| Unit name | Psychological Research Methods and Statistics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PSYCM0062 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Stollery |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Students are expected to have studied relevant background material (delivered in our first year BSc) prior to the start of this unit. This self-study will be supported through the tutorial system in TB1 to prepare students for this unit in TB2. |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Psychological Science |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit provides training in a range of theoretical and practical skills used in psychological research. In two “mini-projects”, students will be introduced to a particular design-analysis strategy, a topic area, and develop a piece of empirical work that integrates the two. During the unit, two projects will be conducted: one based on a quantitative multifactor mixed ANOVA design and one based a qualitative study design. Each study will be structured around (a) a conceptual understanding of the epistemology, content and analysis relating to the proposed empirical work, (b) the specification of the studies’ theoretical content and study design, (c) the data collection phase, (d) the analysis of these data, (e) the write-up of the results of that study in the style of a journal article. The quantitative study will build on and extend students’ knowledge of research design, inferential statistics and hypothesis testing, including post-hoc tests and contrasts. The qualitative study will provide insight in transcription methods and the different approaches to qualitative analysis (e.g. Grounded Theory, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis).
Aims:
- Consolidate and extend the student's interest and knowledge in the integration of experimental design and analysis in the pursuit of psychological knowledge.
- Introduce students to more complex methodological approaches to psychological research, through the application of specific methodologies to the study of psychological phenomena.
- Develop a thorough understanding of the role of empirical evidence in the formation of theory and how theory guides the collection and interpretation of empirical data.
- Help students to understand the conceptual basis for more advanced investigative techniques, including both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and their relation to progress in psychological science.
- Facilitate students to acquire a wide range of transferable skills including literature search, the asking and answering of specific, measureable and realistic questions, the use of relevant IT resources, team work, and written and oral communication.
On completion of this unit, the student will have:
- Acquired a conceptual understanding of more complex forms of study design and the knowledge of when to apply these.
- Acquired the practical experience of conducting research studies that implement these designs within the context of a particular psychological question.
- Gained a more in-depth appreciation of how the implementation of research designs influence the nature of the psychological investigation to be conducted.
- Undertaken an intensive investigation of topics requiring (a) a quantitative and (b) a qualitative perspective and to have understood the varying requirements of each.
- Undertaken the full cycle of research by asking questions, designing a specific study to address a specific question, conducting the study, analysing the data appropriately, and communicating the results.
- Planned and contributed to small-group discussion on these topics.
- Have participated in and gained knowledge of a range of research experiments in the School of Experimental Psychology.
This unit involves a mixture of lectures and practical sessions in which students design studies and/or analyse data. Two mini projects will be conducted, on different topics that call for different methodologies and analytical techniques. Each mini-project will span a 6-week teaching block, with the project report submitted at the end of the 6th week. The experience of taking part in real studies gives students a flavour of the range of psychological research conducted in the School, as well as an opportunity to discuss research with the academics involved.
Readings are posted on blackboard and in lecture slides.
