Module PSYC2232: Advanced Research Methods and Statistics

Department: Psychology

PSYC2232: Advanced Research Methods and Statistics

Prerequisites

• PSYC1062 Introduction to Psychological Research plus either PSYC1071 Introduction to Psychology 1 or PSYC1081 Introduction to Psychology 2

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To equip students with experience of the practical application of a wide range of methods in psychological research and to develop presentation skills necessary for communicating research aims and findings
• To equip students with the knowledge and understanding of the more advanced statistical methods used in psychological research, together with the practical ability to apply such methods to a variety of data sets

Content

• The Practicals Strand of the course includes extended blocks of practical work in which students carry out research, including independent work
• At least one of these extended practical blocks will include qualitative methods
• Students will be introduced to advanced research methods in a range of psychological disciplines in the Research Methods Strand
• The module will cover ethics and relevant conceptual and historical issues in Psychology
• The Statistics Strand of the module will build on the statistical techniques covered in Level 1 and introduce students to more advanced quantitative statistics
• Emphasis will be placed especially on understanding the statistical principles underlying such analyses
• Statistical analysis will be supported by the use of relevant computer software which will give students an advanced understanding of the use of statistics in Psychology

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of a range of research paradigms and methods, including qualitative and
• quantitative methods
• Knowledge and understanding of statistics for psychology

• Skills to formulate research questions and hypotheses, select and conduct statistical analyses appropriate for different types of research designs and data, and presenting and interpreting statistical analyses.
• Ability to recognise and address ethical issues in psychological research and an understanding of commonly used psychological research methods.
• Competence in designing and conducting small-scale research projects, interpreting research findings and integrating these with other key findings in the literature, and evaluating the strengths and limitations of this work.

• Competent in written communication skills
• Competent IT skills in word processing and data presentation

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

• The module will be taught both online and face-to-face with statistics lectures being online, statistical problem classes being in person, research practicals being a mix of online and face-to-face, and research methods lectures being face-to-face
• Students will complete three practical blocks, each of which covers the use of a different research method, one of which is qualitative
• Knowledge and understanding of the methods studied will be via a lab report and a formal examination
• The lab report will be based on a study carried out during the course and hence assesses competence in designing, conducting, analysing, and reporting psychological research
• Assessment criteria for the report will also include students’ data handling and presentation, scientific report writing, and IT skills
• Knowledge of the theoretical and practical basis of a range of research methods will be assessed via the examination
• Formative assessment of the research practicals of the module consists of written presentation of the results of the practicals carried out during the course
• Lectures on statistics will introduce and explain a range of statistical methods and procedures and students will be provided with worked examples and given the opportunity to practice using these techniques with support at statistics problem classes.
• The summative assessment of the statistics part of the module comprises both a practical assignment (takeaway examination) which test students' ability to apply statistical knowledge appropriately to the analysis of data and an end-of-year online examination which allows their understanding of the statistical principles underlying such analyses to be assessed
• Students will be taught how to use computer software to manipulate data and undertake statistical analyses
• Students' skill in using this package for data manipulation, analysis, and presentation will be assessed via the summative practical assessments
• Learning through participation in research is fostered via the Psychology Department participant pool with students encouraged via course credit

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

The research methods sessions are one of the compulsory requirements of this module. A compulsory part of these sessions is the requirement to hand in at least one qualitative and one formative summary report. So, the formative from block 1 and from one other block. This reflects the BPS requirement for assessment of both qualitative and quantitative work. There will be opportunities to submit 3 summary reports. In addition, there will be a written ethics proposal for Level 3 dissertation research, and weekly or bi-weekly formative statistics opportunities throughout the year

■ 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