BEHV1024 Applied Psychology: Assignment 3: Presentation

Individual/Team task: Individual

Word/time limit: 5 minutes (+/- 10%)

Weighting: 40%

Due date: 11.59pm AEST Monday 27 July 2026 (Week 11)

After you have read this information, go to the Assignment 3 Q&A discussion board to ask any questions and see what your peers are saying about this assignment

Assignment overview

To pass this subject of study, you must achieve an aggregated grade of at least 50%. Although this assignment is not a mandatory submission, completing this assignment will give you the best chance of achieving this minimum requirement.

This third and final assignment is designed to test your understanding of applied research, and we ask you to present on it.

This assignment supports Subject Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3..

Use of generative artificial intelligence

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to brainstorm ideas, summarise reading material or to edit your submission is permitted. The content of your final submission must be your original work. Be aware that the output from generative AI tools may be incorrect, incomplete or biased. Working with another person or technology in order to gain an unfair advantage in assessment or improperly obtaining answers from a third party including generative AI to questions in an examination or other form of assessment may lead to sanctions under the Student Misconduct Rule. More information is available on the Library web page Turnitin's AI writing detector (Library Study Smart, 2023).

Please visit Studying with Integrity (Library Study Smart, 2025) to find out more.

If your studies have been adversely affected by circumstances beyond your control, you may request an extension using the following options. Note: A request for a short extension must be made within two working days and a request for special consideration must be made within five working days. Supporting documentation for applications of less than three days is optional but may be requested later.

Assignment details

Canvas Studios

This assignment requires you to use Canvas Studio as part of the assignment. This is a tool that allows you to upload, create, edit, manage, share and discuss audio and video files—making it an effective online collaboration tool.

Note: For assistance with using Canvas Studio and a step-by-step guide on how to record and upload your video presentation using Canvas Studio for your assignment, refer to 0.3 How to succeed in this subject (https://canvas.westernsydneyonline.edu.au/courses/2272/pages/0-dot-3-how-to-succeed-in-this-subject) .

Read through the following steps to understand and meet the requirements of this assignment:

Part A: Select the scenario

This assignment is designed to test your understanding of applied research, and we ask you to create a 5-minute presentation on it. The presentation asks you to summarise and evaluate the literature, and tests your broader understanding of the implications of this research. You can have accompanying slides/poster for your presentation.

There are 3 scenarios with 3 associated papers. Select one scenario from the following areas to focus on in your presentation:

1. AI and mental health

2. Mental health literacy in teachers

3. Emotional development in pre-schoolers

Select the tabs to learn more about each topic and what is expected of you during your presentation

Scenario 1: AI and mental health

Context: You are applying for a position as a Behavioural Health Consultant at a tech company that is developing AI-based tools for mental health support, such as chatbots that provide cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or mood-tracking apps powered by machine learning. During the interview, you are provided with a research study that compares the effectiveness of an AI-driven mental health chatbot with traditional in-person therapy for managing anxiety and depression.

Study: Read - Delivering cognitive behavior therapy to young adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety using a fully automated conversational agent (Woebot): A randomized controlled trial (https://europepmc.org/article/med/28588005#free-full-text (Fitzpatrick et al., 2017).

Presentation

You are asked by the employer to provide a 5-minute presentation with the following questions:

1. Summarise the study: Provide a concise overview of the study's objectives, methods, and findings. What were the key outcomes of comparing AI-driven interventions with traditional therapy?

2. Critical evaluation: Study design: Assess the research design, such as the sample population, intervention length, and measures used to evaluate mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety reduction, patient satisfaction).

Validity and generalisability: Evaluate the reliability of the findings. Are they generalisable to a wider population, or are there limitations (e.g., age, severity of mental health issues)?

3. Considering the limitations you mentioned in the study, what alternative metrics or methodologies would you suggest to improve the reliability of the results?

4. Given the results of the study, how do you think the integration of AI into mental health care will change the role of human therapists in the future?

5. Did the study raise any ethical concerns? What ethical concerns do you foresee in using AI app for mental health treatment, and how would you address them if you were developing such a product?

