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

 

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 and four other related measures.

The survey is completed online, takes 20-30 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.

Survey weblink:

 

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

End date: 30 June 2010

Factors influencing forensic psychologists' decisions to stay in and leave positions of employment in Australia

I am a masters student in forensic psychology at The University of South Australia. I am undertaking a research project looking at the factors influencing forensic psychologists' decisions to stay in and leave positions of employment in Australia.

I am currently seeking psychologists who have left positions in the forensic psychology field within the last ten years to participate in an interview by phone (approx 20 minutes in length) to discuss the factors that have influenced their decision to leave the position. Eligible participants include individuals who have left positions of employment in the public sector or as a private practitioner, in areas such as the criminal justice system, the courts, the police, child protection, forensic mental health and research, program development and policy development in the forensic psychology area.

If you would like further information or are interested in taking part in this research, please email the researcher Natalie Migliaccio: natalie.migliaccio@postgrads.unisa.edu.au. Alternatively, you can contact one of the project supervisors: Kurt Lushington- kurt.lushington@unisa.edu.au, ph: 08 8302 4160; or Quentin  Black- blac0200@flinders.edu.au, ph: 08 8232 5344.

End date: 11 March 2010

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Profiling a profession: Surveying the Victorian general public's attitudes toward and knowledge of counselling psychologists - a comparison with general medical practitioners

Are you interested in mental health? Have you heard of a counselling psychologist? Do you want to share your views of mental health professionals? Your opinions and attitudes count!

Join in new and exciting research to make a valuable contribution to our understanding of counselling psychology's public image.

We are seeking adult members of the Victorian general public to volunteer 25 minutes of their time to complete a brief survey aimed at exploring your perceptions and knowledge of counselling psychologists. The survey is completely anonymous and the information you provide is confidential. 

We expect that information from this project will help raise the profile of counselling psychologists in Victoria which may benefit future consumers of mental health services.

To complete the survey online, please click on the following weblink:

 

This research is being conducted by Mr. Joseph McKeddie, MPsych (Counselling) candidate at Swinburne University under the supervision of A/Prof Roger Cook. For more information or if you would like to obtain a hardcopy of the survey, please contact Joseph McKeddie at jmckeddie@swin.edu.au or A/Prof Roger Cook on 9214 8358 or rcook@swin.edu.au.

This project has been approved by or on behalf of Swinburne's Human Research Ethics Committee (SUHREC) in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this project, you can contact:

  • Research Ethics Officer, Swinburne Research (H68)
    Swinburne University of Technology
    PO Box 218, HAWTHORN VIC 3122
    Tel (03) 9214 5218 or +61 3 9214 5218 or resethics@swin.edu.au

End date: 31 May 2010

The relationship between childhood maltreatment and current symptoms of mental illness in women - clinicians' current practice, attitudes and beliefs  

You are invited to take part in a study looking at various health practitioners' practice characteristics, attitudes and beliefs about women with experience of childhood maltreatment and the relationship with mental illness.

This study is part of a larger project looking at women with prior childhood maltreatment experiences and their current mental health, alongside their past help-seeking behaviours and primary health care utilisation.

Participation involves completing an anonymous online Clinician Feedback Questionnaire which will take approximately 5 minutes.

If you are interested in participating, the questionnaire can be found at:

 

This research is being conducted by Ms Adeline Lee, DPsych (Clin) candidate at Monash University, under the supervision of Prof Jayashri Kulkarni, Assoc Prof Jan Coles and Dr Stuart Lee. This project has been approved by the Alfred Hospital Ethics Committee (Bayside Health) and Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee.

If you have clients/patients who may be interested in participating in the larger project or if you want more information on this project, please contact the study coordinator:

Ms Adeline Lee
Email: Adeline.Lee@med.monash.edu.au
Mobile: 0457 070 275

End date:  January 2012

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Reported self-efficacy of rural psychologists working with combined physical and mental health presentations: An exploratory study  

Rural psychologists providing services under either the ATAPS or Medicare funded systems, are invited to participate in this brief study aimed at investigating their perceptions of efficacy when providing psychological services to clients with combined physical and mental health issues.

This study will seek to explore factors which may impact on self-efficacy including training, experience and supervision, as well as the strategies you employ to improve your sense of self efficacy with this client group. Furthermore the study aims to identify what barriers exist in rural practice to implementing strategies to improve self efficacy. If you decide to take part in this research you will be asked to complete a brief demographics questionnaire via email which should take around five minutes at the most to complete. Following the completion of the demographics information you will be asked to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview that should take around an hour. 

It is hoped that information obtained from the proposed study will broaden existing knowledge of practice issues for rural psychologists and assist in future research and development in professional support options for rural psychologists. 

