First degree in discipline other than Psychology - this reflects the module's position in a route providing entry to the Graduate Diploma in Psychology

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.

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.

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.

Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment.

(i) 2 x 45 minute 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 contribute 60% of the overall module mark. (3 & 4)

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback through:
- Engagement in on-line discussions via the discussion boards in relation to all aspects of the course. Feedback is provided from both tutors and fellow students on all material submitted to the discussion boards.
- They will also have access to on-line practice concept tests.

Clark-Carter, D. (2010). Doing Quantitative Psychological Research: The Complete Student's Companion. Hove: Psychology Press.
Dancy, C.P. & Reidy, J. (2007). Statistics without Maths for Psychology. Harlow: Prentice Hall.
Field, A. (2009). Discovering Statistics using SPSS. London: Sage.