| Unit name | Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology in Education (Part 1) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EDUC10007 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Law |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Education |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit introduces training in the range of theoretical and practical skills used in educational and psychological research. In this unit students will be introduced to research methods in psychology, research design, statistical analyses, psychometrics and measurement techniques, and quantitative and qualitative methods. Examples of statistics and research methods will be taken from psychology in education. In addition to acquiring knowledge crucial for research, students will have the opportunity to apply their understanding by actively engaging in the collection, analysis, and report writing processes.
Through this unit, we will encourage students to develop:
(a) a conceptual understanding of the epistemology, content and analysis relating to the proposed research;
(b) specification of the studies theoretical content and study design;
(c) the conduct of the data collection phase;
(d) the analysis of these data;
(e) the write-up of the results of that study in the conventional APA format.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit provides essential training for foundational theoretical and practical skills crucial to educational and psychological research. The acquired skills will be pivotal throughout the entire undergraduate academic journey, ensuring that students are well-equipped for understanding and applying research methods and statistics in their research.
An overview of content
In this unit, students will learn the overview of psychological research; ethics; developing research questions and hypotheses; qualitative methods & analyses (case studies, observation); introduction to quantitative research; validity & reliability; levels of measurement; survey research; descriptive analyses; visualizing data; sampling and hypothesis testing; correlations.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit equips students with a comprehensive skill set, ranging from theoretical to practical aspects of educational and psychological research. The unit ensures students understand research methods and apply research approaches real world contexts. Students will also develop valuable knowledge in communicating findings in APA format, establishing a strong foundation for future studies. This experience cultivates scholars capable of navigating complex research challenges and contributing meaningfully to academic and professional settings
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students will have developed
1. Conceptual understanding of the basic forms of qualitative study design;
2. Practical experience of conducting and analysing qualitative research;
3. A preliminary understanding of quantitative research methodology;
4. An understanding of descriptive analyses;
5. Practical experience of conducting descriptive analyses;
6. Skills and experiences of undertaking qualitative research by asking questions, designing a specific study to
address a specific question, conducting a study on that question, analysing the data appropriately, and providing a
written communication of the outcome of that process;
7. Skills and knowledge contributed to small-group discussion on these topics;
8. A wide range of transferable skills.
The unit comprises statistics lecture and applied sessions per week. During the applied sessions students will work in small groups to apply the material presented in the lectures to guided activities.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Quizzes, Workbook, Feedback on Observation Task, Feedback on Draft Lab Report.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Exam: Multiple Choice and Short Answer (50% of the assessment) the exam will consist of questions that cover the material presented throughout the unit (ILOs 1-8).
Research Report: a 1,750 word research report which will focus on qualitative observational study and include the rationale, methods, analysis, and conclusions for qualitative observational research (ILOs 1-8).
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EDUC10007).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
