module specification

PY7217 - Research Methods for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Research Methods for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Module level Masters (07)
Credit rating for module 20
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Total study hours 200
 
80 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
72 hours Guided independent study
48 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
In-Course Test 50%   Written test
Coursework 50%   Report
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Summer studies North Thursday Morning
Spring semester North Thursday Morning

Module summary

This module is designed to develop your knowledge and skills in a wide range of psychological research methods. It will help you to develop your ability to design and conduct different types of research, analyse different data types, and appropriately interpret and present the findings, in line with codes of professional ethical practice and open science. The module includes an introduction to the nature and purposes of research in counselling and psychotherapy. You will explore different methods for gathering data, different types of quantitative and qualitative analysis and different ways of summarising and disseminating research findings. You will learn how to use different software packages for analysing both quantitative and qualitative analyses, how to interpret results, and to draw appropriate conclusions. Each of these abilities is associated with competencies that are essential to an evidence-based practice in counselling and psychotherapy and are highly valued in employment contexts. The module also provides a firm foundation for PY7P10: Dissertation.

Prior learning requirements

N/A

Syllabus

Topics will be drawn from: descriptive and inferential statistics; research design (e.g., experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal); qualitative analyses (e.g., thematic analysis; interpretive phenomenological analysis); quantitative analyses (e.g., analysis of variance; correlation; linear regression; meta-analysis); open science; writing research reports.

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

The learning objectives will be achieved through a combination of lectures, workshops, laboratory-based IT sessions, supplementary guided web-based learning, and self-managed independent study. You will be provided with online access to the software packages used in the module.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Understand the philosophical basis of different qualitative and quantitative research methods.
  2. Collect, analyse, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate methods and tools, including specialist software packages.
  3. Report and disseminate results from research studies in line with professional publication standards and the principles of open science.
  4. Demonstrate your ability to select appropriate methods to address specific research questions and awareness of their limitations.

Bibliography