This module provides students with the opportunity to conduct, under supervision, independent psychological research in a chosen area, using an appropriate research methodology. Students will be introduced to the theory and strategies relevant to producing a piece of empirical research in psychology.

Topics of teaching sessions will include:
- Strategies for choosing an appropriate research area
- Processes for the identification of appropriate literature
- Development of research questions
- Designing research
- Planning and timetabling research projects
- Pilot work
- Ethical issues in psychology research.

By the end of the module, students will have developed the appropriate skills and capabilities to collect and analyse data relevant to psychology and will have designed and completed an empirical, data driven study.

Students will submit two pieces of work:

1. Ethics Application – a full ethical application that outlines in detail: the background, rationale and design of the intended research project. This element must be passed (approved) in order to move forward to implementing the study.

2. Research Report - detailing rationale, methods, findings and conclusions from the programme of research, accompanied by the following:
- Evidence of data-collection.
- Consent forms from participants

Supervisors will offer formative verbal and written feedback on one full draft version of the final written assessment. Drop-in sessions will be available as spaces to check ethics forms and writing up queries

Students will be allocated a supervisor who will support them in developing and completing their research project. Supervision will take place in regular scheduled meetings; these could either be individual or group sessions. Learning will be supported by timetabled sessions that aim to assist students in developing, running and writing up the research as well as support sessions focused on the library and electronic infrastructure.

1. Demonstrate and apply your systematic and critical understanding of psychological literature within a chosen area, including methodological and ethical considerations to formulate an evidence-based research question.

Knowledge and Understanding Application and Problem Solving

2. Design and conduct independent empirical psychological research, demonstrating critical evaluation and appropriate selection of research methods, data-analysis techniques, and advanced digital tools to ensure methodological rigour, and inform evidence-based professional practice.

Research Skills

3. Communicate clearly and professionally a coherent and evaluative account of complex psychological research and its practical implications.

Communication

4. Critically reflect on the research process, evaluating personal decision-making and identifying gaps in knowledge or skills, and use these insights to inform ongoing personal and professional development.

Reflection Personal Development and Entrepreneurship

Access to appropriate software to support participant recruitment and data analysis (e.g., SONA, Qualtrics, SPSS) and associated technical support.

Access to specialist equipment such as eye-tracking and eyeblink systems, Biopac, driving simulator, virtual reality, and cold pressor equipment.

Access to counselling and observation suites, cognitive cubicles, audio–video recording equipment and associated technical support.

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.

Recommendations:
- Forshaw, M. (2013). Your Undergraduate Psychology Project: A Student Guide. Blackwell.
- 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

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 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 research and will be available to guide you in the planning and execution of your study. Your will also 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.