to the successful completion of the proposed project.

The project proposal

  1. A cover page showing the project title, the name of the student and address for correspondence, the course and institution, and the name and email address of the supervisor.
  2. An abbreviated version of the thesis, excluding appendices and reduced to approximately half its length. 
  3. A paragraph explaining how the project contributes to the aim of the Award (as stated in the above criteria) and any anticipated method of disseminating the findings.
  4. A statement from the supervisor(s) supporting the quality of the project.

Selection process

The award will be made by a panel of at least three judges from different states of Australia. If in the opinion of the judges no entry sufficiently meets the criteria, no winner shall be chosen.

Value and submission

The award is typically for $500 in recognition of high calibre research and to encourage dissemination of the research findings. If there are projects of sufficient merit, more than one award may be made depending on yearly funding. 

Entries must be lodged with the coordinator of the project:

  • Entries must be lodged with the coordinator of the project:
    Dr Susie Burke
    Australian Psychological Society
    PO Box 38, Flinders Lane
    VIC 8009
    Email: s.burke@psychology.org.au

Electronic or hard copies are acceptable. An acknowledgment will be sent on receipt of each entry.

Closing date for submissions: 5 December, 2011

Previous winners

2010 

Miriam Capper, University of New South Wales
“Practicing Self-Control Decreases Reactive Aggression in Aggressive Individuals”
Thesis supervisor: Dr Tom Denson

Rishani Panawennage, La Trobe University
“Intergroup Forgiveness after the Prolonged Conflict in a Sri Lankan Sample”
Thesis supervisor: Dr Eleanor Wertheim
2009 

Joanne Frare, Southern Cross University for Honors thesis entitled "Patriotism or Nationalism: Investigating Australian National Identity and Flag Display Behaviour" (supervised by Dr Gail Moloney)

Tim Howle, Australian National University for Honors thesis entitled "The Differential Impact of Ethnic Threat and Ecological Threat on Ethnocentrism and Prejudice" (supervised by Dr Boris Bizumic)
2008  Irene Giaprakis, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University for Honours research entitled "The contribution of emotional intelligence and its components in the prediction of forgiveness" (supervised by Professor Eleanor Wertheim) 
2007  not awarded 
2006  Peggy Koutsos, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University for postgraduate diploma research entitled “Paths to interpersonal forgiveness: The role of personality, dispositional forgiveness and situational forgiveness”  
2005 Luisa Rossi for 'The Relationship between Language Skills and Outcomes of the PATHS Curriculum'
2004 not awarded
2003 Andreia Azevedo, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, for a project entitled "Adolescents’ value orientations and preferred strategies for resolving disagreements involving different student groups"
2002 Helena Culbertson and Ashley Carl 
2001 Jackie Bornstein and Anne Matuszek   
2000 Elizabeth Le Clercq 
1999 Andrew Hamilton and Albert Dinelli  
1998 Michelle Fleming and Michael Virgen  
1997 Adina Kotler, Tamara Noy, Heather Siddons, Brianna Harrison and Janet Ruffles 
1996  Therese Meallin and Michelle Versluys   
1995  Tony Pastore and Lana Strogonow   

 

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