Unit information: Summer Research Project in Psychological Research in 2020/21

Unit name	Summer Research Project in Psychological Research
Unit code	PSYC10015
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Quadflieg
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The unit is designed to expose students to a wide variety of research skills and experiences with a particular focus on preparing them for future PGR projects in psychology. Students will join pre-existing research groups at the School of Psychological Science and contribute to ongoing University of Bristol research endeavours. They will be expected to contribute to the design, implementation, and/or dissemination of ongoing research as carried out by their designated group. The aims of the unit are to provide hands-on experience with, and critical insight into, the process of conducting psychological research. Further aims include the promotion of discipline-specific knowledge through the exploration of novel research questions, the advancement of independent research skills (as typically involved in completing a psychological study), and the illustration of future study and career opportunities within the realm of psychological science.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, a student will be able to:

• Assist in carrying out a hypothesis-driven research project in psychology
• Understand pivotal ethical considerations involved in implementing such projects
• Describe common approaches to participant recruitment and treatment
• Appreciate practical challenges that researchers experience when conducting such projects
• Communicate a research project in the form of pre-registered report
• Demonstrate transferable time management and project management skills

Teaching Information

The unit combines an e-learning portfolio that covers the basic elements of psychological research in general terms, complemented by direct and increasing exposure to real-world psychological research throughout the duration of the unit. Each student will partake in a multi-week project in order to discover techniques and skills required to design, carry out, and/or analyse contemporary psychological research.

Assessment Information

E-learning Quiz (20%)

Template-Compatible Research Diary (2500 words, 80%)

Reading and References

American Psychological Association (2008). Reporting standards for research in psychology. American Psychologist, 63, 839-851.

Further readings will be made available separately through the students’ respective supervisors.