Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology (DOccPsych)
Overview | Content | Assessment | Progression | Staff | Further Information | Programme Information
Overview
In many countries, there is a tendency for psychologist practitioners to seek doctoral-level qualifications. The desire for a professional doctorate comes from a growing recognition that fully qualified practitioners need to apply research skills to further an understanding of the professional practice of Occupational Psychology. In this way, practitioners may enhance the best delivery and quality of their services to clients. The standing of the profession as a whole is also raised.
However, in the UK, as in other countries, it is still usual for people to obtain a Masters degree and then get on with the demanding business of building their professional expertise. Once they are established, their thoughts may turn to the possibility of doing a research degree such as a PhD. However, there are serious obstacles for the busy practitioner. Qualified occupational psychologists are often treated as if they were new graduates, even though they may have conducted extensive research as part of their postgraduate degrees or in their subsequent careers. This prior learning is frequently ignored so a part-time PhD may take as long as six years to complete. It is usually impossible to study full-time for a research degree. What practitioners want is for the research to be closely tied to their ongoing practice
— their daily work. If not, it may have no benefit for their professional development. However, studying part-time for a research degree can be very lonely. Practitioners have many urgent and important professional tasks to fill their time, so it is very easy to become discouraged and give up, unless there are strong systems of support in place.
At the University of East London, we hope that we have found a solution that makes studying for a part-time research degree easier for both newly qualified and experienced professionals. Our Professional Doctorate programme (DOccPsych) is specifically designed to meet the needs and strengthen the academic base of practitioners. We aim to encourage academic reflection on professional practice through two substantial pieces of research, linked to the person’s ongoing work, which develop both practice and the wider field of Occupational Psychology. The minimum period for completion is only two years; although, there is plenty of flexibility if work-demands mean that only a few hours per week can be devoted to preparation of the dissertation. Candidates are supported throughout by communal ‘study days’ at approximately monthly intervals, as well as by the usual research supervision. There is also a strong emphasis on peer support, with regular opportunities to bring problems and issues to the group for general discussion and an exchange of ideas. Progress is also enhanced by negotiation of learning contracts and regular reviews.
To achieve the DOccPsych, candidates must submit a thesis that details both a quantitative study and a qualitative study. In this way, the person’s research expertise may be expanded. Research proposals can be based on previously conducted studies and current practice; provided that the work has not already been submitted for another degree and that it leads to substantial new research. Thus, current work can be recognised in a doctoral qualification. To encourage the dissemination of best practice, and the publication of practitioner research, there is a reflection on the research process for professional practice in Occupational Psychology. Finally, a viva voce examination will allow candidates to defend and discuss their research with genuinely interested fellow professionals.
The programme is open to all fully qualified occupational psychologists and those who can almost certainly expect to be fully qualified by the end of the programme. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate their potential to conduct substantial, original research. This is usually, but not always, indicated by successful completion of a Masters degree which includes an applied research project. The main practical constraint is that applicants should have ready access to organisations and research participants. Current students are sponsored by their employers. We are seeking to expand the programme and enquiries are welcome.
Content
The DOccPsych is primarily an applied research degree loosely based on the PhD model. It differs from other ‘taught’ doctorates in that there is no set syllabus and no assessment except for the research thesis. It is based on a ‘workplace challenge’ framework and the reflection on the person’s professional practice and day-to-day work is an essential component with the result that people can effectively study part-time whilst being registered as ‘officially’ full-time. This reduces the minimum registration period to as little as two years: although, for most people a registration of about three years is more realistic. This still compares very favourably with the six years usually required for a part-time PhD.
As well as allowing people to have their current work accredited by a doctoral qualification, the programme offers an excellent means of fulfilling continuing professional development requirements, quite apart from the research training. Monthly seminars include invited speakers — usually high profile occupational psychologists who talk on a wide spectrum of ‘cutting-edge’ developments within the profession and who promote thinking and discussion on pressing professional and contemporary issues. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme which runs alongside the research supervision, is kept deliberately flexible so that both the research and CPD needs of members can be met as and when they arise. Members can request whatever input they currently need and for this reason the programme is never planned much more than about three months in advance although the seminar dates are publicised at least six months and often a year earlier to facilitate alignment of commitments.
In addition to the face-to-face contact, the programme is fully supported by a UELPlus site, which allows the development of an ongoing distance learning community between seminars.
Theoretical Input
This is usually provided by an MSc in Occupational and Organizational Psychology taken either at this university or elsewhere. Entrants to the programme are expected to have a sound understanding of research methodology and statistics and to have demonstrated good research competence either through an MSc project or through their professional work. However, a UELPlus course in Postgraduate Research Methods and Statistics is available for those who lack confidence or need to refresh their knowledge and skills. A programme of CPD accompanies the main research supervision. (See support offered below.)
