Departmental Research Focus Areas 

RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS AND TOPICS

Broad focus area	Specific areas	Identified topics
Cognitive & biological psychology	Neuropsychology Psychomotor performance Psychophysiology	·  Psychometric analysis of performance on computerized neuropsychological tests. ·  Neurobiological bases of temperament and character and psychopathology. ·  Neurobiological bases of temperament and character and neuropsychological outcomes. ·  Traits and characteristics of individuals suffering from burnout ·  The relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and burnout ·  Post traumatic stress disorder in police officers ·  Mapping psycho-physiological processes associated with stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, arousal, curiosity ·  The relationship between spirituality and anxiety, depression, stress ·  The relationship between the primitive brain, frontal lobes and non-verbal behaviour
Research methodology	Science theory Teaching research methods Discourse analysis Qualitative and quantitative methodologies Narrative research methods Feminist and postructuralist research methodologies Action research
Psychopathology	Adult psychopathology Cultural and critical perspectives in psychopathology	· Bullying · Substance abuse
Counselling, psychotherapy and training	Family psychotherapy and training Supervision and training in therapy Group therapy and counselling Adventure therapy Animal assisted therapy (AAT) Cognitive behaviour therapy Narrative therapy	· Immigration/emigration and the family · Family murder · Group psychotherapy, group dynamics, group analysis, group facilitation, transcultural groups. · The relationship between AAT and mindfulness · Suitability of AAT to different individuals · Psychophysiological responses to different animals in AAT · Discourse analysis of career counselling
Psychology and wellness	Positive psychology Forgiveness Spirituality Health psychology and fortology Health and illness Sport psychology The “Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment" approach to sport	· Promotion of emotional well-being in groups and individuals · Traits and characteristics of participants in extreme sports · Psychophysiological reactions to continuous secretion of adrenaline in extreme sports participants. · Increasing performance in athletes using the “Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment" approach. · Using the approach to increase performance in athletes, working with their trainers / parents.
Critical and theoretical psychology	Discourse analytic studies, genders and sexualities African perspectives in psychology Participatory action research Postcolonial and post-structural perspectives	· Constructions of female sexuality and masculinity. · Deconstruction and career psychology · Psychologies of oppression and liberation · The indigenisation of psychology
Community psychology and relevant social issues	Environmental psychology   The development of community structures to enhance mental health   Violence     HIV/AIDS Cross cultural psychology / multiculturalism Mental health issues	·  Measuring the impact of energy efficiency intervention ·  Qualitative analysis of experiences of mothers in a mother-child intervention to promote the resilience of children - data is available, just need analysis (Masters) ·  Establishment of infrastructure to provide psychological help to pre-school children in resource-poor environment  (M or PhD) ·  Evaluation of an early childhood development programme  (M or PhD) ·  Disclosure of maternal HIV status to children - data available, should just be analysed (masters). ·  Violence in schools / families in townships ·  HIV/AIDS prevention strategies – development for a variety of target groups, HIV testing, community stigma ·  Family structures in a changing community ·  Social aspects of  substance abuse and HIV/AIDS as mental health issues with emphasis on the following: ·  Situational and needs assessment ·  Prevention and intervention using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (collaborative research project), Programme development, monitoring and evaluation, ·  Adolescents' mental health issues
Itsoseng projects	Creative arts therapy in a community clinic setting (at this stage these are focussed on children in groups but may be extended to include adults)	· Experiences of volunteers and clients in art therapy groups  · Developing art therapy groups for children who have been exposed to abuse · Experiences of music therapists and clients in music therapy · Experiences of facilitators and participants in therapeutic and/or psycho-educational drama groups · Development of therapeutic library and reading groups for children · Experiences of participants in therapeutic reading, story-telling and/or creative writing groups · Using art, music, drama or reading groups to screen for referral for psychological and other interventions · Experiences of participants in a creative sewing group · Creative therapy and psycho-education with puppets
	Therapeutic training in a community clinic setting	· Experiences of trainee psychotherapists and counsellors in a community clinic setting · Experiences of trainee psychotherapists and/or counsellors working across language barriers · Experiences of trainee psychotherapists / counsellors working with interpreters · The development of working relationships between trainee therapists / counsellors and interpreters
	Volunteerism in a community clinic setting	· Experiences of volunteers working in a community clinic
	Youth leadership development projects in a community clinic setting	· Experiences of facilitators and/or participants in a youth leadership project
	Presenting problems in a community clinic setting	· Exploring the different meanings of presenting problems such as “learning problems” · The development of a mathematics support group
	Statistical data pertaining to a community clinic	· Further development and analysis of a relevant statistical data base in the clinic (client profiles, treatment, demographics, etc.)
	Psychological assessment in a community clinic setting	· Critical and explorative investigations into the use and relevance of norms of different assessment instruments in the clinic, for example the Ravens Progressive Matrices and MCMI
	The interface between a community clinic and its network of collaborators in the community	· Developing collaborative projects together with SOS village in Mamelodi · An exploration / further development of the referral network of the clinic · Psychological dimensions of community support for the clinic, for example experiences of donors, referral agents, community leaders and clients
	Preventative community projects in a community clinic setting	· Development of community-centred psycho-educational and preventative projects
	HIV/AIDS prevention and counselling in a community clinic setting	· Client and counsellor experiences of HIV/AIDS counselling · Development of community-based HIV/AIDS projects