Description
To build on research methods knowledge and prepare student for third year Core Research Methods
Aims
The aim of this Module is to provide the student with the opportunity to further develop the knowledge and skills required to design, conduct, analyse and report quantitative and qualitative psychological research in APA format
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Report, design and conduct ethically acceptable psychological research using techniques taught on the module.
2. Report, evaluate psychological research and present this in APA format.
3. Use SPSS to analyse empirical data utilising a variety of statistical techniques.
4. Identify and locate, using a variety of resources, suitable reference material for practical work.
5. Demonstrate, via assessment a good understanding of the key principles of psychological research design and data interpretation
Indicative Content
1 Methods of Research
Main quantitative and qualitative research methods available to psychologists; Use in applied settings; advantages and disadvantages
2 The Experimental Method
Variables and levels; hypotheses; design - basic and advanced; control techniques; validity and reliability in experimentation; ethics in experimentation
3 Data Analysis - Descriptive Statistics
Data types; measures of central tendency; measures of dispersion; normal distribution; graphing data; confidence intervals.
4 Data Analysis - Inferential Statistics
Test selection; parametric and nonparametric 2-sample test of difference; Within and Between one-way ANOVA and Non-parametric ANOVA, effect size; power; correlation; Tests of both internal and external reliability; inter rater reliability
5 Qualitative Methods
Types of qualitative research techniques; questionnaire design, interviewing - types, advantages, disadvantages; analysing interview material.
6 Quantitative Methods
Experimental method, two variable tests of difference (parametric and non-parametric), tests of relationships (parametric and non-parametric); multilevel testing (parametric and non-parametric), follow up testing (parametric and non-parametric). Reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha, quantitative content analysis, item analysis
7 Ethics
Creating and conducting ethical research based on BPS Ethical Guidelines
8 Reporting Research
Sections and content of an APA formatted psychology lab report; APA referencing
9 Information Searching
Structured and unstructured search; Search using the Internet and locating electronic journals using the university library system and appropriate data bases
10 I.T.Skills
Designing a lab report template using Word for Windows; using SPSS for data analysis;
Teaching and Learning Work Loads
| Teaching and Learning Method | Hours |
| Lecture | 13 |
| Tutorial/Seminar | 7 |
| Practical Activity | 24 |
| Assessment | 50 |
| Independent | 106 |
| Total | 200 |
Guidance notes
SCQF Level - The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.
Credit Value – The total value of SCQF credits for the module. 20 credits are the equivalent of 10 ECTS credits. A full-time student should normally register for 60 SCQF credits per semester.
Disclaimer
We make every effort to ensure that the information on our website is accurate but it is possible that some changes may occur prior to the academic year of entry. The modules listed in this catalogue are offered subject to availability during academic year 2021/22 , and may be subject to change for future years.