If you would like to find out more information about participating in this study please contact Holly Guest on (03) 63313777, or email hcrosswell@gpnorth.com.au.

Name of Supervisors                

Dr Aine McGovern and Dr Gene Hodgins
Clinical Psychologists and Lecturers
Charles Sturt University
School of Social Sciences and Liberal Studies

Contact details for members to take part in research

Holly Guest (principal researcher)
Phone: (03) 6331 3777
Email: hcrosswell@gpnorth.com.au

End date:  May 2010

Psychotherapist in-session tearfulness

Although little research has been conducted on the topic, a North American study has found that over half of a sample of 456 registered psychologists had cried in session (Pope, Tabachnick, & Keith-Spiegel, 1987). Yet few therapists discuss this aspect of their work in the professional literature. The current study aims to address this deficit by examining both its prevalence and factors that contribute to its occurrence in the contemporary Australian context as well as clients' perceptions of this therapist behaviour. The results of the study should help to inform psychologist/counsellor training.

The researcher is interested in surveying psychologists who have cried as well as those who have never cried in session. Participation involves completing an anonymous survey about your attitudes to and experience of in-session tearfulness and related constructs and will take 20-45 minutes to complete.

You can access the survey on-line at:

Alternatively, a hardcopy of the survey and a postage paid return envelope can be sent to you if you provide your name and postal address to the email address below.  

 

You are eligible to participate if you:

  • Are registered as a psychologist in Australia, and
  • Have experience of conducting face-to-face therapy/counselling

This study forms part of a Masters/PhD in Counselling Psychology at Monash University and has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee.

For more information please contact megan.brownlie@education.monash.edu.au.

End date: 29 October 2010

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Parenting style and the development of self-regulation, motivation, and social competence in children  

Participants are required for a PhD study developing a measure of parenting style for parents of children aged 3-12 years. The online questionnaire takes approximately 10-20 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and parents who choose to participate can enter the draw to win a $100 Coles/Myer voucher.

This study has been approved by the School of Psychology Ethics Committee and by the Curtin University HREC (Approval Number 172/2007).

Participants may access the survey by going to the following link:

 

Your participation is greatly appreciated!

Supervisors:

Professor Jan Piek
Phone: +61 8 9266 7990
Email: J.Piek@curtin.edu.au

Associate Professor Clare Roberts
Phone: +61 8 9266 7992
Email: C.Roberts@curtin.edu.au

Contact details of student:

Carly Reid
Phone: +61 8 9266 1398
Email: Carly.Reid@curtin.edu.au

End date: 30 June 2010

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Personality, burnout and coping in psychologists  

At present there are significant shortages in the allied health workforce. The student researcher is a rural psychologist and would like to investigate psychologists' experiences in the context of personality, coping and resilience. The significance of this research is to identify factors that assist or hinder psychologists to practice, and how they cope with the challenges and changes in their work. Identifying such factors has significant implications for planning, selection, training, and well-being of psychologists.

The aim of this research is to identify personality, experiences of burnout, and coping styles that may be common across psychologists. Identifying these factors may help increase recruitment and retention of psychologists and factors that moderate burnout.

The research involves the completion of an online survey. There are questions relating to personality, and experiences of burnout and coping. There are also questions about work environment, ethics and
training.

The surveys will take approximately 15 minutes to complete at a time suited to you. It is not expected that you will experience any discomfort.  This survey has been granted ethics approval by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC).

If you wish to participate or would like more information about this study, please go to the following website:



If you would like to contact the researchers about any aspect of this study, please contact:

Student Researcher: Carrie Thomson-Casey
Carrie.Thomson-Casey@education.monash.edu.au

Supervisor: John Roodenburg
john.roodenburg@education.monash.edu.au

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Understanding factors that influence treatment decisions in psychological practice  

You are invited to participate in a study that seeks to understand factors that may influence how psychologists' approach a particular client problem and make treatment decisions.

Responses are anonymous. The questionnaire will take 15-25 minutes to complete.

To complete the survey, please visit:

 

For further information, please contact:

End date: 1 June 2010

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Health promotion and pre-diabetes

Carrying excess weight around your abdomen is a known risk factor of type II diabetes. If your waist measurement is greater than 94cm (for men) or 80cm (for women) and you are over the age of 18, you are eligible to participate in this research. The researchers are interested in investigating if health promoting information can improve mood and increase healthy behaviours in those at risk of type II diabetes. You will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires that will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

To participate or for more information, please email Lynne Gibbs at lynnegibbs@students.ballarat.edu.au or phone Dr Mirella Di Benedetto on 03 53279744. 

