Module: Evidence-based psychologial practice

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Evidence-based psychologial practice
Module Code	PSY1072 (ITS: PSYC519)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

Module Aims: This module is intended to instigate student research into best and evidence based practice by psychologists in fields concerned with health and well-being. In addition, this module will help build professional skills. Students should: • Recognise the importance of evidence-based practice and be able to evaluate literature in this area. • Understand the importance of ethical practice and be able to critically review the same. • Identify pseudoscientific applied practice and compare with evidence based interventions. • Gain an introduction to assessment and psychometric testing.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline practical and theoretical considerations relating to health behaviour change, health promotion or education.
2. Demonstrate understanding of innovations in evidence based practice.
3. Outline benefits and challenges of working in multidisciplinary teams
4. Demonstrate a high level of understanding of the differing needs of diverse populations.
5. Based on cutting edge research, design and plan an intervention to promote well-being in a population of choice.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the types, uses, challenges and benefits of assessment in the applied setting
7. Source, read and critically evaluate the literature on evidence based practice and well-being.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the need for ethical practice and the ability to think critically with regard to own and others’ practice.
9. Indicate how ethical knowledge should be put into practice.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	In-person lectures
Tutorial	6	In-person tutorials
Directed learning	26	Directed reading
Independent Study	194	Independent study
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20985	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Áine Travers	Module Teacher	Darragh McCashin

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Outline a research proposal to develop an intervention to promote well-being in a population of choice.	50%	n/a
Assignment	Produce a reflective essay that critically explores the use of evidence-based practice in applied psychology.	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Denscombe, M.: 0, The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill Education,
Wampold, B.E. & Imel., Z.E.: 2015, The great psychotherapy debate : the evidence for what makes psychotherapy work, 2nd Edition, Routledge,
Bager-Charleson, S. (2014): 0, Doing practice-based research in therapy: a reflexive approach, Sage,
Popper, K.: 2002, The logic of scientific discovery, Routledge,
Prinstein, M. (Ed.): 2022, The portable mentor: Expert guide to a successful career in psychology, Cambridge University Press.,
Pilgrim, D. & Rogers, A.: 1999, A sociology of mental health and illness, 2nd Edition, Open University Press,

Articles:

Abraham, C., & Michie, S. (2008): 0, A taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions., Health Psychology, 27(3), 379., 66602
0: Empirically supported psychological interventions: Controversies and evidence, Annual review of psychology, 52(1), 685-716, 66603, 1
The behaviour change wheel: a new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions: Implementation Science, 6(1), 12, 66604, 1, Messer, S. B. (2004)
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice: 35(6), 580., 66605, 1, Patel, V., & Farmer, P. E., 2020
395(10218): 108, 66606, 1, Peters, D. H., Adam, T., Alonge, O., Agyepong, I. A., & Tran, N., 2013, Implementation research: what it is and how to do it
347: 66607, 1, Stewart, R. E., Chambless, D. L., & Stirman, S. W., 2018, Decision making and the use of evidence-based practice: Is the three-legged stool balanced?, Practice Innovations
66608: 1, Zepeda-Burgos, R. M., Storch, E. A., & Ballabriga, M. C. J. (2014), 0, Empirically Supported Treatments: Dissemination Practices in Impoverished Regions, Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 28(3), 186-197,

Other Resources

Policy Statement: American Psychological Society, APA Policy Statement on Evidence-Based Practice, http://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/evidence-based-statement.aspx
Website: World Health Organization & UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases., 2014, Implementation research toolkit, World Health Organization, https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/110523
Website: Psychological Society of Ireland, Code of Ethics, https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/footer/Code-of-Ethics-1