PSY20160 Research Methods & Stats II

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module is designed to develop students' understanding of common methods in psychological research, with an additional focus on critiquing psychological research. The module will teach students why, when and how to use common methods and statistical techniques in psychology. The module will cover both descriptive and inferential statistics. It will cover both parametric and non-parametric tests for comparing two or more groups or conditions. Over the course of the module students will practice these techniques by hand and using common software analysis tools. The key focus of the module is the interpretation of findings from these techniques. To facilitate learning, in-class examples are used throughout the trimester.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Identify and critique common research designs.
2. Specify methods of analysis appropriate to different research designs.
3. Conduct an appropriate statistical analysis for research designs with K = 2/K > 2 levels of the independent variable.
4. Carry out appropriate multiple comparison analyses when necessary.
5. Prepare an appropriate interpretation of the findings from statistical analysis that demonstrates a critical understanding of the material.


Indicative Module Content:

Null Hypothesis Testing, Non-paramtric tests, Confidence Intervals, t-tests, ANOVA, post hoc multiple comparisons.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20

Tutorial

3

Seminar (or Webinar)

4

Specified Learning Activities

25

Autonomous Student Learning

73

Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Research design and statistical analysis is a skill, akin to learning a language or a physical technique, rather than some “correct” information that you should know. For this reason, students’ skill is practiced over the course of the module. Students need to be prepared for a career where they can adapt their analyses to suit different research design and topic contexts. Key tests are presented in specific examples and students are required to continuously practice these with different examples to build up their skills. As we move through the content in the module, later topics will build on the skills of earlier topics and so students will benefit from working hard in the earlier weeks so refine skills in later weeks. As with other skill development, exposure, repetition, feedback, discussion, group-work, and participation are encouraged/required for students to achieve the learning outcomes for this module. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

PSY10100


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Intermediate Analysis and Desi (PSY30100)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: Assessment of statistical tests and interpretations 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60

Portfolio: Participation portfolio Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

40


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Solutions and feedback are provided in class on participation activities. These allow for self/peer assessment. Individual comments will be provided on some targetted participation activities. All learning from participation activities is applied in the end-of-semester exam.

Name Role
Mr Andrew Woods Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Miss Anna Flynn Tutor
Shannon Rosbotham Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
     
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 17:00 - 18:50
Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 6, 9 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 6, 9 Wed 09:00 - 09:50
Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 3, 6, 9 Mon 11:00 - 11:50
Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 3, 6, 9 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 3, 6, 9 Fri 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn