PhD Program in Psychology

Training activities

1. Training in Neuroscience Techniques
  • Number of hours: 25 hours
  • Justification. Knowledge of this subject is important to enrich research designs in the different lines of the doctoral program, in line with the growing trend of current research in Psychology. Competencies that it aims to train: CB11, CB12, CB13, CB16 and CA01, CA02, CA03.
  • Content. It contains a course on advances in neuroscience research in Psychology and optional practical workshops on different neuroscience techniques (functional magnetic resonance imaging, evoked potential recordings, non-invasive brain stimulation and eye movements).
  • Time planning. It will be annual (first semester) and is recommended to be taken in the 1st year (2nd year for part-time students).
  • Learning outcomes. Students are expected to complete the learning of the capacities and skills to develop research designs using neuroscience techniques.
  • Control procedures. The teaching staff and technical personnel responsible for the course will issue a report on the participation and use of the course by the students, which they will send to the tutors and the Academic Committee.
  • Languages in which it will be taught: Spanish and English

2. Advanced Methodological Training Applied to Psychology
  • Number of hours: 25 hours
  • Justification. Methodological rigor in the design and analysis of research results is key in doctoral training. Skills to be trained: CB11, CB12, CB13, CB16 and Ca01, CA02, CA03.
  • Content. It contains practical workshops aimed at acquiring techniques specific to both quantitative and qualitative methodologies used in the research field of the program.
  • Time planning. It will be annual (second semester) and will be taught in the 1st year (2nd year for part-time students).
  • Learning outcomes. Students are expected to complete the learning of skills in the application of statistical techniques.
  • Control procedures. The teaching staff responsible for the course will issue a report on student participation and achievement in the course, which they will send to the tutors and the Academic Committee.
  • Language of instruction: Spanish and English

3. Workshop on Information Retrieval, Scientific Writing and Communication
  • Number of hours: 20 hours
  • Justification. Enhancement of basic skills CB12 and CB15, and the CA06 capacity.
  • Contents. Each student must present at least one seminar on their research work. In it, they will present to other students and professors of the doctoral program the foundations of the research project, including the working hypothesis, objectives, methodology used, results, and conclusions. They must also discuss and answer questions posed to them.
  • Time planning: Full-time students: Once during the second or third year of the PhD program. Part-time students: Once during the third or fourth year.
  • Learning outcomes: Demonstrate the ability to synthesize, clearly present, and communicate scientific results orally. Ability to debate and respond to specific questions.
  • Review procedure: Report from the tutor/supervisor and the professors of the research line who attended the seminar. The report should assess the doctoral candidate's depth of background knowledge, clarity of presentation, approach to the topic, and ability to engage in debate and discussion. The seminar summary, including aspects of the debate, and the reports will be included in the personalized activity log.
  • Language of instruction: Spanish and English

4. Entrepreneurship Workshop
  • Number of hours: 20 hours
  • Justification. This is an activity that facilitates the transition to the labor market of the students of the program, developed with the support of the Office of Transfer of Research Results (OTRI) of the University of La Laguna, and the General Foundation of the University of La Laguna (FGULL). Competencies that it intends to train: CB14, CB15, CB16 and CA03, CA04, CA05 and CA06.
  • Content. It contains practical workshops aimed at motivating and attracting entrepreneurs, creating companies and developing business exploitation plans, as well as activities for transferring research results to the applied field and protecting intellectual property.
  • Time planning. It will be annual (first semester) and will be taken in the 3rd year (4th year for part-time students).
  • Learning outcomes. Students are expected to complete the learning of the skills required to develop an entrepreneurial project.
  • Control procedures. The course organizers will issue a report on student participation and performance in the course, which they will send to the tutors and the Academic Committee.
  • Language of instruction: Spanish

