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2014/15 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5389M Research Design and Analysis

30 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr. Matthew Davis
Email: M.Davis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2014/15

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

The aim of this module is to provide students with an overview of the key issues in research design and the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. It will introduce differing research approaches, design and analysis techniques necessary for researching behaviour in organizations.
The module aims to use lectures, discussions, practical exercises and assessments to support students in developing their ability to select appropriate research designs, methods and analytical tools to test competing ideas and theories.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to critically assess:
- The stages involved in designing applied research studies and the key decisions that need to be made
- The philosophical arguments, strengths and weaknesses relating to quantitative and qualitative methodologies
- Appropriate research designs and methods for testing theory and evaluating behavioural interventions in a range of applied contexts
- Qualitative and statistical analytical techniques
- The ethical implications of differing research designs and relate these to professional codes of practice

Skills outcomes
Upon completion of this module, students will have developed the skills necessary to:
Subject specific
- plan and design research studies to evaluate theory and assumptions
- gather data and information in practice
- analyse quantitative and qualitative data sets

Transferable
- report research results in a clear and consistent way
- think critically and to contrast competing ideas
- work effectively as a team member

Syllabus

Indicative content:

The module contributes to stage 1 of the QOccPsych.

The syllabus comprises four parts: fundamentals of research design, overview of qualitative methods, issues in quantitative methods, and instruction in specific forms of statistical analysis via SPSS and related software packages.

The module will run over semesters 1 and 2. Practical tutorials in statistical analysis, qualitative analysis and literature searching will be integrated with the theoretical teaching to reinforce learning and to support application in the Dissertation project.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	22	1.00	22.00
Seminar	22	1.50	33.00
Private study hours			245.00
Total Contact hours			55.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Due to the advanced nature of the module, the topics covered are diverse and detailed. Hence, each substantive topic will require further independent study to consolidate in-class learning.

This will involve reading research methods and statistics texts to put content into context, reading journal articles to understand how academic researchers put into practice the principles of sound research design, and rehearsal with practical exercises to develop expertise with specific statistical tests via SPSS.

Estimated study hours are as follows:
- Pre-lecture/workshop reading: 50 hours
- Post-lecture/workshop reading: 70 hours
- Independent statistical/methodological practice: 70 hours
- Assessment: 55 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module, including immediate feedback on analytical performance during the practical sessions.
- Students will be tasked with performing an assessed piece of group qualitative research and presenting the results back to class in semester 2.
- Summative assessment will take the form of an assessed piece of written coursework midway through semester 1 and a further written piece of coursework (including statistical analysis) midway through semester 2.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 words	45.00
Essay	2,500 words	45.00
Oral Presentation	Group work	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 07/01/2015

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