2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
PSYC1036 Research Skills 1
20 creditsClass Size: 260
Module manager: Dr Peter Gardner
Email: p.h.gardner@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
Pre-requisite qualifications
BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology programme entry requirementsThis module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The weekly lectures in statistics (90 minutes) will provide details of theory and practice and will demonstrate how basic statistical tests are calculated by hand and how this relates to the output from the computer based package SPSS. Alongside the lectures will be practical sessions to demonstrate experimental design, use of SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) to analyse data, and conduct some hand calculation using calculators. Postgraduate Teaching Assistants will play a key supporting role in this. Practical blocks will be progressive in terms of the data analysis required and the aim is to provide students with the necessary skills to analyse and comment on the results from each practical exercise. Research skills seminars will be held after each practical to act as support for the learning objectives of the practical. These will provide students with an opportunity to ask questions in smaller groups and help equip them with skills to use in report writing etc.Objectives
This module aims to provide an overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of research in psychology. The module will also introduce students to statistical techniques and report writing.Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:
- Evaluate, report and collect and analyse data for a series of introductory psychological investigations
- Use different methods to gather information
- Handle quantitative data appropriately using basic descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, understanding the rationale, calculation and interpretation of a range of basic statistical procedures
- Understand basic issues of experimental design and working with human participants
- Use SPSS to enter and manipulate data and to conduct basic statistical procedures and integrate the output into research reports
- Use the library and other information sources effectively
- Write research reports in Psychology
Skills outcomes
Research skills; critical skills; analytical skills; report-writing skills; SPSS knowledge.
Syllabus
This module will introduce students to the core skills of conducting, analysing and reporting psychological investigations. A lecture series in basic statistical techniques will be supported by practical sessions and computer-based learning support sessions in which students will be introduced to the statistical package SPSS and shown how to conduct basic descriptive and inferential analyses. The focus of these two streams of instruction will be a series of simple psychology practicals in which students will be able to conduct investigations and generate data for subsequent analysis and report. Students will be given instruction in the content and structure of psychology reports. By the end of the module students should be confident in the use of t-tests, non-parametric equivalents and the Chi-square statistic for analysing simple experimental designs. Students will also be provided with an introduction to the University library facilities, including bibliographic databases, and shown how these facilities may be used in research.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Library Session | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Technical Training | 7 | 2.00 | 14.00 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1.50 | 16.50 |
| Practical | 2 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Seminar | 2 | 1.00 | 2.00 |
| Independent online learning hours | 8.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 153.50 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 38.50 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
11 x 5 hours reading per lecture hour (55 hours)Preparation for MCQ exercises 8 hours short MCQ; 15 hours long MCQ (23 hours)
2 x 21 hours preparation per assessed report (42 hours)
33.5 hours revision
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
The module structure involves regular monitoring of student progress through submission of an early pass-to-progress short MCQ assessment, regular coursework and regular attendance at practical sessions and seminars.Students are required to pass the examination component of the module with a minimum mark of 40. In addition, students must pass the coursework components (comprising two MCQs and 2 practical reports) of the module with a minimum average mark of 40 for the practicals and a minimum average mark of 40 for the MCQs.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Practical Report | Report 1: max 2000-words | 25.00 |
| Practical Report | Report 2: max 2000-words | 25.00 |
| In-course MCQ | Short MCQ test (20 questions) | 0.00 |
| In-course MCQ | Long MCQ test (40 questions) | 10.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 60.00 | |
The coursework comprises of two components: 1/ two MCQ tests, and 2/ two practical reports One short MCQ is delivered in Week 3 which requires a pass mark of 40% for students to progress, but does not contribute to the module mark. The second, “long MCQ” presented in class in Week 11 contributes 10% towards the module mark and also must be passed for progression. If this MCQ is failed, then an additional MCQ assessment must be attempted with a maximum mark of 40. Two practical reports are required to be submitted in weeks 6 and 9. These assignments involve producing a scientific report of a psychology experiment carried out by the students in-class. If the practical report coursework component is failed (i.e. average of the two practicals is less than 40%), then an additional practical report must be attempted with a maximum mark of 40. If both the long MCQ and practical report coursework components are failed, then an additional MCQ assessment and an additional practical report must be attempted with a maximum mark of 40.
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr 00 mins | 40.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 40.00 | |
Students are required to pass the examination component with a minimum mark of 40%. Additionally, students are also required to pass the short MCQ and the long MCQ with a minimum mark of 40% each, and the practical report coursework component (i.e. the average of the two practicals must be a minimum of 40%) If the examination is failed, then students are required to resit in August the exam with a maximum mark of 40. If the long MCQ is failed, then an additional MCQ assessment must be attempted with a maximum mark of 40. If the practical report coursework component is failed (i.e. average of the two practicals is less than 40%), then an additional practical report must be attempted with a maximum mark of 40.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/04/2017
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