PS114-4-FY-CO:
Research Methods in Psychology
2020/21
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 02 July 2021
30
03 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
PS212, PS414, PS416
BA 63C2 Psychological Studies,
BA C801 Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BA C802 Psychology,
BA C807 Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BA C810 Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C800 Psychology,
BSC C803 Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C811 Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C812 Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C806 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C808 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience,
BSC C809 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Placement Year),
BSC C813 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC999 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience,
MSCICA98 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Placement Year),
MSCICA99 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C814 Psychology with Economics,
BSC C815 Psychology with Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C816 Psychology with Economics (Including Placement Year),
MSCIC998 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods,
MSCICB98 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods (Including Placement Year),
MSCICB99 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods (Including Year Abroad)
This module provides an introduction to research methods in psychology. Students will learn about the basic principles of research design, and to a variety of techniques for studying behaviour. Students will learn how to find, read and evaluate scientific research reports and to write their own.
The module covers all basic and essential research methods knowledge. The module will provide an overview of the research process from past research to new findings, a critical evaluation of a range of methods used in psychology, a review of the research practices that impede the promotion of robust scientific findings and the research ethics expected to underpin psychological practices.
The module promote the development of research skills by providing students the opportunity to put their knowledge in practice in workshop style sessions. Students will develop their research method skills by reading and writing about their own research.
The lectures will introduce students to the broad approaches and methods used in the psychology.
The specific learning outcomes are as follows:
1/ Find, analyse and interpret psychological research articles
2/ Distinguish between the major types of research designs, identify when to use them and recognise their strengths and weaknesses
3/ Understand the research process and factors that can bias its output
4/ Employ evidence-based reasoning to produce coherent research plans and hypotheses to answer a research question
5/ Write an empirical research project.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 will be assessed in the examination and learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be assessed in the coursework element of the module.
During laboratory classes learn and practice key research skills such as identifying the relevant literature, designing studies, analysing data and writing up research reports. In addition, classes will involve discussion and interpretation of the results obtained.
The module consists of 10 2-hour lectures where students will gain critical knowledge about research methods. Students will then will develop their research method skills by putting this knowledge into practice in 10 2-hour long workshop style sessions where they will conduct and report their own research.
- Howitt, Dennis; Cramer, Duncan. (2017) Research methods in psychology, New York: Pearson.
- Howitt, Dennis. (2020) Research methods in psychology, Harlow, England: Pearson.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Sona Research Training |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Lab Report 1 |
|
40% |
| Coursework |
Research Proposal |
|
50% |
| Exam |
Main exam: 150 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Marie Juanchich, email: m.juanchich@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Marie Juanchich
email: m.juanchich@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 2531 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
2531 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Psychology
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