ASSESSMENT TASK
Overview: Structured written report, discussing the causes of any ONE clinical psychological disorder. Outline the key clinical features or symptoms of that disorder and then critically discuss the relevant causal model(s). The disorder and model(s) should be the same as the ones chosen for the oral presentation coursework.
Aim: To test depth of understanding of a specific model of a particular psychological disorder/condition, and the ability to critically discuss it using empirical evidence.
Task: Write a 1500-word structured clinical model evaluation relating to any one of the psychological disorders/conditions discussed in this unit. The written work should include the following:
1. An overview and clear introduction to the disorder, which might include a brief general introduction (1 or 2 sentences), and some demographic, prevalence and other relevant information as decided by the student.
2. A brief outline of the key clinical features of the chosen disorder, including, but not limited to, DSM-V diagnostic criteria.
3. An overview of the main or key causal model associated with this disorder. If there are several causal models relevant to this disorder, you might briefly mention them, but it is important to go into detail and depth about the key model. You might need to justify why you have decided to focus on this specific model.
4. Critical evaluation of this key model using empirical evidence.
The report should be supported by citations of empirical research and other appropriate sources throughout the work. You may choose to use sub-headings to provide structure in the report.
In choosing a particular psychological condition/diagnosis for this report and the oral presentation you should carefully consider the marking criteria for both assignments to ensure that you make choices that will enable you to achieve good marks in both assignments. For example, if you choose a psychological disorder for which there is little published research evaluating the relevant key model, it will be very difficult for you to achieve high marks on marking criteria 4 of this assignment.
The report should be a maximum of 1500 words, excluding title and references. You can include one diagram in the report, if appropriate. If the word limit is exceeded, 10 marks will be deducted from the initial mark given.
Lectures from the Roots and Range of Psychological Disorders unit will provide information about several psychological disorders/conditions and discuss the models, but you will need to undertake considerable further reading outside the taught material to fulfil this brief successfully.
SUBMISSION FORMAT
Write a structured written report (maximum 1500 words, excluding title and references). The coursework must be submitted via Turnitin, in Word format.
MARKING CRITERIA
The following criteria will be used to assess the assignment:
Criteria 1: Overview and clear introduction to the disorder, which might include a brief general introduction (1 to 2 sentences), some demographic, prevalence and other relevant information as decided by the student: 10%
Criteria 2: A brief outline of the key clinical features of the chosen disorder, including, but not limited to, DSM-V diagnostic criteria: 20%
Criteria 3: Overview of the main or key causal model associated with this disorder. If there are
several causal models relevant to this disorder, you might briefly mention them, but it is
important to go into detail and depth about the key model. You might need to justify why you
have decided to focus on this specific model: 30%
Criteria 4: Critical evaluation of this key model using empirical evidence: 35%
Criteria 5: Overall quality of the report in terms of structure, clarity of content and formatting: 5%
To achieve a Distinction: You will need to have selected an appropriate psychological disorder/condition and demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the key model and discussed it critically with excellent use of empirical evidence. You will have demonstrated an excellent understanding of the relationship between a clinical model or theory and the disorder. You will have very effectively used high quality empirical evidence and other materials to support your arguments. The work will be entirely of the student’s own words (with no copying and pasting from other sources or minor amendments of other sources) expressed in their own way.
To achieve a Merit: You will need to have selected an appropriate psychological disorder/condition and demonstrated a good understanding of the key model and discussed it with some evidence of critical thinking and use of some empirical evidence. You will have demonstrated a good understanding of the relationship between the clinical model or theory and the disorder. You will have effectively used empirical evidence and other materials to support your arguments. The work will be entirely of the student’s own words (with no copying and pasting from other sources or minor amendments of other sources) expressed in their own way.
To achieve a Pass: You will need to have selected an appropriate psychological disorder/condition and demonstrated a basic understanding of the key model and discussed it, but with little evidence of critical thinking and basic use of empirical evidence. You will have demonstrated a basic understanding of the relationship between the clinical model or theory and the disorder. You will have cited some empirical evidence or other materials to support your arguments. The work will be entirely of the student’s own words (with no copying and pasting from other sources or minor amendments of other sources) expressed in their own way.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
This assignment tests your abilities relating to all four unit intended learning outcomes:
1. Understanding of the range of psychological disorders
2. In-depth knowledge of the key clinical features and diagnostic issues relating to psychological
disorders
3. Advanced knowledge of the origins of psychological disorders
4. Understanding, and a critical awareness of, the theories and models in clinical psychology that
underpin psychological disorders and their treatment
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BRIEF
We will discuss the coursework in a seminar session in week. Additional questions can be posted to the Coursework Discussion Board on Brightspace.
HELP AND SUPPORT
• If a piece of coursework is not submitted by the required deadline, the following will apply:
1. If coursework is submitted within 72 hours after the deadline, the maximum mark that can be awarded is 50%. If the assessment achieves a pass mark and subject to the overall performance of the unit and the student’s profile for the level, it will be accepted by the Assessment Board as the reassessment piece. The unit will count towards the reassessment allowance for the level; This ruling will apply to written coursework and artefacts only; This ruling will apply to the first attempt only (including any subsequent attempt taken as a first attempt due to exceptional circumstances).
2. If a first attempt coursework is submitted more than 72 hours after the deadline, a mark of zero (0%) will be awarded.
3. Failure to submit/complete any other types of coursework (which includes resubmission coursework without exceptional circumstances) by the required deadline will result in a mark of zero (0%) being awarded.
The Standard Assessment Regulations can be found on Brightspace.
• If you have any valid exceptional circumstances which mean that you cannot meet an assignment submission deadline and you wish to request an extension, you will need to complete and submit the Exceptional Circumstances Form for consideration to your Programme Support Officer (based in C114) together with appropriate supporting evidence (e.g, GP note) normally before the coursework deadline. Further details on the procedure and the exceptional circumstances form can be found on Brightspace. Please make sure that you read these documents carefully before submitting anything for consideration. For further guidance on exceptional circumstances please see your Programme Leader.
• You must acknowledge your source every time you refer to others’ work, using the APA style referencing system (7th edition). Failure to do so amounts to plagiarism which is against University regulations. A guide to this can be found here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
• Also be aware of Self-plagiarism, this primarily occurs when a student submits a piece of work to fulfill the assessment requirement for a particular unit and all or part of the content has been previously submitted by that student for formal assessment on the same/a different unit. Further information on academic offences can be found on Brightspace and from https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/library/using-library/how-guides/how-avoid-plagiarism
and
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/library/using-library/how-guides/how-avoid-academic-offences
Disclaimer: The information provided in this assignment brief is correct at time of publication. In the unlikely event that any changes are deemed necessary, they will be communicated clearly via e-mail and Brightspace and a new version of this assignment brief will be circulated.