6. Company relevance: Reflect on how the study’s findings could guide the company’s development of AI-based mental health tools. What are the benefits and limitations of AI interventions in mental health care, and how would you advise the company to improve its product offering?

Criteria for assessment:

Understanding of AI and mental health: Ability to grasp the implications of AI in mental health interventions.

Critical thinking: Skill in identifying strengths, weaknesses, ethical concerns, and potential improvements in the study.

Application to product development: Demonstrating how research findings can inform AI tool development for mental health in a business context.

Scenario 2: Mental health literacy in teachers

Context: You are applying for a position as a School Mental Health Coordinator aiming to improve the mental health literacy of its teachers. The NSW Department of Education is particularly concerned about the rise in anxiety, depression, and behavioural issues among students. As part of the interview process, you are provided with a study that examines the effectiveness of teacher training programs on mental health literacy and their ability to recognise and respond to mental health issues in students.

Study: Read Increasing awareness of child mental health issues among elementary school staff (url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1606/1044-3894.2014.95.6) (Powers et al., 2018).

Presentation:

1. Summarise the study: Provide an overview of the study’s purpose (Define Mental health literacy), methodology, and key findings. What impact did the teacher training programs have on teachers’ ability to identify mental health issues and support students?

2. Critical evaluation: Effectiveness of the training program: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the mental health training program for teachers. Were there significant improvements in teacher knowledge and confidence?

Application to real-world settings: Discuss how well the program might work in diverse school environments (e.g., urban vs. rural schools, high-resource vs. low-resource schools).

3. What are some potential barriers to implementing this type of program across different schools (e.g., time constraints, teacher workload, access to mental health resources)?

4. How would you ensure that teachers maintain their mental health literacy over time, beyond just a one-time training?

5. What additional support systems could be integrated into schools to complement teacher training in mental health literacy?

6. Based on the study's findings, provide practical recommendations on how the NSW Department of Education should implement or modify its teacher mental health literacy programs. Consider factors like sustainability, scalability, and support for teachers.

Criteria for assessment:

1. Understanding of mental health literacy: Ability to explain the role of mental health literacy in education.

2. Critical thinking: Capacity to assess the strengths, weaknesses, and practical application of teacher training programs.

3. Feasibility of recommendations: Demonstration of how the findings can be applied to real-world school environments, considering challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Scenario 3: Emotional development in pre-schoolers

Context: You are applying for the position of Early Childhood Emotional Development Coordinator at a preschool that wants to improve the emotional well-being of its students. The preschool is particularly interested in how teachers can support emotional development, such as helping children understand and regulate their emotions, fostering empathy, and building strong relationships. During the interview, you are provided with a research study on teacher-led emotional development interventions, including emotion coaching, social-emotional learning (SEL) activities, and mindfulness practices.

Study: Read - Emotion-focused teaching practices and preschool children’s social and learning behaviors https://canvas.westernsydneyonline.edu.au/courses/2272/files/1667733?verifier=RUfi0R9PjTRVkqkFM4rnLtNnv1smHBXh6FiTduzp&wrap=1)

(https://canvas.westernsydneyonline.edu.au/courses/2272/files/1667733/download?verifier=RUfi0R9PjTRVkqkFM4rnLtNnv1smHBXh6FiTduzp&download_frd=1) (Curby et al., 2022).

Presentation:

1. Summarise the study: Provide an overview of the study’s goals, methods, and key outcomes. What specific teacher-led strategies were tested, and how did they impact children's emotional development, such as emotional regulation, empathy, or social skills?

2. Critical evaluation of effectiveness of the interventions: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the emotional development strategies presented in the study. Did the interventions lead to significant improvements in children's emotional awareness and regulation?

Suggestions for improvement: Recommend adjustments to the interventions that could make them more effective in promoting emotional growth (e.g., integrating emotional development into daily routines, offering specific professional development for teachers).

How would you involve parents in supporting emotional development at home to complement what is being done in the classroom?

3. Teacher implementation: Discuss the feasibility of teachers implementing these strategies in a busy preschool classroom. What challenges might teachers face, and what support might they need to effectively foster emotional development?

4. How can teachers balance fostering emotional development with other educational priorities, such as cognitive and language development?

