UNSW Psychology Society 2021 Careers Guide

UNSW Psychology Society

Careers Guide

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Pa Ho Po Undergraduate with Honours

4 years

Provisional registration Higher Degree pathways

Internship pathways

Standard Higher Degree Pathways

4 + 2 Pathway

Doctoral Higher Degree Pathways

5 +1 Pathway

2+ years

National Psychology Exam General registration Continuing Professional Development (CPD): min. 30 hrs/yr Registrar Program Endorsement CPD: min. 30 hrs/yr

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2 years

athways, onours, ostgrad

Provisional registration To obtain your provisional registration (i.e. become a provisional psychologist), you will need to complete 4 years of an undergraduate psychology degree. This can either be a: • • •

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Bachelor of Psychological Science / Science (Psychology) / Science and Business (Psychology) / Life Science (Psychology) with Honours, or Other Bachelors Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (must include an honours year to get into a postgraduate program)

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General registration To obtain your general registration, you will need to complete one of the following pathways.

Higher Degree Pathways Standard Higher Degree Pathway Involves a 2 year Masters degree in your chosen field of psychology (clinical, forensic, organisational, sport etc.).

Doctoral Higher Degree Pathway Involves a 3 year post-graduate degree in your chosen field of psychology.

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de : clu Minimum 160 hours of supervision (at least 100 hours of individual supervision)

Internship Pathways 4 + 2 Pathway*

120 hours of professional development

This pathway involves a minimum 2 year internship (maximum 5 years) with a total of 3000 hours.

You will need to have a log-book, a six-monthly progress report submitted by your supervisor, case reports and a Final Assessment of Competency.

You will be required to write eight case reports and submit four of them, where two of them are assessment-focused and two are intervention focused.

Minimum 1000 hours of direct client contact

*This is different to the Standard Higher Degree Pathway. If you wish to take this pathway, you will need to do so by the 30th of June, 2022.

More information here: https://psychology.org.au/training-and-careers/careers-and-studying-psychology/ studying-psychology/study-pathways

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1720 hours of psychological practice

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80 hours of supervision

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1400 hours of psychological practice minimum 40% of direct client contact

5 + 2 Pathway

1 hour of supervision for every 17.5 hours of practice

This pathway involves a 5th year Professional Psychology study (Master of Professional Psychology or a Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology), followed by a one year Board-approved internship.

Universities that provide the 5th Year Program - ACU, ACAP, Curtin University, Macquarie University, Monash University, Murdoch University, UNE, USQ, University of Sunshine Coast, University of Wollongong.

Minimum 50 hours of individual supervision

The placement will involve a total of 1540 hours.

You will need to have a log-book, a six-monthly progress report submitted by your supervisor, case reports and a Final Assessment of Competency.

You will be required to write four case reports and submit two of them, where one of them is assessment-focused and the other is intervention focused.

60 hours of professional development

National Psychology Exam Following the completion of an internship pathway, students will need to take the National Psychology Exam.

• This exam runs four times a year and it covers 4 domains: ethics, assessments, interventions, communication.

• The passing grade for this exam is 70%.

• This is a 3.5 hour exam that consists of 150 multiple choice questions.

• It examines assessment approaches, intervention selection and implementation, communication and reporting skills, and applied ethical and professional reasoning.

• Exam questions are most likely in the format of a vignette or scenario, a lead in question and a set of five options, of which one is the correct answer.

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Registrar Program To obtain your endorsement, you will need to continue your Professional Development for a minimum of 30 hours a year for two years. If you have completed a Higher Degree Pathway, this is followed by a 1-2 year Registrar Program.

The Registrar Program is a period of advanced supervised practice in one of the nine approved areas of practice. The program enables development of the core competencies relevant to the area of practice to the level of depth and expertise expected of an endorsed practitioner.

The number of hours you are required to complete in the Registrar Program depends on the Higher Degree Pathway that you chose.

• If you chose a Masters Pathway, you will be required to complete 3000 hours in the same area of practice as your Masters degree.

• If you chose a combined pathway (e.g. MPsych/PhD), you will be required to complete 2250 hours in the same area of practice as your combined degree.

• If you chose a Doctoral Pathway, you will be required to complete 1500 hours in the same area of practice as your doctoral degree.

MASTERS

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COMBINED

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DOCTORAL

1500

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Studying Honours & Getting In

Applying 1. Review the Application Guide (internal applicants) on the School’s website

2. Submit an ‘Intention to Undertake

Honours’ form (all applicants - application is invalid without this form) 3. Submit an Apply Online application

some applicants - not required for internal

When Will I Know if I’ve Been Accepted?

