As a member service, the APS includes on this website details of research being conducted by members who are seeking participants in research surveys.

If you are interested in participating, please contact the individual cited in the 'Contact details' section under each project listing. Please do not contact the APS directly.

Please note: The APS in no way endorses, has no involvement in, and is not responsible for the research projects listed. Your participation in any of the projects listed is entirely voluntary.

Current research projects

A randomised control trial of non-specific supportive clinical management versus cognitive behaviour therapy in longstanding anorexia nervosa  

The University of Sydney, in conjunction with St Georges University of London and the University of Chicago, have been awarded an NHMRC grant to examine treatment for longstanding anorexia nervosa.

The University of Sydney is currently conducting a treatment program for females over the age of 18 who have had anorexia nervosa for more than seven years (even if there have been periods of recovery). It aims to determine which of two currently available psychological treatments have the best outcome for people with longstanding anorexia nervosa.

The treatment will be provided by registered clinical psychologists at the University of Sydney. This program is free of charge and involves 30 individual outpatient treatment sessions over six months. Participants will be required to see their GP on a monthly basis throughout their participation in the program to ensure their medical stability. We will reimburse any ‘gap' incurred for GP visits and laboratory investigations based on our recommended care advice whilst a participant is in the program. 

The results of this study will inform the future development of treatment programs for anorexia nervosa.

If you would like more information about the program, please contact Rebecca Smith (Project Coordinator) at the University of Sydney:

 

This research has received ethics approval from the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.

Start date: January 2008

Closing date: August 2009

Smoke Study (smoking motivators and key cognitive effects)  

Individuals aged 18 to 60 who currently smoke at least 15 cigarettes per day AND who have either:

  1. a current diagnosis of schizophrenia; OR
  2. no diagnosis of mental illness/ first-degree relative with schizophrenia

are invited to participate in the Smoke Study. This study is designed to investigate the relationship between nicotine, brain function and reasons for smoking amongst individuals with and without mental illness. This study will contribute greater understanding of the factors involved in the maintenance of heavy smoking. Improved understanding of the relationship between cigarette smoking and cognitive factors may have implications for smoking cessation.

Originally, this study required participants to attend two 2-hour appointments at the University of Newcastle. We appreciate that this may have been difficult for many potential participants, so now we have now added a ‘Self-Report Only' option.

The ‘Self-Report' component of the study consists of questions designed to assess different reasons for smoking, as well as general background information, smoking history and attitudes toward the face-to-face component of the study. You will be asked to complete and return this questionnaire in your own time, using reply-paid envelopes provided. This questionnaire should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.

You will be offered a $15 Coles/ Myer voucher as a token reimbursement for time and any inconvenience associated with completing the questionnaire.

The face-to-face component of the study is also available.

This research is being conducted by Alison Beck, DPsych (Clin) candidate at the University of Newcastle, under the supervision of Dr Juanita Todd and Associate Professor Amanda Baker and has received ethics approval from the Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee.

If you are interested in participating or would like to know more about the study, please contact Alison Beck on 0435079123 (text or call), (02) 4921 5977 or email Alison.Beck@newcastle.edu.au.   

Australian health professionals’ attitudes towards suicide and self-harm

This study aims to investigate the attitudes that Australian health professionals hold towards suicide and self-harm behaviour. Previous studies have primarily focused on single professions, rather than taking into account the multitude of health professionals that are involved when a client is exhibiting suicidal and self-harm behaviour or has attempted suicide. A wide variety of professionals can be involved in the client's recovery process; including doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists. It is important that the attitudes of these professionals towards suicidal behaviour are investigated so as to better equip future professionals for managing suicidal behaviour. 

Target participants for this study are health professionals who would come into contact with clients who may be at risk of suicide or recovering from a suicide attempt. Data will be collected via an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire used in this study comprises of a series of demographic questions as well as scales that measure attitudes towards self-harm and suicide behaviour.

Please click on the link below to read the explanatory statement and complete the survey online:

If you would like more information or have any questions about this project, please contact:

This project has been approved by the Monash University Standing Committee on Ethics in Research involving Humans (SCERH).