5. Recommendations for the preschool: Based on the study's findings, provide practical advice on how the preschool can incorporate these emotional development techniques into its curriculum.

Consider factors like teacher training, class structure, and family engagement.

Criteria for assessment:

Understanding of emotional development: Ability to explain key milestones and factors in early childhood emotional development, such as emotional regulation and empathy.

Application of research to practice: Skill in applying study findings to practical interventions for teachers in preschool settings.

Feasibility of recommendations: Demonstrating how the strategies can be realistically implemented in a preschool environment, including considerations for teacher workload and classroom management.

Part B: Write your script

The 3 scenarios provided are professional workplace situations, so you need to treat your chosen scenario like a professional situation. Once you have chosen your scenario, it will be time to write your script. Scripting is an essential part of an effective presentation. By writing clear notes about what it is you plan to say, your presentation will have structure and flow, and you will be more likely to remain concise and relevant (reducing your need to re-record and correct errors!).

You may use slides if you want. Remember, this is a professional scenario, and you are asked to present on a research article. There is no word limit for these, although you should ensure that they are clear and enhance your presentation.

Tip: 600-700 words will create a 5-minute presentation.

Part C: Record your presentation

You will now need to present and record the presentation in an engaging and professional manner. You can use any method of video presentation you wish (it does not have to be professionally filmed or edited). However, it is recommended that you use a simple tool such as a narrated PowerPoint.

You should ensure that you express your understanding in a clear and concise manner and use your script to ensure you cover all key areas.

Explore the following resources:

- How to easily make a video in PowerPoint (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hisnhKK94nI) (Leila Gharani, 2021).

- 9.6 Assignment support: Presentations (https://canvas.westernsydneyonline.edu.au/courses/2272/pages/9-dot-6-assignment-support-presentations)

Part D: Submit your video

Submit your video via Canvas Studio. Refer to 0.3 How to succeed in this subject (https://canvas.westernsydneyonline.edu.au/courses/2272/pages/0-dot-3-how-to-succeed-in-this-subject) for instructions on how to use Canvas Studio.

Assignment tip

View the marking guide under 'Assignment criteria' to see a detailed breakdown of how your work will be assessed. This is an excellent place to start your preparations for this assignment.

Refer back to the marking guide frequently to make sure you are meeting the requirements.

Supporting documents

8.5 Activity: Create a small-scale mental health initiative (https://canvas.westernsydneyonline.edu.au/courses/2272/pages/8-dot-5-activity-create-a-small-scale-mental-health-initiative) provides helpful tips on how to submit this assignment successfully.

American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style guide https://library.westernsydney.edu.au/students/referencing-citation) (Western Sydney University Library, 2020).

Library Study Smart (https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/studysmart) —a library resource that will assist you in completing your assignments (Western Sydney University Library, 2021).

Western Sydney University Library has further information about referencing on its Referencing and citation (https://library.westernsydney.edu.au/students/referencing-citation page

Your eText A practical guide to writing: psychology (https://full-bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781760423155) (4th Ed.) (Taines, 2018) is a useful resource to inform you on the writing conventions of psychology. Make sure you refer to this as you work your assignments.

As you’re finalising your draft, don’t forget that the Assignment Feedback Tool is available 24/7 to help you refine your grammar, referencing, writing style, and more. For more details, see the Assignments and support page in your Welcome Module.

Assignment tip

View the marking guide under 'Assignment criteria' to see a detailed breakdown of how your work will be assessed. This is an excellent place to start your preparations for this assignment. Refer back to the marking guide frequently to make sure you are meeting the requirements

Submission details overview

This assignment will be submitted through Canvas. When you are ready to submit your assignment, select the 'Start Assignment' button at the top of this page. You will be taken to the 'File Upload' tab where you can choose your file or submit your URL.

Please note: When you submit your assignment through Canvas, you are also submitting the assignment through Turnitin, which is a text-matching service that compares your work with an international database of information sources. You will need to agree to using it.

Once you have submitted your assignment, select 'Submission Details' on the right of your screen to view your originality report if you haven't already done so.

Please allow a 24-hour turnaround for an originality report to be generated