PS114-18 Research Methods in Psychology
Introductory description
The module provides skills and knowledge necessary for understanding the nature of empirical work in psychology.
Module aims
The module provides skills and knowledge necessary for designing, implementing, analysing, and reporting the student's own empirical investigations. The module provides valuable preparation for the second and third year projects.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Scientific writing for psychology: Structure and purpose of an article, content of title, abstract, introduction, method (and subsections of method), results, discussions and reference section, and citations and referencing formats
Structure and components of experimental and non-experimental research designs
Types of data collection techniques
Application of statistical hypotheses to research, and selection of statistical tests for analysing data
Statistical calculation using software (SPSS) of t-tests, chi-square (goodness-of-fit and contingency table) tests, correlation and simple regression, one-way ANOVAs, factorial ANOVAs and repeated-measures ANOVAs
Reporting of statistical evidence in scientific reporting for psychology
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- the ability to understand, implement and discuss the principles of psychological research;
- the ability to understand the principles of experimental, observational and questionnaire methods;
- the ability to understand the principles of qualitative methods in psychology;
- the ability to understand ethical issues in psychological research.
- the ability to design studies to collect, analyse and interpret data, and to apply these skills to write reports of empirical investigations that conform to the standard American Psychological Association format.
Indicative reading list
Howell, D. C. (2008). Fundamental statistics for the behavioural sciences (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. (or a more recent edition of this text)
Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (3rd ed.). London: Sage. (or a more recent edition of this text)
Howell, D. & Cramer, D. (2014). Introduction to SPSS in Psychology (6th ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson.
Research element
Research Project Report
Design, run and orally present (in groups of c4 students) and write up (independently) a replication study, using one of several suggested studies as a starting point:
(i) Obtain ethical approval (does not directly contribute to the grade, but if late, late penalties will be applied to the write-up, and if absent, no marks will be awarded for the write-up);
(ii) Write a 2500-word APA-format manuscript based upon it.
Students are advised that the project write-up must be passed for the module to be passed, as well as the weighted average needing to be above the pass mark.
Subject specific skills
critical analysis, formulation and testing of hypotheses
write reports of empirical investigations that conform to the standard American Psychological Association format; this includes, but is not limited to, article structure and referencing conventions.
understand ethical issues in psychological research.
Transferable skills
written and oral communication skills;
use of SPSS;
group work.
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Lectures | 15 sessions of 1 hour (8%) |
Project supervision | 6 sessions of 2 hours (7%) |
Practical classes | 15 sessions of 2 hours (17%) |
Private study | 123 hours (68%) |
Total | 180 hours |
Private study description
Guided Private Study
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A2
Weighting | Study time | |
---|---|---|
Online test | 25% | |
Online test underaken in class time |
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Oral Presentation of Project | 5% | |
5 minute presentation |
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Research Experience | 10% | |
Research experience contributes to both PS114 & PS113 |
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1st Practical Report | 5% | |
1500-word APA-format manuscripts (practical reports) on set topic |
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2nd Practical Report | 5% | |
1500-word APA-format manuscripts (practical reports) on set topic |
||
3rd Practical Report | 5% | |
1500-word APA-format manuscripts (practical reports) on set topic |
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Project Report | 45% | |
Research Project Report |
Feedback on assessment
Feedback on practical reports and project report takes the form of 1) a printed form giving selected standard comments (corresponding to amount of credit given) on each assessed sub-element of the report (e.g., each student receives seven selected comments about the Abstract of which one could be "The abstract included a clear, accurate, concise statement of the dependent variable." or "The dependent variable was not stated in the abstract" or an alternative about the same topic would be included); plus 2) additional disambiguating comments from the marker, as needed.\r\n\r\nFeedback on project presentation takes the form of marks on the department scheme for oral presentations plus written comments from the marker.\r\n\r\nOther components treated as summative only.\r\n
Post-requisite modules
If you pass this module, you can take:
- PS215-15 Further Methods in Psychology
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of UPSA-C800 Undergraduate Psychology
- Year 1 of UPSA-C804 Undergraduate Psychology with Education Studies
- Year 1 of UPSA-C802 Undergraduate Psychology with Linguistics