Divisions
Division for Research and Methodology (DRM)
Objectives
The Division for Research and Methodology of PsySSA aims:
- To promote theory and research in psychology.
- To improve the training of psychologists and the teaching of psychology.
- To provide a forum for persons who are involved in the teaching of, and research in, psychology.
- To serve the interests and recognition of those persons who are involved in teaching of, and research in, psychology.
- To promote international co-operation between psychologists and between workers in cognate areas.
- To encourage debate on the social and ethical consequences of psychology.
- To promote links between psychology and its applications.
- To institute and administer Continuing Education (CE) Programmes.
Incentives for membership
What do members receive by becoming members?
- Weekly email circulations concerning upcoming conferences, career and research-related opportunities and links to relevant research material
- Access to research-related material made available on our social science methods website
- Access to particular journal articles and other research materials that are not freely available online
- Participation in informative webinars relating to research psychology
- Guidance concerning HPCSA activities and guidelines, board exam preparation and internship applications
Fees
Full Member
Associate Member
Affiliate Member
Student Member
Social media
Exco members
Pakeezah Rajab is a HPCSA-registered Research Psychologist and Psychometrist, employed as a Product Specialist at JVR Psychometrics and a PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria. She has worked on numerous projects that has applied, developed, validated and/or standardised psychometric assessments for use by the South African population – including aptitude, personality, values, career guidance and emotional intelligence, in both educational and corporate environments.

Ms Pakeezah Rajab
Chairperson
pakeezah93@gmail.com
Bio
Pakeezah Rajab is a HPCSA-registered Research Psychologist and Psychometrist, employed as a Product Specialist at JVR Psychometrics and a PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria. She has worked on numerous projects that has applied, developed, validated and/or standardised psychometric assessments for use by the South African population – including aptitude, personality, values, career guidance and emotional intelligence, in both educational and corporate environments. Her research interests include cognitive functioning, student performance and assessment development.

Dr Angelina Maphula
Vice-Chair
angelina.maphula@univen.ac.za
Bio
Dr Angelina Maphula is a Senior Lecturer and qualified Clinical Psychologist employed at the University of Venda. She is currently busy with her postdoctoral fellowship in the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA)/South African Trauma Research Training (Phodiso) Program. Her research interest areas include Trauma, HIV/AIDS and mental health (gender-based violence, substances and child development). She is currently involved in various research projects such as, The GladAfrica Epilepsy project, Study VIII: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with HIV (a multi-countries collaboration). Dr Maphula is immersed in research, community engagement and presents in local radios about psychological related topics.

Dr Tasneem Hassem
Secretary
thassem@yahoo.co.za
Bio
Dr Tasneem Hassem is a registered HPCSA-Research psychologist and the coordinator of the WitsPlus General Psychology Degree and a WitsPlus lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. Tasneem’s research focuses on digital mental health. She has completed her PhD titled “Adapting an online screening tool for Major Depressive Disorder in South Africa.” She was awarded the Phillip Tobias Scholarship for work on her PhD project and was awarded R100 000 in seed funding to advance the development and commercialisation of the first validated online depression screening tool suitable to the South African context. Tasneem was also selected as one of 40 candidates from across the globe to be part of the International Congress of Psychology’s Emerging Psychologist Program hosted by the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) in July, 2021.

Ms Nabeelah Bemath
Treasurer
nabeelahbemath1@gmail.com
Bio
Ms Nabeelah Bemath is a HPCSA-registered Research Psychologist, academic coordinator of the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at the University of Witwatersrand’s Faculty of Health Sciences, and a sessional lecturer in the University’s Department of Psychology. Through her dual work roles, Nabeelah’s work has involved research supervision, the teaching of research design and methodology, and student mentoring and support. Her research interests include public mental health, cognitive neuropsychology, and cognitive neuropsychological assessment in the South African context.

Dr Bronwyne J Coetzee
Additional Member
bronwyne@sun.ac.za
Bio
Dr Bronwyne J Coetzee is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University. Dr Coetzee teaches child psychology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Her research falls within two broad fields namely health psychology and mental health. Dr Coetzee supervises a number of masters and doctoral students who work in these areas. Dr Coetzee currently holds a Wellcome Trust Seed award in Science as well as a National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka grant. Her Wellcome Trust award currently supports her work towards developing a school-based mental health intervention for primary school aged children in the Western Cape. Her Thuthuka grant currently supports the development of a caregiver support intervention to improve medication adherence amongst infants 0-5 years old. Dr Coetzee is a member of PsySSA’s Health Psychology Special Interest Group. Dr Coetzee is currently a guest editor for Frontiers in Public Health’s special edition on COVID-19 Policies and Interventions to Enable Preventative Behaviors.

Ms Fatima Peters
Additional Member
Fatima.Peters@univen.ac.za
Bio
Ms Fatima Peters is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Venda. She lectures on ethics professional and practice issues, community psychology, as well as research methodology. She is the second year B Psychology degree coordinator, supervises students on research and the Bachelor of Psychology counselling practicum. Her research interests are ethics, gender and reproductive health, climate and environmental psychology, and decolonial praxis in higher education.
News and Updates from the Division
Ethical Rules
ETHICAL RULES OF CONDUCT FOR PRACTITIONERS REGISTERED UNDER THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT, 1974
Ethical Rules
HPCSA: Guidelines For Good Practice In The Healthcare Profession
Ethical Guidelines For Good Practice With Regard To HIV
Ethical Guidelines
DRM Information
We have compiled a list of questions and answers that may provide the information you are looking for. If none of these answers address your query, please send us a follow up message to psyssadrm@psyssa.co.za
DRM FAQs
Relevant links
- Information concerning scope of practice for research psychologists: http://www.hpcsa.co.za/Uploads/editor/UserFiles/downloads/psych/sept_promulgated_scope_of_practice.pdf on pp. 9
- Information concerning Research Psychology MA programmes and internship sites: http://www.hpcsa.co.za/uploads/editor/UserFiles/downloads/psych/LIST_OF_ACCREDITED_UNIVERSITIES_IN_SA_%202016.pdf for a list of accredited training institutions.
- Information on how to tailor and accredit your institution’s research psychology internship: http://www.hpcsa.co.za/uploads/editor/UserFiles/downloads/psych/Checklist%20for%20Research%20Psychology%20Internship%20Applications%20GP%202014.pdf
- Information concerning HPCSA board exams and registration process: http://www.hpcsa.co.za/PBPsychology/Examinations