In this module students will be introduced to the theory and strategies relevant to planning a piece of empirical research in clinical psychology. Teaching sessions will include: strategies for choosing an appropriate research area; processes for the identification of appropriate literature; development of research questions; designing research; bias and inclusivity in research; and ethical issues in clinical psychology research. The module will also examine the philosophical underpinnings of research approaches and the difficulties of conducting research and practice under experimental and non-experimental conditions. By the end of the module students will have developed the appropriate skills and capabilities to design a coherent and ethically sound empirical study.

Research Proposal (100%, 2500 words)
Students will be required to produce a detailed research proposal that outlines: the rationale; proposed methodology, data collection approach and analysis; a schematic timetable of the research; and consideration of ethical issues. This research project will then be conducted and submitted in Dissertation: Conducting and Disseminating Psychological Research (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4).

Formative feedback will be given in an assessment support session. Students will also be able to send a 2-page outline plan of their research proposal to their allocated academic supervisor for individualised feedback.

Taught sessions, in the form of interactive workshops, will be delivered during which topics related to designing and planning research in clinical psychology will be explained, discussed and explored. Students will also be supported in developing a rigorous, coherent and ethically sound research proposal through specific assessment related sessions and an allocated academic supervisor.

Taught sessions will be supported by independent learning which will include extended reading, preparation for taught sessions and completing assessment relating activities.

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of clinical psychology research at the forefront of the discipline and the independent ability to develop an appropriate research question in clinical psychology. Application, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning.

2. Employ qualities and transferrable skills in decision making to design methodologically sound research in clinical psychology.
Application, Problem Solving, Reflection.

3. Develop a comprehensive understanding of bias and inclusivity in research and apply this to the development of a research proposal.
Application, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning.

4. Demonstrate the qualities and transferrable skills necessary to reflect on ethical issues in psychology and apply these skills in a research proposal.
Reflection.

Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. Web-based databases to review current relevant literature in electronic database format. Internet access. Library. Resource rooms. Supervision space.

British Psychological Society (2021, Dec 21). Code of Ethics and Conduct. https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct

British Psychological Society (2020). Guidelines for Internet Mediated Research.

http://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%20-%20Files/Ethics%20Guidelines%20for%20Internet-mediated%20Research.pdf

Breakwell, G. M., Wright, D., & Barnett, J. (Eds.). (2020). Research methods in psychology (5th Ed.) Sage Publications.

Clark-Carter, D. (2018). Quantitative psychological research: The complete student's companion (4th Ed.). Psychology Press.

Willig, C. (2013). Introducing qualitative research in psychology: Adventures in theory and method (3rd Ed.). Open University Press.

Rai, T., Hinton, L., McManus, R. J., & Pope, C. (2022). What would it take to meaningfully attend to ethnicity and race in health research? Learning from a trial intervention development study. Sociology of Health & Illness (00) 1-16.

Students must be registered on the MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology.

In this module students will be supported to design and plan rigorous, coherent and ethically-sound research in the students’ topic area of choice within the field of clinical psychology. Students will be allocated an academic supervisor who will provide guidance and support in developing a research proposal.