Closing date: 30 September, 2008

Back to top

Personality, Self-Awareness and Performance

The ultimate aim of this research project is to investigate the relationship between personality, self-awareness and the performance of leaders. In order to achieve this, a new measure of self-awareness is being developed by the researcher. This new measure must go through a process of validation. In order to validate this new measure we are initially seeking as many members of the general community (aged 18+) as possible to complete an online measure of self-awareness.

The survey is to be completed online, takes 10-30 minutes and is accessed via the weblink below. There are no correct or incorrect responses to the survey questions. The survey is completely anonymous and details of the research findings can be provided upon request.

If you would like to participate, please click on the survey weblink: www.psych.usyd.edu.au/Surveys/limesurvey/index.php?sid=14375&lang=en 

 

This research is being conducted by Despina Sfakinos, PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, under the supervision of Dr Michael Cavanagh, and has received ethics approval from the University of Sydney's Human Research Ethics Committee.

If you have any questions, or you require further information please don't hesitate to contact Despina Sfakinos on (02) 9036 7267 or at despinas@psych.usyd.edu.au.

Closing date: 30 June, 2008

Back to top

Managing your moods and emotions: What works?  

Individuals who are aged 18 years and over are invited to take part in this study exploring the ways in which individuals respond to their moods and emotions and the impact of these responses on well-being. The project’s aim is to highlight the ways in which peoples’ mental health is related to active responses to daily mood and emotional experiences. These methods may include the use of particular strategies like accessing social support, or may refer to characteristics of the way in which one approaches their emotional experiences, such as with ‘emotional acceptance’. Understanding these sorts of processes, i.e. what works and what doesn’t work in terms of moods and their regulation, is an important task in light of the finding that the mismanagement of moods and emotions underlies many psychological disorders.

Participation in this study involves completing an annonymous online questionnaire which will take approximately 20 minutes of your time. The survey contains questions relating to the ways in which you approach, process and manage your mood and emotional experiences. Also included are questions exploring aspects of personality and your overall health and well-being. It would be greatly appreciated if you could respond to all these sections, but you are not under any obligation to do so.

This research, which has received ethics approval from the Swinburne Human Research Ethics Committee, is being conducted by Sarah Buckingham, PhD candidate, under the supervision of Dr Greg Murray and Professor Mike Kyrios, Swinburne University.

Thank you very much for considering participating in this study. Please click on the following link to start the questionnaire: http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=4193 

If you would like further information about the project, please contact:

  • Sarah Buckingham - Student Researcher, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
    Email: sarah@buckingham.id.au

Closing date: 31 December, 2008

Back to top

Study into perceptions of love and sex

Researchers at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, are conducting research into romantic relationships. We are seeking people who are either in a heterosexual or homosexual relationship to participate in a study examining their perceptions of love and sex in regard to their primary romantic relationship. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, have been living together for at least 12 months, and be in good health.

Couples will be required to separately spend approximately 15-20 minutes completing a questionnaire. This will be done online and will be totally anonymous.

If you, and your partner, are interested in participating in this research, please log separately into www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=122920. Alternatively, you may go to www.psychdata.com and enter the survey number: 122920 and follow the provided instructions. The online questionnaire will include a comprehensive information sheet to ensure informed consent. 

 

This research project has received ethics approval from the Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study, please feel free to contact Dr Lisa Eisen on 03 9953 3119.

Closing date: Monday 30 June, 2008

Back to top

Well-being survey of Australian psychologists  

This study investigates predictors of burnout in Australian psychologists. The study will provide data on the levels of burnout experienced by Australian psychologists, as well as data on the experience of emotional labour, specifically emotional dissonance, amongst this same group, something that has not been measured in the Australian context. The study also plans to measure correlates of burnout identified in the research such as age, gender, experience, employment context, perceived control, job satisfaction and social support.

The proposed study utilises a questionnaire design to capture the necessary data. A short questionnaire has been developed and it is anticipated that this will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The questionnaire is completely anonymous.
Target participants for the study are registered psychologists.

This project been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the Australian National University.

If you wish to participate, please go to the following website:

 

Please contact any of the following for further information:

  • Liz Agar-Wilson (Clinical masters candidate): 0407 768 636
  • Professor Don Byrne (Research supervisor): 02 6125 5111
  • ANU Human Research Ethics Committee: 02 6125 7945

Back to top

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder  

Dr Mairwen Jones and Associate Professor Ross G. Menzies from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, have recently been awarded a three-year National Health and Medical Research Council grant to test the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

We are interested in people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, particularly those who have checking compulsions. We are treating individuals who check things excessively, for example gas or water taps, lights, doors etc. in order to prevent something terrible happening.

