Module PSYC2261: Advanced Psychological Research for Non-Single Honours

Department: Psychology

PSYC2261: Advanced Psychological Research for Non-Single Honours

Prerequisites

• PSYC1062 IPR plus PSYC1071 Intro 1 and/or PSYC1081 Intro 2

Corequisites

• PSYC2271 - Social and Developmental Psychology

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To build upon knowledge gained in first year in experimental design and statistics to fulfil the requirements for a BPS recognised degree in Psychology
• To develop skills in studying classic papers in psychology
• To provide students an opportunity to discuss psychological research in a tutorial context

Content

• In the tutorial section of the module students will undertake weekly tutorials to discover, share, and discuss historical and conceptual issues in psychology
• The focus of the tutorial section of the module will be on research-led teaching and the development of skills for understanding and communicating empirical findings and theoretical concepts
• The statistics and experimental design section of the module will provide students with the skills required to complete their third year Project in Psychology Psychology

Learning Outcomes

• In depth knowledge relating to a sub-set of historical and conceptual topics in psychology
• Knowledge and understanding of statistics for psychology such as:
• ability to select between independent and repeated measure designs
• understanding of interactions, be able to design studies employing Analysis of Variance and perform the various types of analysis required
• appreciation of applications of multiple regression and be able to analyse data using this technique
• Integrate first year knowledge of a range of research paradigms and methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods into more advanced statistics methods methods

• Understand the relationship between theory and data, including the ability to evaluate theories and concepts
• Ability to formulate research questions and hypotheses
• Identify an issue in the psychological domain that is amenable to empirical investigation, formulate a clear research question and act on this
• Select a research method appropriate to the research question
• Demonstrate competence in the selection and application of appropriate statistical procedures, and an understanding of their limitations

• Competence in written communication skills
• Competence in presentation skills
• Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation and data presentation
• Location, reading, and review of a body of research evidence
• Critical evaluation of the quality of evidence and arguments
• Ability to adopt different theoretical positions and see relationships between them
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Statistics will be taught online with face-to-face drop in sessions.
• Acquisition of knowledge and understanding in the areas studied is facilitated by activities undertaken in tutorials, as determined by individual tutors, and by individual study outside the tutorial setting
• The tutorials will guide understanding of the relationship between theory and data
• Knowledge and understanding will be assessed via an essay assignment and a recorded presentation
• The essay assignment will assess the ability to organise, review and evaluate evidence and theory, to provide critical appraisal, and to contrast theoretical positions
• The presentation assignment will assess the ability to verbally review and evaluate evidence and theory, to provide critical appraisal, and to contrast theoretical positions
• A key component in the preparation of the essay is the acquisition of adequate word processing skills
• A key component in the preparation of the presentation is the acquisition of adequate computer visual display skills
• Feedback on progress in the module will be provided via in-class activities
• Subject-specific and Key skills are fostered through discussion and will be assessed via the coursework assignments
• Statistics lectures will introduce and explain a range of statistical methods and procedures and opportunities will be provided for students to practice using these techniques with support
• The summative assessment of the module comprises a class test which allows their understanding of the principles underlying statistical analyses to be assessed
• Students will be taught how to use the SPSS/JASP computer package to manipulate data and undertake statistical analyses in lecture classes
• Students' skill in using this package for data manipulation, analysis and presentation will be assessed via the summative practical assignment
• Students will plan a project, to be completed at Level 3
• The design of the project is discussed in detail with the supervisor in one or more sessions

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assignments and presentation opportunities within tutorials and complete exercises from the lecture handouts in their own time and these are self-marked

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University