NZ Scholarship Psychology case studies
NZ Scholarship Psychology · Put your knowledge to work in context.
New Zealand Scholarship is an award that recognises top secondary school students. It is aimed at the most able candidates in each subject, and entry is arranged through a consented New Zealand secondary school; you do not have to be working towards NCEA to enter. Assessment is by a written or spoken examination, or by a portfolio or report of work produced during the year. The general standard expects deep subject understanding, high-level critical thinking, and application of understanding to complex situations. The NZ Scholarship Psychology case studies are 5 cases and about 3,412 words.
1The Cluster That Was Counted as a Crowd
With ethics approval, a university team recruits 12 Year 9 classes from six Auckland secondary schools to test a four-week mindfulness programme. Six classes are randomly assigned to the programme and six to a waitlist.
708 words, about 4 min2Eight Sessions and a Ten-Week Wait
A 15-year-old Year 10 student is referred to the school guidance counsellor with a PHQ-A score of 18, sleep onset after 1 a.m., declining attendance (72% this term), and withdrawal from hockey. There is no psychosis, no current self-harm, and no substance use.
682 words, about 3 min3The Voucher, the Principal, and the Free-Text Box
A clinical psychology doctoral student plans a study on sleep and anxiety in Year 10 students at a low-decile urban school. The principal, keen to show the school is 'research-active', offers the entire Year 10 roll and asks for class-level results.
688 words, about 3 min4Confidence After the Feedback
During a night-time street robbery, a 19-year-old witness sees the offender for about 12 seconds under street lighting. Two days later, police conduct a photo lineup of six faces.
651 words, about 3 min5The Label That Unlocks Funding
An 8-year-old is referred for cognitive assessment because of learning difficulties, impulsivity, and poor peer relationships. The WISC-V Full Scale IQ is 72 (95% CI 68–76); the Vineland adaptive behaviour composite is 78.
683 words, about 3 min