Soon after T3/H6 results are released, you will receive an email from the School (including Supervisor, honours Orientation and meeting details).

How is the Psychology Average Calculated?

Bachelor degree students: First attempt marks for 60 UOC common core PSYC plus three highest first attempt marks of Level 3 PSYC electives (18 UOC)

Graduate Diploma Students: • •

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First attempt marks for all courses completed at UNSW (ie PSYC5001 to PSYC5010) Not included: PSYC1021, Level 1 PSYC electives, transfer credit from another institution (including Exchange), SY grades (eg. from T1 2020)

Minimum Eligibility Requirements Psychology Average of at least 75 Bachelor degree with at least a 78 UOC major • • •

Complete Stages 1 - 3 by end of T3 of the academic year Graduate Diploma in Psychology Complete all 60 UOC by end of H6 of the academic year

Allocation of Supervisors Nominate 10 preferences (from around 30-40) • • • • •

Order your preferences wisely Read some of their work, reach out to chat about their research Allocation is complex Depends on preferences, academic strengths, availability Supervisors are allocated 1-3 Honours students

Program Overview Two components: 1. Research Project and Thesis (62.5% of overall Honours mark) 2. Coursework (37.5% of overall Honours mark) Term 1 (18 UOC) • PSYC4072 (6 UOC thesis) • PSYC4093 (12 UOC coursework) Term 2 (18 UOC) • PSYC4073 (12 UOC thesis) • PSYC4103 (6 UOC coursework) Term 3 (12 UOC) • PSYC4073 (12 UOC thesis) 14

Studying Honours & Getting In 1. Research Project and Thesis Research Proposal: • •

8-10 pages, summarises your planned research, rationale and expected outcomes This will begin no later than the end of January

Panel meeting: Your proposal is distributed to a panel of staff who will meet with you to provide feedback and advice about your research design, methodology and analysis. This will occur by the end of Week 4, T1.

Thesis • • •

Word limit 15,000 words (worth 62.5% of overall Honours mark) Submission deadline is mid-October Honours Conference involves the presentation of your work post-submission

2. Coursework Overview There are two components to coursework: • •

Core: which involves one 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week Elective: which involves a 2-hour weekly seminar in Terms 1 and 2

Core PSYC4093 Psychology 4A - Term 1

• Ethical issues in Psychology • History and Systems in Psychology

PSYC4103 Psychology 4B - Term 2

• Evidence-based practice with clinical, forensic and organisational psychology 15

Elective • • •

Allocation to seminars are made based on preferences (where possible).

8-9 seminars to choose from each term covering an advanced topic in psychology.

It is encouraged to choose different areas per term for broad exposure.

re o C Term 1: Ethics Assessment; History and Systems Assessment Term 2: Final Exam

Assessments Elec tiv

e Assessments are at the discretion of individual lecturers.

There will be a combination of different types: class participation, group work, presentation, written work and exam.

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Studying Honours & Getting In Honours Conference This conference gives students an opportunity to: • • •

Showcase their work to their peers, friends and family, and academic staff (including potential supervisors) Celebrate their achievements Mingle and network (this is dependent on COVID-19 restrictions)

All students are expected to attend and present, the presentation will be around 10 minutes in total •

It is most likely to be held on Week 6 of Term 3

Expectations There will be a hefty workload, which will be around 30-35 hours a week, this is very similar to a full time job. As such, outside work should be kept to a minimum.

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Recommended maximum is one day per week If the student has no other financial option, and they have the intention to work more than one day per week, they may need to reconsider if a full-time Honours program is suitable for them

Progression Discontinuation: • •

It is not possible for a student to defer their place After discontinuation, the student must re-apply for a later year and will be assessed as an external applicant

Program Leave: •

It is not possible for a student to take leave during the year

Deferral: •

It is also not possible to defer the Honours year

Support You can access these services during honours year for support: • • • • •

Psychology Peer Mentoring Supervisor Honours Coordination team Student Support Advisors UNSW Psychology and Wellness

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Section 02

Building Your Skills

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The second section covers the essentials of professional development such as resume writing, application guidance, and interview skills. Opportunities available for psychology students are also detailed – all of which to get you career-ready and standing out from other candidates!

