Unit information: Psychological Research Methods in 2022/23

Unit name	Psychological Research Methods
Unit code	PSYC10010
Credit points	40
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Dobrescu
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	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

In this unit, students will be introduced to experimental and qualitative approaches to conducting research in psychology, and the data collection and analysis techniques associated with each. Students will design and conduct psychological research studies, and present their findings in both oral and written formats.

The aims of this unit are to:

1. Introduce students to experimental and qualitative approaches to conducting research in psychology, and data collection and analysis techniques associated with each.
2. Provide students with opportunities to design and conduct psychological research, and interpret and report findings according to disciplinary conventions.
3. Facilitate students’ development of a range of transferable research skills, including sourcing and critically reading original research papers; asking and answering specific and feasible research questions; the appropriate use of relevant IT resources; and written and oral communication.
4. Give students exposure to the diversity of research being conducted in the School via their participation in the experimental hours scheme.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Outline the defining characteristics of experimental and qualitative approaches to conducting research in psychology.
2. Design and conduct experimental and qualitative studies to answer specific and feasible research questions.
3. Apply data collection and analysis techniques associated with experimental and qualitative approaches to psychological research questions, and justify the selection and use of these techniques.
4. Interpret and report experimental and qualitative research findings according to disciplinary conventions.

How you will learn

Weekly: self-paced asynchronous 'independent work'; large group live synchronous Q&A and multiple choice quiz associated with independent content; self-paced asynchronous lecture content; live student-led group meeting and group meeting facilitated by TA.

How you will be assessed

Formative Assessment:

Students will receive regular formative feedback via their engagement with learning activities dispersed throughout the unit. Participation in these formative activities will assist students' progression toward the unit's ILOs.

Summative Assessment:

1. Weekly In-Class Active Learning Exercises (30%)
2. Poster Presentation (30%)
3. 2,000-Word Research Report (40%)

Other Pass Requirements:

In addition to earning the requisite number of marks, to pass this unit students must (a) participate in the development and delivery of a presentation; and (b) participate in a number of studies as a member of the school's experimental hours scheme (or complete an equivalent written activity).

A reasonable attempt of all assessment must be made for the award of credit.

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. PSYC10010).

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.