Module Descriptors
INTRODUCTORY RESEARCH METHODS
PSYC40320
Key Facts
Faculty of Health Sciences
Level 4
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Jennifer Cole
Email: J.M.Cole@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 2
Independent Study Hours: 298
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
- CLASS-TEST weighted at 20%
- CLASS-TEST - SECOND CLASS TEST weighted at 20%
- RESEARCH REPORT weighted at 60%
Module Details
Module Special Admissions Requirements
First degree in discipline other than Psychology - this reflects the module's position in a route providing entry to the Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Module Resources
Industry standard statistical software, e.g. SPSS, Word processing software.
A copy of SPSS will be made available to students at the start of the module.
A copy of SPSS will be made available to students at the start of the module.
Module Learning Strategies
The module will be delivered by Distance Learning, using Blackboard. In each unit you will study and interact with material from the computer, read specified text from books and analyse example data. In addition, you will design one research study, collect and analyse the data from this study, write a report and read on the areas of psychology of your research study.
Module Indicative Content
This module provides an introduction to the use of research methods in psychology. You will learn how psychological research is conducted, analysed and reported. Hence, you will learn:
1) How to design and carry out methodologically sound studies, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
2) How to analyse data using a statistical software package. The statistical analyses we will cover include descriptive statistics (mean, variance, standard deviation etc.), correlation, regression, statistical significance, effect size and power.
3) The designs will be restricted to containing one independent variable with two levels or correlation.
4) How to write up a study's findings in the form of a psychological report.
1) How to design and carry out methodologically sound studies, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
2) How to analyse data using a statistical software package. The statistical analyses we will cover include descriptive statistics (mean, variance, standard deviation etc.), correlation, regression, statistical significance, effect size and power.
3) The designs will be restricted to containing one independent variable with two levels or correlation.
4) How to write up a study's findings in the form of a psychological report.
Module Additional Assessment Details
Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment.
(i) 2 x one-hour unseen class tests. One test will be delivered mid-module, the other at the end. They are each worth 20% of the marks for the module. Together they contribute 40% of the overall module mark. (1 & 2)
(ii) 1 x research report (maximum 2000 words). This report will contain both t-test and correlational analysis and will contribute 60% of the overall module mark. (3 & 4)
Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback through:
Submission of research plans prior to carrying out their assessed coursework. They will also have access to on line practice concept tests.
Students will be offered formative feedback on their actual draft reports also.
(i) 2 x one-hour unseen class tests. One test will be delivered mid-module, the other at the end. They are each worth 20% of the marks for the module. Together they contribute 40% of the overall module mark. (1 & 2)
(ii) 1 x research report (maximum 2000 words). This report will contain both t-test and correlational analysis and will contribute 60% of the overall module mark. (3 & 4)
Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback through:
Submission of research plans prior to carrying out their assessed coursework. They will also have access to on line practice concept tests.
Students will be offered formative feedback on their actual draft reports also.
Module Texts
Clark-Carter, D. (2004) Doing Quantitative Psychological Research: From Design to Report., Hove, Psychology Press
Howitt and Cramer (2005) Introduction to SPSS in Psychology for SPSS 10, 11, 12 & 13 (3rd Edition). Prentice Hall
Howitt and Cramer (2005) Introduction to SPSS in Psychology for SPSS 10, 11, 12 & 13 (3rd Edition). Prentice Hall