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PAG E S 23 - 32

Resume Writing Page 25

Submitting Applications Page 27

Interview Skills Page 28 Student Opportunities Page 30

Volunteering Page 31

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Resume Writing A resume should provide an up-to-date summary that endorses one’s suitability for a position.

Important elements of a resume are: contact details, career profile, education, relevant experience, skills, certifications and achievements, interests, and references. Not only should the resume advocate one’s strengths and professionalism but also one’s unique identity, both of which can improve your chances of obtaining the desired role.

Ensure that your resume is constantly modified and developed in anticipation of unexpected opportunities and tailor your resume specifically for the role and its selection.

Structure & Formatting

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In order to stand out from other candidates, make sure that you place the most important information at the top of the resume Only include relevant content and utilise a concise format The formatting and design layout can be personalised, however, ensure that it applies to the role. Make sure that you use an appropriate, positive tone

Elements of a Successful Resume Contact Details Commencing the resume, include important contact details such as your first and last name, phone number and professional email address. You can also include relevant websites eg. LinkedIn.

Education List your education qualifications in order of most recent to least (include the month and year of expected completion). Under each, you can include any academic awards or scholarships received.

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Career Profile & Summary Next, summarise 3-5 key points about how your experience and skills make you a suitable candidate. This is a condensed version of the rest of your resume. Additionally, a powerful personal statement that gives recruiters a rounded view of your qualifications, as well as your objective for applying to the role, will catch their attention.

Experiences This is an integral section of the resume.

Appropriately title the headings of each experience in order of their relevance to the role.

A model order is: relevant professional experience, internships, internal or external projects/activities such as subcommittee, volunteering/ extra-curricular activities.

A good rule of thumb is to only include experience that is within five years. If you are lacking experience, consider including any experience which utilise the relevant skills and knowledge for the role e.g research, writing reports, presenting findings, and group work for university projects.

Achievement statements that present what the experience required from you and what you achieved is also valuable.

A useful formula to follow is: action verb + task + outcome/purpose (quantifiable if it adds value)

Optional Skills

Include hard (technical) skills such as languages and software coding if relevant to the role. If those are not fully developed, you can also highlight soft skills you’ve gained in your experiences, such as maintaining interpersonal relations, decision-making and teamwork.

Certifications & Achievements

This optional section includes any professional documentation of certifications you have achieved.

General or community awards can also be listed.

Interests

Succinct information on some personal interests that align with the role or add some personalisation to the resume is also welcomed.

References

Finally, this section often signals the end of the resume. Include your referees’ contact details or write ‘contact details available upon request’. Also include their name, position and organisation. Your referees should be able to speak to your qualifications for a job.

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Submitting an Application The application process will vary depending on what you are applying for, whether it is a job, an internship, or a volunteering opportunity.

Research

Interviews

Learn as much as you can about the company/organisation and position you are applying for. This can include researching the company’s values, looking up their website and re-reading the job description. Familiarise yourself with what is required and whether it is suitable for you and whether you are suitable for this position.

Every company has their own unique application process (depending on the type of company), however they often involve multiple components such as a written application and an interview (either phone-interview, video interview, group interview or online assessment).

Consider the various interview types in your preparation.

Take Initiative!

Don’t procrastinate and begin applying early! Some applications are marked on a rolling-basis.

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Student Opportunities Get your foot in the door with paid and unpaid opportunities for psychology students!

Job Board

unswpsychsoc.com/job-board

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Stay updated on paid and unpaid opportunities that arise through the centralised UNSW PsychSoc Job Board on our website. Bookmark the site and check back frequently as PsychSoc will update it throughout the year!

UNSW Careers UNSW Careers also advertises paid and unpaid opportunities on UNSWConnect, with a questionnaire to facilitate the process of finding a whole host of opportunities right for you. UNSWConnect offers comprehensive preferences and filters for opportunities to further streamline your search. Research assistant opportunities often arise on UNSWConnect targeting students if research is an area of interest for you. careers.unsw.edu.au

Lab Meetings The Psychology faculty also hosts laboratory meetings for those with interests in specific areas of psychology and willing to partake in research assistance. Keep up with the latest psychology research, network with academics, and gain experience relevant to pursuing honours and postgraduate programs. unswpsychsoc.com/lab-meetings

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Volunteering Volunteering is a great way to engage with and explore the industry you’re interested in, contribute to something bigger, and develop your skills and experience for the future. The following organisations offer volunteering and growth opportunities for students:

Lifeline Lifeline offers fast-track training for students seeking volunteer internship opportunities in Crisis Support. Join one of their information sessions for upcoming intakes if you are interested. wesleymission.org.au/find-a-service/mental-health-and-hospitals/counselling/lifeline-sydney-and-sutherland/become-a-lifeline-volunteer

WayAhead WayAhead offers volunteering opportunities to contribute to mental health support programs as well as more structured student placement. wayahead.org.au/get-involved/volunteer

SideWalkTalk Undertake training in active listening and community support at SideWalkTalk and volunteer to become skilled in crisis intervention and receptiveness.

