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Module

PSY8061 : Advanced Research Methods for Applied Psychology A

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Gareth Richards
  • Owning School: Psychology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The aim of this module is to ensure that students have an advanced understanding of research methods and analytic techniques as appropriate for applied psychological research. The overarching objective of the module is to equip students with the necessary skills to enable them to plan and conduct independent research. This will also support students in their future professional practice, and prepare them to plan and carry out a study of sufficient standard for their final MSc psychology project. More specifically, the module aims to enable students to:

• Identify, evaluate and critically appraise research evidence;
• Advance their skills in applying psychological research methods, conducting data analysis and data interpretation;
• Gain an in-depth understanding of research as a process, of its value and importance in the development of evidence-based practice and the importance of methodological rigour.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       Topics covered may include:
•       Developing research questions and writing research proposals
•       Research design: quantitative methods
•       SPSS skills
•       Experimental Designs
•       Correlational Designs
•       Ethical and Open Science practices

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops112:0022:00Present in Person
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study178:0078:00N/A
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

PIP structured learning activities will be used to facilitate a workshop approach to module delivery to clarify and enhance understanding of module content. The interactive nature of the PIP sessions will prepare students for future independent research and will foster critical thinking. To attain the intended knowledge outcomes and skills in full, it will be essential that students engage in private study. This private study is informed by handouts appropriate to the methods introduced during workshops, as well as directed and independent reading. Formative practice will be included within the teaching strategy of this module.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M100Quantitative methods and research design (max 1500 words).
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MFormative quantitative research skills assessment-opportunity. Feedback provided.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

ECA: Students will be required to submit a practical report (1500 words) based around the statistical analysis of a dataset. Students will be provided with the outline of a study, provided with an SPSS dataset and asked to test prespecified predictions described in the study description. This assignment provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to identify and conduct statistical tests using SPSS and to present the findings according to established psychological conventions (i.e., in APA style). The assignment also provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their ability to critically evaluate research findings.

Formative assessment: Students will be provided with opportunities to analyse data, interpret and report results and will be provided with formative feedback.

Reading Lists

Timetable