PY1IPR-Introduction to Psychological Research

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Eugene McSorley
Email: e.mcsorley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods, and develops skills necessary for planning, data gathering and dissemination stages of psychology related research. This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Aims:

This module aims to equip students with the skills required for the scientific study of psychology. Students will recognise the key characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research methods in psychology; examine the methods of conducting and analysing quantitative and qualitative research; develop practical skills in reporting, analysing (i.e. using statistical packages), and evaluating research findings.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module the student will be able to:

 

• Understand the basic concepts in quantitative and qualitative research design.


• Critically assess some of the key characteristic of both quantitative and qualitative research methods.


• Identify appropriate methods of data collection and analysis to help answer research questions for qualitative approaches.


• Demonstrate an understanding of scien tific procedures (i.e. hypothesis testing), data and tests used in experimental psychology.


• Be able to select and provide a rational for using a statistical test to analyse a particular data set.


• Demonstrate skills in planning, writing and presenting research findings (in a clear and coherent manner).


• Be familiar with the basic process of manipulating and interpreting statistical data using SPSS and Excel.

Additional outcomes:

Students will participate in research studies being conducted in the School, and thereby enhance their knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodology and enable them to apply their knowledge of research design and procedure to real examples. Workshops and laboratory group work will give students experience of teamwork, numeracy, data handling, computer literacy, critical analysis and problem solving.

Outline content:

The module will cover a range of introductory research methods, typically including:

• Experimental, non-experimental and qualitative research methods in Psychology and their interpretation.


• Principles of experimental design.


• Descriptive Statistics.


• Samples and population distributions.


• Inferential statistics, such as t-tests and spearman correlation.


• Use of statistical software (SPS S/Excel) to analyse and present data.


• Overview of qualitative methods.


• Introduction to qualitative analysis approaches.


• Group work that exemplifies the design and analysis techniques that have been taught in lectures.


• Participation in research studies.


• Introduce basic research management skills including an overview of project planning and an understanding and consideration of ethics and ethical issues across aspects of their research practice.
  
   

Global context:

This module will consider the global context of research and its approaches, with an aim to improve students’ understanding of how research can be context-bound.  Internationally-relevant examples will be used to illustrate the similarities and differences of research internationally.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

1. Lectures will employ a variety of teaching methods appropriate to the material and the learning outcomes.


2. Laboratory group work to critically evaluate and conduct qualitative and quantitative research, and analyse research data. Student will develop their research report writing skills in groups


3. Workshop sessions involve guided practical exercises in groups to familiarise students with technical content of the le ctures and learn the use of the statistical package SPSS (includes problem solving learning approach).


4. Participation in research studies, selected from those available, followed by debriefing, and answering questions on each.


5. Statistics support drop-in sessions where students can receive help with any topics relating to statistics they have found difficult in lectures or laboratory classes.

Contact Hours:

NB The contact hours in the table below are indicative of the contact hours for students studying this module in the UK, and may vary for students taking this module at branch campuses.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	9	9
Demonstration	6	6
Practicals classes and workshops	11	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	10	10
Wider reading (directed)	20	20
Advance preparation for classes	7	7
Preparation of practical report	14	14
Completion of formative assessment tasks	10	10
Revision and preparation	13	14
Total hours by term			0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Set exercise	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

This module is assessed by two written research reports (50%), Continuous Assessment Questions (45%), and completion of the required hours of research participation (5%).



Research reports, making up 50 % of the total assessment: One quantitative, and one qualitative research report will each constitute 25% of the mark, for a total of 50%.

Continuous Assessment Questions, making up 45% of the total assessment:  Research methods, design, data analysis and interpretation are assessed through continuous assessment questions and exercises throughout the course.

In addition, students will complete a requirement of 10 hours of research participation (5%).

Formative assessment methods:

As a group, students will have the opportunity to submit one quantitative and one qualitative research report which will enable students to align their report writing skills to the marking criteria (in the form of a WiKi to monitor each individual’s contribution).

 

Exercises in lectures and workshops enable students to prepare for both summative research reports and the continuous assessment questions.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment is via Online examination on research design, data analysis and interpretation (50%) and a written research report (50%) in the August resit period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Required text books (all available in the library in hard copy or online digitally):

• Field, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th Ed). Sage: London, UK. ISBN: 9781526419521. Costs £47.99 from publisher (correct at January 2019).


• Hinton, P. (2014) Statistics Explained. Routledge, ISBN: 9781315797564


• Hinton, P. (2014) SPSS Explained. Routledge, ISBN: 9781315797564


• Howitt, D. (2016). Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Psychology (3rd Edition). Pearson Education Ltd. ISBN: 9781292082998. Costs £38.99 from publisher (correct May 2019).

Optional Reading:

• Bourne, V. (2017). Starting Out in Methods and Statistics for Psychology: a Hand’s on Guide to Doing Research. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780198753339. Costs £28.99 from publisher (correct at May 2019).

2. Specialist equipment or materials: 


3. Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:


4. Printing and binding: 


5. Computers and devices with a particular specification: 


6. Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 16 September 2021