Research
This is seen as the major component of the DOccPsych programme and involves two substantial, high-quality assignments. Both of these projects must produce an outcome that adds to the body of knowledge of the professional practice of Occupational Psychology. One will be primarily quantitive, and one will be primarily qualitative in its orientation. These requirements exist to ensure that the research component of the professional doctorate has a definite focus that distinguishes it from more-traditional PhDs, and also to ensure that those who successfully complete can support their practice with a breadth of methodologies.
In most cases, the research will involve a significant aspect of the person’s ongoing work. Previously conducted research can be incorporated into the programme, providing that it has not been submitted for another degree and leads to substantial new research. The content of the two research assignments should normally be linked to allow ‘triangulation’ by the use of different methodologies. However, it is possible for them to be entirely separate.
Structure and Assessment
Outputs for the Professional Doctorate
The ‘products’ for the DOccPsych are centred on a substantial research project, a reflective summary and a viva. This does not preclude the submission of supplementary products such as videos, computer programmes, transcripts, psychometric tests and so forth, though it should be clear that their status is equivalent to that of ‘appendices’ and not the body of the text.
The output of the DOccPsych will be assessed as a single piece of work and will eventually need to be bound as such.
Requirements
The study will need to be taken from one of the four core areas as currently defined by the British Psychological Society.
- The Work Environment (including Health and Safety).
- The Individual (including Assessment, Selection, Guidance and Counselling).
- Organisational Development and Change.
- Training.
The Viva Voce Examination
In order to demonstrate that the research is at a doctoral level in terms of contribution to the field as well as coherence and integrity, a viva examination will be held.
Entry and Progression
Entry into the DOccPsych programme is determined on the basis of an assessment of candidates’ ability to undertake the programme satisfactorily. Full details are available on request.
Direct Entry to the Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology
Candidates for the DOccPsych who have not completed the MSc at the University will normally be assessed against criteria on the basis of:
- having Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC);
- having successfully completed an approved qualification in Occupational Psychology as recognised by the BPS;
- having completed a substantial component on research methods and statistics of at least 30 hours as well as an empirical component on the programme, or having attended the modules on Research Methods and Statistics from the MSc of the programme at the university;
- a reference (specifically targeted towards the above criteria) from their supervisor on the programme, if available, or from a person of equivalent standing;
- a proposal of work acceptable to the Registration Board;
- suitable employment, and/or access to facilities for the purposes of research;
- having Chartered Status as determined by the British Psychological Society, or being in a position to demonstrate that this requirement will almost certainly be fulfilled by the end of the programme;
- success in the selection procedure;
- a reference from their current employer, if available.
The programme is also open to those who have achieved the status of chartered occupational psychologist via routes other than the standard MSc. In addition, occasionally, candidates who have not followed the standard route to becoming bona fide practitioners in Occupational Psychology and who are not eligible for chartership, (e.g., who are not eligible for GBC but have other relevant Masters degrees, or who have overseas qualifications) may be considered for enrolment on a PhD programme within the framework of the DOccPsych to benefit from all the same CPD, research support and shorter registration periods. Each such application will be considered on its individual merits and such candidates should contact the programme director to discuss the extent to which they fulfil the usual criteria.
The Role of the Employer
It is recognised that whilst a reference from the student’s current employer may be obtained, it would be unrealistic to expect there to be a binding contract between the university and the employer that would cover all the requirements related to the doctorate. However, given that the student’s ongoing professional work experience forms a significant part of the work undertaken; it may well be the case that the programme team will wish to receive assurances that appropriate work is being undertaken. If the process of Registration with the BPS (‘Chartering’) is being undertaken, then the programme team will need details, particularly of the assessor and supervisor involved.
In some cases, the person’s line manager or an appropriately qualified colleague may be appointed as an honorary supervisor of the research. This recognises the fact that such people are often already responsible for the conduct of the research and in any case, have much to offer both from a commercial perspective and in terms of support between meetings at the university. They are welcome to join our monthly seminars. In addition, an appropriately qualified academic supervisor will always be appointed.
Support Offered
In addition to supervision tutorials arranged to suit the person’s convenience, seminars are held at approximately monthly intervals throughout the year. The ethos is very much a case of fellow professionals offering each other the benefits of their expertise and experience rather than a traditional tutor/student relationship. Seminar days usually take place on the second Tuesday of the month.
Staff
- Dr Carla Gibbes (Programme Director)
- Holloway, Mark (MSc Director)
- Ridley, Donald
Further Information
If you would like to join this innovative and exciting programme and would like an application pack, contact:
Susy Ajith
Tel: +44 (0)20 8223 4480
Fax: +44 (0)20 8223 4937
Email: psychology@uel.ac.uk