The study will be conducted from the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the University of Sydney and involves a 14-week treatment program for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. All treatment will be provided by a registered psychologist and will be free of charge for participants who to take part in this research.

Participants will be allocated to one of two non-pharmacological, non-invasive treatments that have been previously trialled with promising results. The treatment will be conducted on an individual basis. Treatment will be one-hour per week and confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

If you would like further information about our trial or would like to refer a patient to the clinic, please contact Lisa Vaccaro; call: 02 9351 9426 or email: lvac7605@usyd.edu.au 

 

This study has been approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.

Closing date: June 2009

Back to top

Vicarious posttraumatic growth in Australian counsellors  

This research will investigate whether Australian counsellors experience positive effects from working with trauma clients, the nature of these effects and whether there are specific predictors of vicarious posttraumatic growth (PTG) that relate to the model of PTG developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (2006). To date, there are few studies on vicarious PTG in counsellors; most vicarious counsellor studies focus on the negative consequences of trauma counselling, including posttraumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue and burnout.

It is envisioned that information gained from this study could assist counsellors in understanding and managing their responses to the accounts of trauma clients and could promote the positive personal outcomes arising from trauma work.

Counsellors are asked to contact the researcher by phone (03 9905 3013) or email Judith.little@adm.monash.edu.au if they wish to participate in this study. Participants will be mailed three anonymous self report measures which should take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Respondents will be asked to return the package within two weeks of receiving it. There will be no identifying information on the completed measures and the researcher will not be able to link contact details with the returned data.  

 

This research has received ethics approval from the Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans (SCERH).

Researchers:

End date: 30 June, 2008

Back to top

The Therapeutic Relationship: Theory versus Practice  

Psychologists are invited to participate in a research project investigating a concept known as the 'real relationship' which refers to the person-to-person relationship existing in the therapeutic relationship and all relationships. This research will survey psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts regarding the real relationships between themselves and their clients. The relationship between therapist self-disclosure, therapist genuineness and therapist real-relationship will also be examined.
 
Participation will involve an online survey which should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Responses will be anonymous.

If you wish to participate, please go to the website listed below. (A detailed information letter for you to read will be displayed after entering the password but prior to you entering any data.)

The password is: client
The survey will be available online from 3 March 2008 to 16 May 2008.
(Alternatively, you may go to www.psychdata.com/ and enter the survey number: 123490) 

 

This project been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the Australian Catholic University.  
 
Any questions regarding this research project may be directed to:

Back to top

Does social drug use affect circadian rhythms?

The use of social drugs such as alcohol, cannabis and MDMA is associated with a range of behavioural disturbances that have a negative impact on people’s work, study, social interaction and sleep. This questionnaire is part of a research program that considers whether these drugs affect body systems that are under circadian control (follow a repeating pattern every 24 hours) such as certain hormones, temperature, sleep and daily activity.

For this project, I am seeking English-speaking people who are over 18 and have used at least one of the drugs - alcohol, cannabis (‘pot’, marijuana) or MDMA (Ecstasy) in their lives. Participation involves the completion of an on-line questionnaire, which will take approximately 30 minutes, and can be completed in your own time from any device that has access to the Internet.

This study has been approved by the Monash University Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans (SCERH).

If this project interests you, please go to the following website to start the questionnaire:

 

If you would like more information about the project, please read the explanatory statement on the website or contact:

Closing date: July 2009

Back to top

The human-animal violence link: Awareness and training needs of teachers, psychologists and social workers

Social workers, teachers and psychologists are invited to participate in this research project. The aim of the project is to assess opinions regarding:

  • The utility of the thesis that animal abuse may be an indicator of family violence
  • Your general awareness of client/student engagement in deliberate animal harm and seriousness thereof
  • Your willingness to report and potential issues for cross-reporting
  • Any perceived training needs regarding human-animal abuse links
  • Policy recommendations regarding such training needs

