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2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC1037 Research Skills 2

20 creditsClass Size: 260

Module manager: Dr Richard Harris
Email: R.J.Harris@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology programme entry requirements

Module replaces

PSYC1041 (Statistics B) and the content of PSYC1320 (Psychology Practicals B).

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module comprises three elements (lectures; practicals with seminars; computer-based learning classes) to aid learning of statistics and methodology relevant to psychologists.

Objectives

This module aims to provide an overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of research in psychology.
The module will be taught by a team of experts in the subject.
This module will build on the introduction to statistical techniques and report writing from Research Skills 1 (PSYC1036).

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to create, analyse, evaluate and report a series of introductory psychological investigations based on their knowledge of research methods and statistics.

More specifically they should be able to:
- Understand basic issues of experimental design;
- Understand the rationale, calculation and interpretation of a range of basic statistical procedures;
- Use the computer clusters and University network to participate in online learning exercises, assessments and simulated experiments;
- Use SPSS to enter and manipulate data and to conduct basic descriptive and inferential statistical procedures;
- Interpret analyses from SPSS and integrate the output into research reports;
- Write research reports in Psychology.

Knowledge of using SPSS; interpreting SPSS output; selecting, running and understanding higher-level statistical procedures and topics. Specifically, effect size and power; Type 1 and Type II errors; Correlation (simple, partial, semi-partial, point biserial); Outliers; Causation; Reliability & Validity; Regression; Mediation Analysis; One-Way Between-Subjects ANOVA; One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA; 2-way ANOVA (between); interactions; 2-way ANOVA (within).

Skills outcomes
Research skills; critical skills; analytical skills; report-writing skills; SPSS knowledge.


Syllabus

This course builds on the first semester course, Research Skills 1. There are three main parts to the course: 10 lectures, 3 practicals and 7 CBL sessions (6 sessions will involve completion of a worksheet + 1 session (week 8) will involve completion of a SPSS assignment). Topics include: effect size and power; Type 1 and Type II errors;
Correlation (simple, partial, semi-partial, point biserial); Outliers; Causation; Reliability & Validity; Regression; Mediation Analysis; One-way Between-Subjects ANOVA; One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA; 2-way ANOVA (between); 2-way ANOVA (within).

The lectures will be associated with three practical blocks that will each last a fortnight (1 week for the students to complete the assessment and 1 week for the assessments to be marked and second-marked). Each block comprises an independent online exercise which will provide SPSS training and a computer-based psychology practical in which students act as participants. Support for practicals will be provided by a postgraduate-led demonstrator group, and an assignment (2000 words long) will be completed. The practical blocks will be progressive in terms of the data analysis required and the aim is to provide students with the necessary skills to allow them to analyse and comment on the results from each computer-based practical exercise. The practical reports will provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate the skills that they have acquired and for their progress to be monitored.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
On-line Learning72.0014.00
Lecture101.5015.00
Practical32.006.00
Seminar31.003.00
Independent online learning hours40.00
Private study hours122.00
Total Contact hours38.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

3 hours reading per lecture (30 hours)
3 x 15 hours preparation per assessed report (45 hours)
47 hours revision

Independent online learning:
10 x 4 hours independent online learning completing/checking answers to SPSS worksheets provided in CBL and practical sessions. These are designed to further develop SPSS skills/learning (40 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The module structure requires regular monitoring of student progress through submission of regular coursework, completion of SPSS assignment and regular attendance at CBL sessions, practical sessions and seminars.

Students are required to pass the coursework component with an average mark of 40 across the items of coursework. If the coursework component is failed then the maximum mark that can be awarded for the module is 40 and an additional assessment must be attempted and passed.

Students are required to pass the examination component with a minimum mark of 40. If the examination component is failed then the maximum mark that can be awarded for the module is 40 and a resit must be attempted and passed in August.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Practical ReportReport 1: 2,000 words15.00
Practical ReportReport 2: 2,000 words15.00
Practical ReportReport 3: 2,000 words15.00
AssignmentSPSS Assignment15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)60.00

Students are required to pass the coursework component with an average mark of 40 across the items of coursework. If the coursework component is failed then the maximum mark that can be awarded for the module is 40 and an additional assessment must be attempted and passed.


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 00 mins40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)40.00

Students are required to pass the examination component with a minimum mark of 40. If the examination component is failed then the maximum mark that can be awarded for the module is 40 and a resit must be attempted and passed in August

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/05/2017

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