- Academic Registry
Programme & Unit Catalogues


PS10087: Quantitative research methods

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Further information on credits Credits: 12      [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 240
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Academic Year
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: PR 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Practical 1 (PR 20%)
  • Practical 2 (PR 25%)
  • Practical 3 (PR 25%)
  • Practical 4 (PR 25%)
  • Research Participation (PR 5%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
To provide students with the basic skills required for designing, conducting and reporting research in psychology.

Learning Outcomes:
Be familiar with the basic principles of research design and sampling.
Be able to consider ethical issues relevant to research in psychology.
Be able to write and format psychological laboratory reports according to APA guidelines.
Be familiar with key methods of data analysis and know how to Quantitative Research Methods apply them
Be able to plan and conduct a psychology experiment.
Participate in psychological research

Skills:
Can demonstrate a systematic knowledge of a range of research methods and measurement techniques, and be aware of their limitations. (T/F A)
Can conduct, interpret and report parametric and non-parametrical statistical tests for comparing independent and dependent samples, and for testing for correlation. (T/F A)
Can reason scientifically, understand the role of evidence and make critical judgements about arguments in psychology. (T/F)
Can detect meaningful patterns in behaviour and experience and evaluate their significance. (T/F A)
Can pose, operationalise and critically evaluate research questions. (T/F A)
Can demonstrate substantial competence in research skills through practical activities. (T/F A)
Can competently initiate, design, conduct and report an empirically-based research project under appropriate supervision, and can recognise its theoretical, practical and methodological implications and limitations. (T/F A)
Is aware of the ethical context of psychology as a discipline and can demonstrate this in relation to personal study, particularly with regard to the research project. (T/F A)
Can communicate ideas and research findings both effectively and fluently by written, oral and visual means. (T/F A)
Can solve problems by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions and evaluating outcomes. (T/F A)
Is sensitive to and can react appropriately to contextual and interpersonal factors in groups and teams. (T/F)
Can undertake self-directed study and project management in order to meet desired objectives. (T/F A)
Is able to take charge of their own learning, and can reflect and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses for the purposes of future learning. (T/F).

Content:
The unit will provide an overview of research methods and introductions to statistical analysis and report writing.
Students will participate in three practical experiments conducted by a lecturer during class. They will apply statistical techniques that are taught in class to independently analyse the data, and will write the experiments up as laboratory reports.
They will also work in groups to design, conduct and report the results of an empirically-based research project under the supervision of the lecturer.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PS10087 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.