Frontline workers such as teachers, social workers and psychologists, by virtue of their professions may become aware of incidences of either deliberate animal harm or broader family violence. Accordingly, it is important to measure the perception and awareness of the link between animal abuse and human directed violence (e.g., family or domestic violence) within these professions. Also of interest are any self-identified training needs and an assessment of overall willingness to report different forms of abuse and respondent preference regarding how best to report it (if any). Such information will allow an identification of training needs (either self identified or as evidenced by lack of knowledge). Furthermore, this information will prove invaluable in the co-ordination of multi-service approaches to identifying and combating child abuse, family violence, and deliberate animal abuse. Finally, this will contribute to an understanding of the potential problems associated with cross-reporting initiatives within Queensland specifically.

Any questions regarding this research project may be directed to:

  • Dr Tania Signal
    School of Psychology
    C/- Central Queensland University
    Ph: 07 4923 2303
    Email: t.signal@cqu.edu.au

  • Dr Nik Taylor
    School of Sociology
    C/- Central Queensland University
    Ph: 07 4930 9433
    Email: n.taylor@cqu.edu.au 

For further information, please contact us on martha.aliferis@student.rmit.edu.au (phone) 0417 348 390 or david.smith@rmit.edu.au (phone) (03) 9925-7523. 

Back to top

Depression disorders and normal reactions to negative life events

Individuals who live in Australia and are aged 18 years and over are invited to take part in this study exploring the relationship between the negative life events that people experience and their emotional states.

Sadness is a common response to loss, and can involve low mood, disruption of eating and sleeping, thoughts about death, edginess and lethargy, amongst other things. However, one of the most prevalent psychological disorders, Major Depression, also involves the experience of these things. We are interested in learning more about how the experience of these sorts of symptoms differs after different types of negative events as well as how long such an experience lasts.

You will be asked to fill in several pages of questions relating to the experience of low mood and associated difficulties, as well as specific events that may have occurred in your life. It would be most helpful if you answer every question, but you are not under any obligation to do so. The full set of questions should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

This research, which has received ethics approval from the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee, is being conducted by Ms Lisa Karlov, PhD candidate, under the supervision of Dr Margaret Charles, University of Sydney.

Closing date: October 2008

Please click on the link below to complete the survey online. Alternatively, contact Lisa from the University of Sydney on (02) 9036 7855 or email lisak@psych.usyd.edu.au for more information.

 

Back to top

Volunteers needed for PhD study on careers in counselling psychology  

My study will investigate how counselling psychologists view their careers. I am interested in exploring what it means to be a counselling psychologist, and the career path you have undertaken in this profession. This research forms part of my PhD being undertaken at the University of Melbourne.

I am seeking members of the College of Counselling Psychologists to be involved in this study. Participants will be asked to take part in an interview which will take approximately one hour. With your permission, the interview will be tape-recorded. I will also ask for a recent copy of your résumé, and possibly for you to write an account of your career. By participating in the study you will have the opportunity to take stock of your own career, as well as making a contribution to the research on careers in the professions.

This study has been approved by the University of Melbourne's Human Research Ethics Committee.

To volunteer for this study, or to find out more information, please contact:

Shelley Domberger
PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne
Email: s.domberger@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 8344 0804
Supervisors: Dr Leisa Sargent, Professor Cynthia Hardy

Closing date: 30 May, 2008 (with possibility of extension)

Back to top

How to add a research project

If you are an APS member conducting research, or supervising a research student, and would like to invite other APS members to be involved in the project, please email the following details for consideration by the APS:

  • A copy of the research proposal;
  • A brief (no longer than 200 words) explanation of the project, for the website;
  • For students, the name of the supervisor;
  • A phone number or email address so that members can contact you to take part in the research;
  • A start date and a closing date for the project; and

  • A hard copy of your final ethics approval documentation. (If your ethics committee only provides electronic confirmation of permission, you will need to contact us for more information.)

Please note that copies of the survey and consent form will not be added to the APS website. Members who are interested in taking part will contact you using the details provided.

The above details should be emailed to science@psychology.org.au. The APS reserves the right to not list research projects that are deemed not to be in keeping with its scientific and professional aims.

When new research projects are added, members will be alerted via the fortnightly APS Matters email, which is sent to more than 16,500 psychologists.

Back to top