Research Methods and Analysis 1
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PSGY2032 | Psychology | 2 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- PSGY2032
- School
- Psychology
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module will cover the basic concepts and assumptions with respect to qualitative and quantitative research.
Participants should have a initial understanding of basic statistical terms such as simple experimental designs, how to describe data (e.g. means, medians, standard deviations) and be familiar with some statistical tests such as t-tests or correlations. We also discuss qualitative methods (from data collection to the interpretation of findings).
This semester also discusses ethical issues relevant to psychologists.
The course builds on the parametric statistical techniques introduced in introductory stats courses and focuses on various types of analysis of variance (ANOVA). Those are the most common statistical techniques in experimental psychology.
The material is taught with reference to the SPSS software program, as a tool for data analysis. SPSS is freely available in the computer laboratories of the School.
Target Students
Second year psychology, psychology and cognitive neuroscience students and Natural Science students (depending on pathway).
Classes
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 5% Coursework 1: Coursework
- 95% ExamSys 1 (2-hour): ExamSys In person
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
• To introduce important aspects of psychological research methodology • introduce the fundamental theory and assumptions underlying analysis of experimental and data. • To explain the major types of statistical analysis approaches, including: when they are applicable, the assumptions they require, the procedure to be followed, and how their results should be interpreted. • To provide practical instruction on the use of statistical software to compute and report analyses. • Apply the methodological procedures associated with thematic analysisLearning Outcomes
- Explain the basic principles underlying analysis of variance (ANOVA).
- Calculate basic statistics from an empirical data set.
Describe and evaluate methods of data collection in qualitative research.
Apply the methodological procedures associated with thematic analysis.