PSY4012 - Research Methods in Psychology 1

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a range of basic skills and methods for the investigation of human behaviour and experience;
Generate hypotheses and research questions and identify and implement the most effective and appropriate method for their exploration;
Design and conduct basic research studies in psychology using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, either individually or in collaboration with others;
Understand the ethical issues that might arise during research and address these;
Analyse data using a range of basic statistical and qualitative methods.
Present and evaluate research findings using a range of methods.

Content:

This module provides students with the requisite skills for investigative work throughout their degree. There is an emphasis upon both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, which are introduced alongside tools for analysis (including SPSS) and report writing skills.

Content will include the nature of research in psychology, the importance of conducting ethical research and principles of careful research design. A range of quantitative and qualitative approaches and methods will be covered.

Learning and Teaching Information:

This module will be taught using both weekly lecture sessions and practical sessions of two hours. Lecture content will introduce the key concepts and will include lectures presented via the VLE. Practical sessions will focus upon students designing, conducting, and participating in studies, and analysing data. The emphasis will be on active, collaborative and student-led learning.

Lectures
Hours: 20
Intended Group size: Cohort

Practicals
Hours: 40
Intended Group size: 40-50

Guided independent study
Hours: 140

Further details relating to assessment
The quantitative research report will enable students to get experience of writing up research findings, whilst the qualitative portfolio will enable students to develop fundamental skills in qualitative research methods (e.g. designing semi-structured interview schedules, transcription of data, reflexive analysis). Module ethics is in place for the data collection.

Visiting students taking the module in a single semester
The assessment for that semester will be taken by the student.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Michelle Dalton
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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