Module: PSY5104-20 Research Methods in Psychology 2 (BPS)

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Joseph Walsh

Module Tutor Contact Details: j.walsh2@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

The aims of this module are to enable students to:

1. Understand a range of advanced quantitative and qualitative psychological research methods

2. Design research projects suitable for both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, identifying and solving design problems therein.

3. Choose and apply suitable techniques of descriptive and inferential data analysis.

4. Analyse and interpret quantitative data on statistical software using both simple and complex statistical techniques.

5. Understand issues surrounding the qualitative/quantitative debate in psychological research.

6. Understand the conceptual and theoretical basis for quantitative and qualitative research techniques

7. Report both quantitative and qualitative research projects.

8. Identify ethical issues in the design and conduct of psychological research

2.Outline syllabus

• Choice and application of statistical tests for inferential data analysis appropriate for simple and complex experimental and non-experimental research designs.

• Research project design suitable for advanced quantitative data analysis. Identification of and solutions to design problems therein.

• Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data using both simple and complex statistical techniques and statistical software.

• Issues surrounding the qualitative/quantitative debate in psychological research.

• Evaluation of qualitative methods for data collection and analysis employed in psychological research.

• Design a single-subject research project applying qualitative methods

• Ethical issues in the design and conduct of psychological research using qualitative methods.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Four hours total contact time to meet University guidelines on level 5 teaching, comprising lecture, seminar, and workshop formats.

There will be lectures each week followed by related activities in seminars and practical workshops. Seminars contain a variety of student-centred activities including individual, small group and large group work. The workshops will comprise practical activities relating to quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection and analysis, and computer-assisted analyses. Students will discuss epistemological, methodological, ethical, and practical issues associated with psychological research and complete practical exercises and activities in small groups. The course documentation gives recommended reading for each week to support the work covered in the lectures and seminar sessions.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Practical report using quantitative techniques (2,500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Practical report using qualitative techniques (2,500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%