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Join the Young ers NSW if yo vide practical, al support to s regularly hosts workshops to bu empathy, resilien

carersnsw.org.au grams-services

sidewalk-talk.org/take-action

headspace Volunteer for one of Australia’s largest mental health organisations, with a focus on adolescent mental health, through fundraising or designated volunteer positions. headspace.org.au/get-involved

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Join UNSW’s partake in a ing opportun reputable vol in all industrie

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Keep an eye out for Psychology Society’s next annual Volunteering Expo to connect with Australia’s largest mental health organisations and relay any questions to get involved and kickstart your career in psychology.

g Carers Program at Carou are under 25 and pro, emotional or personsomeone else. Carers NSW s education sessions and uild knowledge and skills in nce and wellbeing promotion.

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Volunteer Army to plethora of volunteernities partnered with lunteering organisations es and non-profit sectors.

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u s! p m a c Student Minds UNSW Contribute to the improvement of mental health facilities and strengthen connection and support networks on campus through UNSW Student Minds. student.unsw.edu.au/studentminds

Student Societies Volunteering for student societies, whether vocational or simply interest-based, is also a great way to meet new people and develop industryrelevant skills during your university career. student.unsw.edu.au/volunteer

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Clinical Psychology A clinical psychologist is an expert that provides continuous and comprehensive care in mental health across the lifespan of individuals. They are the only psychologists to have partaken in specialised training that has developed their skills in assessment, diagnosis, formulation and psychological treatment of mental health (The Australian Clinical Psychology Association).

Degree Requirements UNSW MPsych (Clin) or Combined Doctor of Philosophy/MPsych (Clin) are both pathways to becoming a clinical psychologist. Both programs are accredited by the APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) as fifth and sixth years of study leading to full membership of the APS and registration as a psychologist with the national PsyBA (Psychology Board of Australia). After completing two years’ full-time equivalent supervised practice (or 3-4 years, if doing the combined degree), graduates of the programs are eligible to apply for endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist and for membership of the College of Clinical Psychologists.

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Potential Careers Clinical psychologists can work in a range of locations ranging from public hospitals, community mental health services to private consulting rooms. However, they can also work in government department schools and universities and research centres. There are numerous other career pathways in clinical psychology encompassing careers such as: a school psychologist, rehabilitation psychologist, psychotherapist, substance abuse counsellor, etc.

Here are some potential careers in the field of clinical psychology: Behavioural Health Psychologist

Mental Health Social Worker

Primary responsibilities of a mental health social worker involve providing counselling services and resources to patients under the supervision of a psychologist or psychiatrist.

As a mental health social worker, you may conduct crisis intervention groups, develop outreach programs for at-risk individuals, help clients find housing and assistance, etc.

Primary responsibilities of a mental health social worker involve providing counselling services and resources to patients under the supervision of a psychologist or psychiatrist.

As a mental health social worker, you may conduct crisis intervention groups, develop outreach programs for at-risk individuals, help clients find housing and assistance, etc.

Clinical Case Manager

Child Psychologist

As a clinical case manager, your primary role would involve maintaining communication with clients to ensure they have access to necessary resources and guide them through any difficulties or challenges they may be experiencing. In some instances, clinical case managers specialise in certain demographics (e.g. clients with eating disorders).

This field is one of the most popular amongst all fields of psychology and enables psychologists to work in schools, inpatient or outpatient treatment facilities, juvenile detention centres, mental hospitals and clinics, etc. The main responsibilities of this career pathway entail educating children of healthy coping and communication skills, altering unhealthy behaviours and providing academic guidance for children and adolescents.

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Working in Clinical Psychology What’s your favourite thing about your job ?

The best thing about my job is getting to work with all different types of people; no day looks the same. When you work as a psychologist you have the privilege of supporting different types of people with a range of challenges and it is immensely rewarding to be part of that process with them. But it is also not just about the clients and families that I work with but also about being part of a professional fraternity of clinicians where there is so much to learn and areas to grow.

Working with and learning from other psychologists is one of the favourite parts of working as a psychologist.

What does a typical day look like for you ?

I’m fortunate to have two part-time jobs; one in private practice and one in public health and I only work Monday to Friday with weekends off to recharge. When I’m in private practice my days look typically like 60-minute sessions with children, adolescents, and their families, in a very traditional psychotherapy model. They tend to be longer days when in private practice because you have lots more behind the scenes work to do, but there is more autonomy in which clients you get to work with. At the hospital the typical day looks very different to private practice.

Working in public health is much more of a multi-disciplinary team environment and the work of the psychologist in my role tends to be briefer in duration when compared with treatment and assessment in private practice. There is also a different type of presentation in the hospital setting in which there tends to be more comorbidity with physical health conditions.

Nicholas Szafreniec Clinical Psychologist at Kids & Co. Clinical Psychologist Blue Mountains | PhD Clinical Psychology at Western Sydney University

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What activities should undergraduate students partake in to prepare them for a future in clinical psychology ?

What drew you towards becoming a clinical psychologist and working with children, adolescents and their families ?

Anything that gives experience working with people from all different walks of life. This can be with the more traditional types of things such as Lifeline telephone counselling or various roles working in the disability or aged care sector. Experience of different cultures as well will be useful, especially given the wonderful level of cultural diversity that we have here in Australia. The utility of professional skills, such as organisation, time management, and verbal or written communication as an example, also goes a long way to being an efficient and effective psychologist as there is often a lot of paperwork and extra things to manage when working as a clinical psychologist.

I have to say that I was not particularly drawn to this population when I commenced my psychology studies. Through the placements that I completed in the internal University clinic and through the child and adolescent lecturers during the master’s program I found myself liking the work that I did with children, adolescents and families. When I finished the master’s program this is where I naturally gravitated towards. I also think the work with children and adolescents also looks a bit different and at times you have to get a bit creative too which I find enjoyable.

What skills or qualities do you think are important to have when dealing with challenges in your work ?

I think the best quality that helps with some of the challenges that comes with working as a psychologist is humour. Having the ability to laugh at yourself and some of the things that happen can really help to take the edge off. I’m also a big believer in getting support from others and equipping myself with a really strong network of like-minded clinicians to work through problems with.

Knowing when to ask for help and support I think, is such a hugely important aspect of dealing with the challenges we face. And lastly, I think having a beginner’s mentality when approaching the work is very helpful.

I’m always amazed at how many fantastic clinicians are out there and learning from the ways in which others work is the best way to successfully navigate some of those challenges.

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Education Psychology Educational psychologists investigate techniques and strategies to facilitate the development of individuals and groups in educational settings. They are skilled in identifying and diagnosing disabilities and disorders, designing effective treatment programs and conducting counselling.

Educational psychologists can provide help to a variety of age brackets; with specific areas of practice ranging from adolescents to adults. During early childhood, parents may seek help for concerns regarding their child’s development and assistance with disabilities. During adolescence, parents may seek help regarding issues with physical and sexual abuse, career guidance or even family relationships. During adulthood and later adulthood, individuals may seek out educational psychologists for issues regarding their careers and work stress, healthy ageing and other relationship issues.

School Psychologist School evaluate School psychologists psychologists work work in in schools schools to to evaluate student needs, including learning disorders and student needs, including learning disorders and behavioural health.They They recommend strategies behavioral health. recommend strategies to to help studentsstruggling strugglingwith withmental mental illness illness or or help students other disabilities succeed in school. other disabilities succeed in school.

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Here are some potential careers in the field of education psychology:

may entai b l: jo Conducting research on theoretical concepts and their role in an individual and group setting

Sociologist Sociologists and society.

Sociologists study study human humanbehaviour behavior and society.

They research the impact of institutions They research the impact of institutions and and human activities, such as education, using tools human activities, such as education, using tools including including surveys surveys and and interviews. interviews. Their Their findings findings can help educators and policymakers can help educators and policymakers address address social issues. social issues.

Degree Requirements To become an educational and developmental psychologist, you are required to have a specialised postgraduate degree in psychology and a period of supervised practice.

There is a directly correlated degree of educational psychology which individuals can undertake.

Diagnosing disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders

Analysing the correlation between mental capabilities and educational performance

Evaluating programs and interventions

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