Module details for Psychology Honours Project

Description

This module requires students to design, conduct and analyse their own independent piece of research. As part of the module students are also expected to present their research findings. This module provides guidance and support for the honours project process.

Aims

The aim of this module is to provide the student with a critical understanding of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological options available for psychological research, design and analysis, and skills to design, analyse, execute and produce a report for a research project in psychology.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module the student should be able to:

1.  Design and conduct research which falls within BPS ethical guidelines.

2.  Conduct a search of, and critically evaluate, the literature in your chosen research field.

3.  Design and execute a piece of research in psychology.

4.  Develop a working relationship with a supervisor, hold effective supervision meetings, plan and manage time.

5.  Critically evaluate and successfully defend the choice of methodology and analysis and (where applicable) apply software packages on analysis and programming of experiments.

6.  Present the completed project orally.

Indicative Content

1 Working with a supervisor

Making the most of supervision, preparing for supervision meetings, becoming a confident independent learner, setting goals, evaluating progress.

2 Becoming an effective researcher

Critically evaluating your own ideas, identifying the right question to ask, relating your ideas to the literature, ethical issues and how to address them.

3 Participating in the research community

Immersion in the literature. Organising research materials and keeping good records. Conducting meetings with outside agencies and communicating findings to participants and peers.

4 Design and procedure

Methodological issues, techniques of analysis, limitations of statistical techniques, pilot work, creating experimental materials, making sure ideas are 'testable', problems with implementation.

5 Data

Collecting data efficiently, keeping good records, ensuring data can be analysed, analysing data appropriately, interpreting the results. Ensuring confidentiality of data. Presenting data and research findings clearly.

6 Communicating results

Writing in APA (American Psychological Association) format, being your own editor, critiquing and reviewing your own work effectively, relating your findings to the literature. Presenting the main findings of the project orally.

7 Presentation skills

Organising material, presentations using multi-media. Personal confidence, audibility, modulation and diction in public speaking.

8 Personal Development Planning (PDP)

Students will be asked to reflect on their own learning development and current skills (e.g. CV's, experience and transferable skills) in order to develop employability awareness and prepare them for post graduate study and the workplace. Consideration of psychological literacy.

9 Writing skills

Developing a mature and confident writing style; correct editorial style for research projects. Trouble-shooting in writing skills; proof-reading.

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Teaching and Learning Work Loads