Unit information: Continuing Psychological Research Methods in 2019/20

Unit name	Continuing Psychological Research Methods
Unit code	PSYC20006
Credit points	40
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Allen
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	New unit at Level 4: Psychological Research Methods 1 OR PSYC10002: Introduction to Psychological Experiments and Statistics
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

In this unit, students will build on research skills developed in Psychological Research Methods 1. These skills will be applied in advanced experimental, correlational, and mixed methods contexts. Students will develop and conduct psychological research studies, and present their findings in varied formats.

The aims of this unit are to:

1. Introduce students to advanced experimental, correlational, and mixed methods approaches to conducting research in psychology, and data collection and analysis techniques associated with each.
2. Provide students with opportunities to develop and conduct advanced experimental, correlational, and mixed methods psychological research, and interpret and report findings according to disciplinary conventions.
3. Facilitate students’ continued development of a range of transferable research skills.
4. Give students further opportunities to engage with the diversity of research being conducted in the School via their participation in the school’s experimental hours scheme.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Outline the defining characteristics of advanced experimental, correlational, and mixed methods approaches to conducting research in psychology.
2. Formulate specific and feasible psychological research questions which can be addressed using advanced experimental, correlational, and mixed methods research approaches.
3. Develop and conduct advanced experimental, correlational, and mixed methods studies to answer research questions.
4. Apply data collection and analysis techniques associated with advanced experimental, correlational and mixed methods research approaches, and justify the selection and use of these techniques.
5. Interpret and report advanced experimental findings according to disciplinary conventions.
6. Interpret and integrate correlational and qualitative findings in a mixed methods study, and report the findings according to disciplinary conventions.
7. Describe a range of studies carried out by the School.

Teaching Information

Students will attend weekly 2-hour lectures and 2-hour laboratory classes. Lectures will feature a blend of traditional didactic presentations and active learning exercises. Students’ performance on a proportion of these exercises will be aggregated, and will be worth 30% of the final grade for this unit. In laboratory classes, students will work in small groups to complete the tasks necessary for the successful execution of psychological research studies. Full attendance at both lectures and laboratory classes is expected, and is essential for success in this unit.

Assessment Information

Formative Assessment:

Students will receive regular formative feedback via their participation in learning activities dispersed throughout lectures and laboratory classes. Participation in these formative activities will assist students’ progression toward the unit’s ILOs.

Summative Assessment:

1. Weekly In-Class Active Learning Exercises (30%, ILOs 1, 4, 5, and 6)
2. 1600-Word Research Report (30%, ILOs 2, 3, 4 and 5)
3. 2000-Word Research Report (40%, ILOs 2, 3, 4 and 6)

Other Pass Requirements:

In addition to earning the requisite number of marks, to pass this unit students must (a) participate in the development and delivery of a group presentation; and (b) participate in a number of studies as a member of the school’s experimental hours scheme (or complete an equivalent written activity).

Reading and References

Students will be directed to weekly readings via Blackboard. The majority of these readings will be drawn from the list of recommended texts below. Links to further readings (e.g., journal articles) will also be made available on Blackboard and lecture slides where applicable.

Essential

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

British Psychological Society. (2014). Code of human research ethics (2^nd ed.). Leicester, UK: Author. Retrieved from https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-human-research-ethics-2nd-edition-2014