PYMAMP: Advanced Methodologies in Psychology

Module code: PYMAMP

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Sarah Snuggs, email: sarah.snuggs@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module extends students’ understanding of research methods in applied psychology, offering grounding in qualitative methods, single case experimental design and Systematic Review. It is a practical module providing students with an opportunity to undertake these methods. The resulting combination of knowledge and skills will enable them to undertake and evaluate research in psychology and apply their understanding to policy and practice in a wide range of contexts, useful across their programme and in future careers.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Recognise and understand the differences between methodological approaches and when they are best utilised by developing a research question that aligns to the methods being used.
2. Illustrate skills in research by describing each step in the process of conducting qualitative research, single case experimental designs, and Systematic Reviews (including narrative review and meta-analysis/meta-synthesis).
3. Plan, conduct and report studies using qualitative approaches, single case experimental designs and Systematic Reviews.
4. Assess the quality of individual studies and the application of an evidence-base to policy and practice in applied psychology and wider health contexts.

Module content

In this module, students will learn about three advanced methodological approaches used in applied psychology:

• Qualitative methods; including the epistemology that underpins qualitative approaches, different qualitative methods, approaches to data collection and data analysis and rigour in qualitative research.
• Systematic Reviews; the process of planning and registering a review, how to conduct and reporting a review and a dedicated session on meta-analysis and meta-synthesis.
• Single case experimental designs; the principles of single case experimental designs and their application to clinical research.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Seminars will be 2-hours in person.

They will typically comprise an overview of a topic, discussion and small-group work.  Some sessions will involve practical activities. Students will also be expected to engage with online learning materials (e.g., reading and screencasts) in advance of the seminars.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

1. Project proposal for qualitative study
2. Prospero protocol submitted

Reassessment

Additional costs