PC4013 - Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology (2024/25)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology | ||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Assessment components |
|
||||||||||||||||
| Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
|
Module summary
This module introduces you to the practice of conducting and reporting research in psychology and will allow you to develop your skills in gathering, analysing, and evaluating different types of data in line with the principles of open science. You will learn about the link between research questions and research design and how conduct, interpret, and report psychological research. You will be introduced to the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Code of Human Research Ethics and principles of open science, and what this means for the way in which we design and conduct research in psychology. You will learn how to write and format research reports in accordance with professional publication standards and disseminate research findings in different ways to different audiences. The module is designed to help you to develop the practical, intellectual, and interpersonal skills essential for success on your course and in varied professions, as well as your confidence and enthusiasm for psychological research. It will thus provide you with a toolkit of intellectual and practical skills to assist your progression to modules at levels 5 and 6 and beyond.
Syllabus
Areas covered will be drawn from: the nature and purposes of research in psychology; approaches to research design; the relationship between research questions and research designs; methods for gathering quantitative and qualitative data in psychology; research ethics for psychologists; summarising and analysing data; principles of open science; using software to analyse and display data; using statistics to draw inferences about populations from research samples; the structure and purpose of a research report; how to write and format each section of a research report.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The learning objectives will be achieved through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops and laboratory sessions, supplementary guided web-based learning, and self-managed independent study. Formative assessments and group work will provide opportunities to receive constructive tutor and peer feedback. You will be encouraged to reflect on your learning throughout the module and to take responsibility for identifying any limitations in your knowledge and skills development.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. understand the process of conducting research in psychology and the nature of scientific enquiry.
2. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of core concepts in research design.
3. demonstrate awareness of the BPS’s Code of Human Research Ethics and principles of open science, and how they are implemented in the design and conduct of psychological research.
4. demonstrate understanding of different research methods and their limitations.
5. use different methods to analyse data using statistical software and other digital resources as appropriate.
6. apply your understanding of research design, research methods, data analysis, open science, and research ethics to a research question of your choice and present the results in a research report formatted in line with professional publication standards.