Unit information: Research Project in 2020/21

Unit name	Research Project
Unit code	PSYCM0055
Credit points	40
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Attwood
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Year 2 & 3 units forming part of the MSci Psychology with Innovation programme.
Co-requisites	Year 4 units as required for MSci Psychology with Innovation programme.
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This mandatory unit for the MSci Psychology with Innovation requires you to design, conduct, analyse and write-up an original piece of empirical research. The main body of the research report is not to exceed 6,000 words (excluding the reference list, tables and appendices). The research report is to be based on an empirical investigation carried out by the student, with guidance from the project Supervisor (approx. 12 tutorials). Students should aim to achieve the format required in journal articles (journals of the American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Society serve as exemplars).

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

1. Compose an appropriate research question that requires the application of quantitative, qualitative or mixed techniques in psychological science.
2. Demonstrate initiative in the design, development and enquiry required to address a research question
3. Design accurate techniques and demonstrate personal responsibility and self-direction in conducting an empirical investigation in psychology.
4. Evaluate solutions to a research problem and demonstrate practical insight to the analysis of data.
5. Justify the interpretation of research findings and arrange a research report appropriate to psychological science.

Teaching Information

Teaching consists of meetings with the project supervisor to determine the nature of the theoretical question to be addressed, the appropriate empirical approach to the question, steering the proposal through the Faculty Ethics Committee, setting up and conducting the empirical work, analysing the data and discussion of the implications of the findings for the theoretical question posed.

Assessment Information

Formative (mandatory) project proposal. The final mark is based 100% on the submitted research report. The main body of the reports is not to exceed 6,000 words and should be written in the APA style.

Reading and References

This is an empirical unit where students conduct an original piece of empirical work based on an idea developed collaboratively with the project supervisor. Students will be required to read research articles relevant to the topic of the investigation and these will typically be available through on-line library resources.