5. Seminars and Conferences of the program
  • Number of hours: 15 hours
  • Justification. Students will be periodically informed of seminars and lectures given by faculty members of the program and visiting professors, organized by the Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, the University Institute of Neuroscience, or any other academic body, on current research in the field of Psychology across all areas of knowledge within the doctoral program. Competencies to be developed: CB11, CB15, CB16, and CA04, CA05, and CA06.
  • Content. Attendance at seminars and conferences organised within the framework of the programme.
  • Time planning. It will be annual (first and second semester) and will be recommended from the first year for both full-time and part-time students.
  • Learning outcomes: Full-time students are expected to attend at least 80% of the annual seminars and part-time students are expected to attend at least 50%.
  • Control procedures: The doctoral candidate will prepare a summary of the content of the event, which will be sent to the Tutor who will supervise the doctoral candidate's attendance and participation in said events.
  • Language of instruction: Spanish and English

6. Scientific publication
  • Number of hours: 100 hours
  • Justification. It aims to facilitate the dissemination of doctoral thesis results in journals with an impact factor or indexed. Competencies it aims to develop: CB13, CB14, CB15 and CA01, CA02, CA03, CA04, CA05.
  • Content. Writing scientific articles for possible publication in widely circulated journals (journals indexed in JCR).
  • Time planning. From the 2nd year (3rd year for part-time students).
  • Learning outcomes. The PhD candidate is expected to write 2 or 3 articles with results of the PhD thesis.
  • Control procedures. This activity is supervised by the thesis supervisor and may form part of the contents of the doctoral thesis.
  • Languages in which the course will be taught: Spanish and English

7. Research stays at other centers
  • Number of hours: 200
  • Justification. Importance of the placements for obtaining the international distinction, among other reasons. Competencies to be trained: CB14, CB15, CB16 and CA03, CA04, CA05.
  • Content. Research stays in national or foreign, public or private, centres of excellence. This activity will be mandatory provided there are sources of funding.
  • Time planning. Starting from the 2nd year, at least 3 months of stay (for both full-time and part-time students spread over time), during the course of the programme, provided that funding is available.
  • Learning outcomes: Students are expected to make the most of their stay and submit a report from the host centre.
  • Monitoring procedures. The supervisor and tutor will advise the doctoral candidate on the most appropriate centers for their theoretical and methodological training. The supervisor and the academic committee will assess the quality of the stay in the monitoring activities based on: 1) Relevance of the Center; 2) Activity report; 3) Report from the host center.
  • Languages in which it will be taught: depending on the country where the stay takes place.

8. Participation in Congresses
  • Number of hours: 20
  • Justification. Participation in conferences is an important part of disseminating research results. Competencies to be developed: CB14, CB15, CB16 and CA01, CA03, CA05, CA06
  • Content. Participation in national or international scientific conferences or meetings will be mandatory whenever funding is available. As part of this activity, doctoral candidates will be encouraged to seek funding sources.
  • Time planning. Starting from the first year (first and second semester). Starting from the first year for full-time students and from the second year for part-time students.
  • Learning outcomes. All doctoral students from the first year onwards are expected to present their research work at these conferences through posters or oral presentations.
  • Control procedures. This activity will be planned in collaboration with the thesis supervisor and advisor, who will select the most appropriate national and international conferences for the student. The student will be required to give a presentation on the work submitted for participation.
  • Language in which it will be taught: according to the congress

9. Internal Seminars of Research Groups
  • Number of hours: 20 hours
  • Justification. Critical analysis, reflection, group work and scientific communication are encouraged during the meetings. Skills to be trained: CB13, CB14, CB15, CB16 and CA02, CA03, CA04, CA05 and CA06.
  • Content. Doctoral students will participate in the internal meetings and seminars of the research group to which the thesis supervisor belongs.
  • Time planning. This activity is annual and mandatory from the 1st year onwards, for both full and part-time dedication.
  • Learning outcomes: Continued attendance at internal seminars is expected.
  • Control procedures. The doctoral candidate must make a presentation of the results of their thesis, which will be planned and evaluated in coordination with the tutor and director.
  • Languages in which it will be taught: Spanish or another language that is relevant to the activity.