PSY8061 : Advanced Research Methods for Applied Psychology A
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- 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 quantitative 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 quantitative psychological research methods and conducting quantitative data analysis and 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
• 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 Activities | Workshops | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Present in Person |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 78:00 | 78:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
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 worksheets appropriate to methods introduced during workshops, as well as directed and independent reading. Formative practice is embedded across 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 exercise | 1 | M | 100 | Quantitative methods/statistics (max 1500 words). |
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.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PSY8061's Timetable