The MSc Psychology (Conversion) Dissertation is an opportunity for you to apply understanding of psychological theory and research methods in answering specific research questions of your own choosing. During the course of the module, you will need to develop a detailed understanding of current psychological theory and research findings in one, narrowly focused area. You will also need to develop and refine your research skills. These will include skills in literature searching, in research design and planning, in data collection, in data analysis, in research reporting and in reflecting on the research process. How you go about developing your understanding of the psychology of your research topic, and how you develop your research skills, is very much up to you - you will be responsible for planning and timetabling your own learning. Your learning will be supported throughout the module. You will be allocated a member of staff who will supervise your project and will be available to provide advice within the framework detailed in the module handbook. Your learning will be supported by timetabled sessions that aim to assist you in developing, running and writing up your project as well as the library and electronic infrastructure with which you will already be familiar.

Ethics Application – a full ethical application that outlines in detail: the background, rationale and design of the intended research project.

The ethical application process assesses learning outcomes 1 and 2. This element is 0% weighted but must be passed.

Research report (with a maximum length of 10,000 for a quantitative project, 12000 words for qualitative or mixed methods projects) detailing rationale, methods, statistical analysis, findings, discussion, and conclusions from the program of research. Evidence of consent and data collection must be ratified by your supervisor before submission.

The report will count for 100% of the grade and assesses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 ,4, & 5



Supervisors will offer formative verbal and written feedback on one full draft version of the final project.

Six two-hour workshops during which issues relating to the design and conduct of psychology research will be discussed (12 hours).

In addition, you will be allocated a supervisor who will support you in developing and completing your research project.

Supervision takes place in regular scheduled meetings, these could either be individual or group sessions and could be either face-to-face or online (15 hours).

Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of literature, including an understanding of the limits of that literature, in one area of psychological investigation.

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of ethical and methodological issues within the chosen area of psychological research.

Conduct empirical psychological research independently and with personal responsibility, under supervision, and reflect on the research process.

Identify and critically evaluate appropriate empirical methods and data analysis techniques and apply these to a psychological research question.

Present a clear account of the rationale, methods, findings and conclusions of a psychological research study which you have designed and conducted yourself, in a written report.

Online citation indices and other bibliographic databases

Peer-reviewed journal and other relevant scholarly publications in your chosen area of investigation

Departmental facilities, laboratories and equipment e.g. cognitive testing labs, observation/counselling suites, eye-tracker etc.

Appropriate software to support participant recruitment and data analysis

Blackboard VLE

MSTeams

There are no specific texts identified as essential reading for this module.
Students are referred to the extensive guidance material available on Blackboard. Students will identify, in conjunction with their supervisors, the most appropriate published sources within the psychological topic being investigated.

Be registered on the MSc Psychology degree.

This module provides students with the opportunity to conduct, under supervision, independent psychological research in one of a broad range of areas.