Description:
| Aims: To provide students with the basic skills required for designing, conducting and reporting experimental research in psychology.
Learning Outcomes: * Be familiar with the basic principles of research design and sampling.
* Can demonstrate a systematic knowledge of a range of research methods and measurement techniques, including statistical analysis, and be aware of their limitations.
* 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 able to plan and conduct a psychology experiment.
Skills:
* Can demonstrate a systematic knowledge of a range of research methods and measurement techniques, including statistical analysis, and be aware if their limitations. (T/F, A)
* Can reason scientifically, understand the role of evidence and make critical judgements about arguments in psychology. (T/F)
* Can adopt multiple perspectives and systematically analyse the relationships between them. (T/F A)
* 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)
* To effectively and efficiently apply principles of psychological analysis within a variety of environments. (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, an outline of statistical concepts, and an introduction to report writing. Specific content includes:
* Is psychological research scientific?, and contrasting approaches to knowledge;
* Theory, hypotheses, design, samples, variables and analysis;
* Correlational designs, experimental designs and quasi-experimental designs;
* Report structure and referencing;
* Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing and statistical significance;
* Information concerning BPS ethical guidelines;
* Participation in Practicals 1, 2 3 and 4;
* Participation in group research and preparation of poster presentation.
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