This module introduces quantitative and qualitative research methods most used in psychological research. This will also include debates at the forefront of research such as research ethics, open science, and professional behaviour. The module will include:

An introduction to quantitative research methods and statistical analyses
An introduction to qualitative research methods
The use of appropriate, industry-standard, software to collect, visualise, and statistically analyse data
Approaches to ensure quality and rigor in qualitative analysis
Current and historical issues in quantitative psychological research, with a particular focus on replicability and open science
BPS core ethical principles in research

Students will complete a quantitative research report and a qualitative research proposal:

1. Quantitative research report
- Students will pick one of several research topics and will be provided with a dataset
- Complete a quantitative laboratory report on that topic
o An abstract
o A literature review of the area
o Method section for a quantitative report
o Results section for a quantitative report (with evidence of analysis)
o A discussion section

2. Qualitative research proposal
- Students will be asked to design a qualitative study that would act as a follow-up to their results and topic from the quantitative study
o A literature review, rationale and qualitative research question
o A method section for qualitative report
o A reflexivity section

Formative assessment guidance will be provided during teaching sessions, with further support and informal feedback on both reports offered in workshops.

Sessions will include lectures, workshop activities, discussions, groupwork, and in-person/online drop-in support sessions.

1. Critically review relevant literature to construct a valid rationale for a quantitative project and evaluate the appropriateness of the quantitative research methods employed.

Research Skills

2. Conduct an appropriate statistical test to analyse quantitative data using industry-standard software and accurately interpret and report findings in an appropriate academic format with supporting evidence.

Digital Literacy

3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of qualitative research design by justifying the selection of one data collection method and one analysis technique and critically evaluating their appropriateness for addressing a selected research question.

Knowledge and Understanding

4. Critically reflect on the use of qualitative research methods in comparison with, and in relation to quantitative methods.

Research Skills

Access to adequately equipped computer laboratories including appropriate statistical analysis software (e.g., IBM SPSS).

Access to the Psychology Human Sciences Suite, laboratory facilities (including cognitive laboratories and observation suite) and associated technical support.

Clark-Carter, D. (2024). Quantitative psychological research: The complete student’s companion. 5th Edition. Routledge.

Field, A. (2024). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. Sage publications limited.

Sullivan, C., Forrester, M. A. (2019). Doing Qualitative Research in Psychology: A Practical Guide (2nd ed.). SAGE

How do you go from questions about human behaviour to providing scientific explanations? In this module, you will learn the core skills that underpin psychological research. Through lectures, hands-on workshops and guided activities, you’ll design studies, collect data, and analyse results using both quantitative and qualitative methods. You will explore how statistics helps us to understand real-world outcomes, how to uncover deeper meaning from interviews and texts, and how ethical and open-science principles shape high-quality research.

You will put your knowledge to use to complete a quantitative project and design a qualitative follow-up study. The module will not only equip you with practical quantitative and qualitative research skills, but with an understanding of what valid scientific investigation, analysis and conclusions look like and the confidence to apply this understanding to the information (and disinformation) we encounter every day.