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PS20124: Research methods and design 2

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2018/9
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Questionnaire assessment (CW 50%)
  • Interview assessment (CW 50%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you are advised to take PS10166
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:

* To provide students with a more in-depth understanding of alternatives to quantitative experimental research methods and design.
* To cover more advanced qualitative research methods and design
* To enable students to understand how to design and conduct questionnaire, interview and focus group based research
* To enable students to analyse and write up research using these methods

Learning Outcomes:
After completing this unit, students will be able to:
* Be familiar with more advanced methods of questionnaire design, data collection and analysis and know how to apply them.
* Be familiar with more advanced methods of qualitative data collection and analysis and know how to apply them.
* Evaluate the effectiveness of the key non-experimental methods and research designs covered in this unit.
* Design, conduct, analyse and write up a questionnaire-based study.
* Design, conduct and analyse a qualitative research interview, using a more advanced analytic approach (eg. IPA, Discourse Analysis) to analyse and write up this study.
* Consider practical and ethical issues relevant to the use of questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and naturally occurring data in psychological research.

Skills:

* Knowledge of a range of more advanced quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques, and awareness of their strengths and limitations. (T/F A)
* Competence in the analysis of a range of more advanced quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques, including IPA and Discourse Analysis (T/FA)
* Skills in the conduct of non-experimental quantitative and qualitative research including data gathering and the analysis of naturally occurring data. (T/F A)
* Knowledge of the use of NVIVO software in the analysis of qualitative data (T/F)
* Awareness of the practical and ethical considerations in the conduct of research. (T/F A)
* Skills in effective written communication of ideas and research findings (T/F A)
* Problem solving skills including in the clarification of questions, consideration of alternative solutions and reflection on outcomes. (T/F A)
* Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (F A)
* Ability to work independently, without close supervision or guidance (F A)

Content:

* More advanced non-experimental qualitative and quantitative methods used in data collection and data analysis in psychological research.
* Design of questionnaire and interview-based research, including the use of focus group and naturally-occurring data.
* Conducting questionnaire and interview-based research and using a range of more advanced quantitative and qualitative analytic techniques.
* Conducting analysis of naturally occurring data.
* Quality and ethical issues in non-experimental qualitative and quantitative research.
Before taking this module you are advised to take PS10087 AND take PS10088
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PS20124 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology

Notes: