Module PSYC43445: Psychological Research Methods and Statistics in Action

Department: Psychology

PSYC43445: Psychological Research Methods and Statistics in Action

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• PSYC43560, PSYC43315, & PSYC43260

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To introduce students to key research methods and statistical techniques used in psychology
• To further develop knowledge in experimental design and statistics to fulfil the requirements for a BPS recognised degree in Psychology including both qualitative and quantitative methods

Content

• This module introduces students to some of the methods used in conducting, analysing and presenting research in Psychology
• Students undertake a series of lectures and practical classes covering basic research skills:
• ethical practice
• design of psychological studies
• data collection
• appropriate analysis of results using a statistical computing package
• appropriate summarising, and display of results and the production of structured critical research reports
• The module will also cover related conceptual, ethical or historical issues in psychology
• The statistics and experimental design from this module will provide students with the skills required to complete their empirical project in psychology.

Learning Outcomes

• The development of knowledge and the acquisition of a range of methods of research and enquiry for investigating experience and behaviour, that enable students to take a lead role in research and enquiry, as well as participating as part of a team;
• The development of an understanding of the role of empirical evidence in the creation and constraint of theory, and also in how theory guides the collection and interpretation of empirical data;
• Basic knowledge of some key research and statistical methods in psychology

• Start to generate and explore appropriate psychological hypotheses and research questions drawing on relevant theory, research and practice, design studies and collect original data;
• Apply a variety of methods of inquiry, such as experiments, observation, questionnaires, psychometric tests, interviews, focus groups, creative methods or secondary data analysis;
• Start to understand and appreciate the value of participatory and/or action research and user involvement in research and community and peer research;
• Start to analyse, present and evaluate quantitative, qualitative data and critique research findings;
• Employ evidence-based reasoning and examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with a range of methods of inquiry and other activities;
• Use and critique a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software, laboratory equipment, and psychometric instruments;
• Critically evaluate psychological theory and research;
• Understand and apply the process of theory development and be capable of developing theory driven psychological questions
• Demonstrate competence in the selection and application of appropriate statistical procedures, and an understanding of their limitations

• Interact professionally with other members of the class and practical group, respond inclusively in a manner sensitive to the needs and expectations of a diverse range of audiences; demonstrate numerical reasoning skills including the analysis, presentation and interpretation of quantitative data;
• Demonstrate digital literacy through the use of online databases and analytic software;
• Understand the ethical, practical and legal issues associated with the collection, management, storage, processing, sharing and presentation of information, including in digital formats;
• Demonstrate inclusive and collaborative working and reflect on the value of engagement with a variety of views in reaching consensus in solutions to problems;
• Developing ability to organise and utilise knowledge

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

• The module is taught using a blended approach with online asynchronous teaching of research methods and statistics, backed up by synchronous (live) question and answer drop-in sessions and practical sessions.
• The lectures and practicals used in this module guide students' acquisition of some key research skills in Psychology, including the ability to organise and utilise knowledge and an understanding of the link between data and theory.
• Assessment of these skills is achieved by a mix of formative and summative assignments (which aim to help students gauge their knowledge of key facts and keep them focused on building their knowledge), research participation and by the examination
• These assessments in addition to providing feedback of a student's standard of work, also allow students to hone their organisational, statistical, and written abilities, and develop their understanding of theoretical issues
• Competence in the design and conduct of research is facilitated by all the teaching methods used
• Students, working in groups, are encouraged to develop their expertise by carrying out their own studies in practical classes, and this is assessed by students individually writing up a summative lab report
• Training in the use of research methods, statistical analyses and statistical packages is provided via lectures and reinforced in the practical classes
• Competence of these skills is assessed by the formative and summative practical lab reports, where statistical analyses form part of the report, and the exam, where the ability to apply basic statistical knowledge appropriately is appraised
• The class tests will be regular, typically every week or second week. They will include multiple choice questions and short answer questions.
• Written skills training content is provided via lectures, materials or practicals, and by feedback on the formative and summative lab reports
• Written communication skills are also assessed in the summative assignments, where students are asked to produce structured critical research reports, and in the written examination
• Word processing skills are encouraged in the lectures and practical classes and supported by the provision of computing resources
• Students will be taught how to use the SPSS/JASP computer package to manipulate data and undertake statistical analyses in lecture classes

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative practical report preparation

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.