| Unit name | Research Methods 1 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ACHSD0005 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | D/8 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Dan O'Hare |
| 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 for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will introduce research methodology within an applied professional context. It is designed to develop the criticality and confidence of students who may have varying pre-course experiences of psychological research.
This is an engaging and informative introduction to applied research in professional practice.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is the first of three Research Methods units that support the successful undertaking of a thesis. This unit is designed carefully to help students to develop from varying pre-course experiences of psychological research
An overview of content
This unit will introduce research methodology as it will be encountered by educational psychologists both from the point of view of analysing other research work and from the point of view of conducting their own studies. On the bases of these analyses, students will be guided towards the construction of their own research project with tutorial work designed to produce the written project proposal and pilot work.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will have reflected critically upon their pre-course research experiences and understood the qualities of effective, real world psychological research. Their confidence and self-efficacy will have developed.
Learning Outcomes
There will be different learning activities using different approaches. They will be introduced to different research methodologies and apply learning to real-world research, commissioned by a Local Authority partner.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Frequent and regular workshops and feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A completed (4000-word) research commission report, including a 1000-word reflection. (100%) This assessment covers all of the ILOs.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to university regulations for taught programmes, unsuccessful students will be offered the opportunity to undertake another pilot study or rewrite the study undertaken.
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. ACHSD0005).
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.
