PY7224 - Advanced Research Methods for Psychology (2024/25)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Advanced Research Methods for Psychology | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||||
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| Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module builds on the topics introduced in PY7223 Introductory Research Methods for Psychology and is designed to provide you with the advanced knowledge and skills required to conduct research in psychology. Using active learning methods, you will learn how to formulate research questions and hypotheses and how to translate these into research designs. You will learn how to gather, conduct, interpret, and present qualitative and quantitative data in accordance with professional publication standards and the principles of open science. You will develop your understanding of core concepts in statistical theory (e.g., null hypotheses significance testing; sampling distributions) and your ability to use and interpret a wide range of descriptive and inferential statistical tests (e.g., correlation, linear regression, t-tests, analysis of variance) using statistical software. You will also enhance your understanding of the epistemological, ontological, and methodological underpinnings of qualitative research in psychology and your ability to interpret qualitative data using different methods and techniques. The module will thus develop your knowledge and understanding of different approaches, methods, and techniques in psychological research and your ability to implement them in appropriate ways in line with the principles of open science. It will also equip you with a range of transferable skills that are essential for further study in psychology and valued in different employment contexts.
Prior learning requirements
PY7223 Introductory Research Methods for Psychology
Syllabus
Areas covered will be drawn from: quantitative and qualitative approaches in psychological research; epistemological, ontological, and methodological underpinnings of research in psychology; open science; research design (e.g., within and between participants designs; longitudinal and cross-sectional designs); sampling methods; descriptive and inferential analyses (e.g., correlation, regression, t-test, analysis of variance); non-parametric analyses (e.g., Spearman rank, Mann-Whitney); displaying and presenting data; principles, practices, and premises in qualitative research; generating and collecting qualitative data; analytical frameworks and techniques (e.g., thematic analysis; IPA); interpreting results and drawing conclusions from psychological research; presenting and reporting research results. The advanced knowledge and skills that you will develop in this module will provide a firm foundation for progression to PY7P11 Dissertation and further training or employment.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module is delivered through a variety of teaching and learning methods. Lectures will focus on core concepts in qualitative and qualitative research to provide a framework for the seminars, workshops and independent study. Workshops will provide an opportunity for students to seek clarification of concepts and processes covered in the lectures and to monitor their understanding of these concepts and processes through discussions with peers and tutors and practical exercises.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will:
Have the confidence and competence to think critically about psychological research.
Understand the epistemological, ontological, and methodological underpinnings of research in psychology.
Be able to formulate research questions and hypotheses, design studies capable of addressing/testing them, and apply relevant analytic methods and techniques to allow you to draw appropriate conclusions.
Conduct an empirical study – from data collection, through data analysis, to writing up the results in accordance with professional publication standards and principles of open science.