Introductory description

Students will be responsible for the conduct of substantial piece of research as directed by the supervisor.

Module aims

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.

Students will complete a piece of empirical research as directed by the supervisor. The supervisor will direct the student to complete a piece of research that is timely, novel and methodologically sound in the agreed area of research (which may be subject to course regulations).
Students will review the literature, design materials, collect data and analyse data as appropriate for the area of research.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically discuss past research and research methods in the chosen research area.
• Prepare and plan data collection in the chosen research area.
• Collect and analyse data to the standards of chosen research area.
• Report research to the standards of the chosen research area.

Research element

Students will complete a piece of empirical research as directed by the supervisor. The supervisor will direct the student to complete a piece of research that is timely, novel and methodologically sound in the agreed area of research (which may be subject to course regulations).
Students will review the literature, design materials, collect data and analyse data as appropriate for the area of research.
The total amount of work will be comparable to a Warwick undergraduate third year project.
(This is often two experiments in some areas of experimental psychology.) 6,000 words are
permitted for the write-up, but closer to 3,000 should be normal.
Students will write a manuscript of the research, and present either a poster or talk (subject to course regulations) based on the research at the department's postgraduate research day (or equivalent event by negotiation).

Subject specific skills

• ethical and safe application of psychological knowledge
• Understanding of a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software, laboratory equipment and psychometric instruments;
• Understanding of a variety of methods of data collection
• generation and exploration of hypotheses and research questions drawing on relevant theory and research

Transferable skills

• effective communication skills to develop a cogent argument supported by relevant evidence and being sensitive to the needs and expectations of an audience
• effective personal planning skills
• accurately analyse, present, and evaluate data and evaluate research findings
• effective personal planning, self-reflection, and project management skills, so they become more independent and pragmatic as learners.