Unit information: Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology in Education (Part 1) in 2022/23

Unit name	Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology in Education (Part 1)
Unit code	EDUC10007
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Carr-Fanning
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

This unit introduces training in the range of theoretical and practical skills used in educational and psychological research. In this unit students will be introduced to research methods in psychology, research design, statistical analyses, psychometrics and measurement techniques, and quantitative and qualitative methods. Examples of statistics and research methods will be taken from psychology in education.

The unit will have a 1 hour lecture on qualitative approaches or statistics, followed by a 2 hour session split into research methods and the application of the approach/statistics. During the application component, students will collect and analyze data for their assessed lab report. By linking analysis techniques to research methods through application, we will encourage students to develop:

(a) a conceptual understanding of the epistemology, content and analysis relating to the proposed empirical work;

(b) specification of the studies theoretical content and study design;

(c) the conduct of the data collection phase;

(d) the analysis of these data;

(e) the write-up of the results of that study in the conventional APA format.

Topics will include: Overview to research; ethics; qualitative methods & analyses (single case studies, interviewing, observation); introduction to quantitative research; levels of measurement; survey research; descriptive analyses; visualizing data; sampling and hypothesis testing; correlations; validity & reliability.

Your learning on this unit

Upon successful completion of this unit students will have:

1. acquired a conceptual understanding of the basic forms of qualitative study design;
2. acquired the practical experience of conducting and analyzing qualitative research;
3. acquired a preliminary understanding of quantitative research methodology;
4. acquired an understanding of descriptive analyses;
5. acquired the practical experience of conducting descriptive analyses;
6. undertaken the full profile of undertaking qualitative research by asking questions, designing a specific study to address a specific question, conducting a study on that question, analysing the data appropriately, and providing a written communication of the outcome of that process;
7. planned and contributed to small-group discussion on these topics;
8. begun to acquire a wide range of transferable skills.

How you will learn

The unit comprises statistics lecture and applied sessions per week. Each student attends all sessions. During the applied sessions they will work in small groups (n=6) to apply the material presented in the lectures to guided activities.

How you will be assessed

Formative assessment:

Formative assessment Quizzes: Each week, the lecture will have a short quiz, with answers explained. This is to check your understanding of the content.

Workbook: There will also be a workbook for the unit to help you solidify content delivered weekly, and practice the skills and methods you have learnt.

Feedback on Observation Task: During the seminar in Week 4 you will have the opportunity to try out observation techniques and discuss how that went. During the seminar in week 4-6, you will develop your own observation schedule in small groups and receive feedback and support from the tutor.

Feedback on Draft Lab Report: During the seminar in Week 9, you will have the opportunity to discuss your draft lab reports and receive feedback.

Summative assessment

Exam: Multiple Choice and Short Answer (50%) The exam will present questions that cover the material presented across the unit. This will be completed during the January exam period (ILO 1-6,8).

Lab Report (50%) The 2,000 word lab report focused on qualitative observational methods will present the rationale, methods, analysis, and conclusions for qualitative observational data (ILO 1-6,8).

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EDUC10007).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.