End date: 30 October 2010

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An assessment of cross-cultural preparedness in Victorian psychologists

The changing demographics of our multicultural world, and the longstanding disparities in the health status of people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, has challenged all healthcare providers to strive towards the delivery of culturally competent care.

Although numerous studies have been done in assessing the cultural competence of nurses, medical practitioners and teachers, currently there is a gap in this area of research, especially in psychologists in the Australian context. The current study will fill this gap by examining cross cultural preparedness in psychologists. 

You are invited to take part in the current research project which is an assessment of clinical knowledge and clinical skills related to cross-cultural clinical encounters.

We are approaching all psychologists who are registered in Victoria. We would like your assistance in doing this research which involves answering a questionnaire which should take 20-30 minutes to complete. 

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

Please go to the following website to start this questionnaire:

 

If you would like more information on this project please contact the chief investigator:

End date: 31 March 2010 

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Beating the Blues before Birth: A new treatment for antenatal depression   

The Parent-Infant Research Institute is evaluating a new treatment for antenatal depression. Beating the Blues before Birth (BBB) is an eight-session cognitive-behavioural therapy program designed for women experiencing depression during pregnancy and includes one couple session.

BBB was developed by adapting our evaluated treatment program for postnatal depression and taking into account risk factors for antenatal depression and focus group findings.

The program aims to help women by:

  • Reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety;
  • Facilitating coping and problem solving skills;
  • Improving self-esteem;
  • Addressing difficulties in the couple relationship;
  • Pre-empting unrealistic expectations of parenting;
  • Facilitating the use of and development of social networks; and
  • Relapse prevention.

Participants receive:

  • A free assessment with a psychologist;
  • Help linking in with appropriate support services;
  • Individual monitoring via questionnaires/phone calls at 4 follow-up points;
  • A pamphlet encouraging use of community services and including contacts;
  • An information booklet from beyondblue; and
  • Half the participants will receive the free 8-session BBB treatment program.

For further information or to refer a patient, please contact Charlene Schembri:

 

End date: June 2011

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Australian Psychotherapy and Counselling Workforce Study

This study aims to develop a comprehensive profile of workforce and practice characteristics of the counselling and psychotherapy profession and to understand factors that influence therapist development and practice in Australia. This part of the study will allow an analysis of characteristics of psychologists and their practice. Data from this survey will provide an overview of the diverse therapeutic practices and experiences of psychologists in Australia. This will facilitate a better understanding of the training and development needs of the profession and allow these to be viewed in an international context.

The study is part of the International Study of the Development of Psychotherapists, a project developed by the Society for Psychotherapy Research Collaborative Research Network (Orlinksy & Ronnestad, 2005). Over the past two decades, this project has studied the development and practice of 15,000 professional psychotherapists in over 25 countries. The current survey utilises the Core Questionnaire from the international project so that Australian therapists may be represented among and compared with colleagues around the world.  The questionnaire can be completed anonymously online in about 60 minutes. It has been approved by Curtin University of Technology Human Research Ethics Committee and La Trobe University Faculty Human Ethics Committee.

If you are a therapist and would be willing to complete the anonymous questionnaire, please proceed to: www.thissurvey.com/APCWS

  • Associate Professor Jan Grant
    School of Psychology
    Curtin University of Technology
    Email:  j.grant@curtin.edu.au
    Phone: 08 9266 7231

  • Professor Margot Schofield
    Professor of Counselling & Psychotherapy
    La Trobe University
    Email: m.schofield@latrobe.edu.au
    Phone: 03 9479 3702

  • Dr. Christine Knauss
    Research Fellow
    La Trobe University
    Email: c.knauss@latrobe.edu.au
    Phone: 03 9479 1740

Start date: March 2009

End date: 28 February 2010

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Caring for individuals with an eating disorder: A longitudinal study

Finding out that a loved one has an eating disorder can be devastating for family and friends. Carers can experience social isolation, increased psychological distress, an increase in the level of expressed emotion with the family environment, a sense of guilt and self-blame, and difficulties finding adequate support for themselves. However, within the current research literature, little attention has been given to the experience of carers. 

Therefore, the current study will examine the long-term impact of caring for someone with an eating disorder. Carers (over the age of 18) of individuals with a diagnosed eating disorder are invited to participate. Participants will complete three questionnaires at three time points over a nine-month period. 

The first questionnaire, and more detailed information, can be found at:

 

The research is being conducted by Ms Kerri Coomber, PhD (Psychology) candidate at Deakin University, under the supervision of Dr Ross King. This project has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee. For more information, please contact Kerri Coomber at kcoomber@deakin.edu.au or Ross King at ross.king@deakin.edu.au.

Start date: January 2008

End date: March 2010

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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 17,500 psychologists.

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