2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MUS5351M Empirical Research Techniques

30 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Anne-Marie Czajkowski
Email: a.l.czajkowski@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Admission to the MA Applied Psychology of Music, or PGDip or MA Music and Wellbeing Programme (this module is not available as an option for other programmes).

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module allows you to develop your understanding and application of quantitative and qualitative research techniques in the field of music psychology. Through a series of weekly lectures, seminars, independent and group tasks, you will consider and evaluate the ways in which empirical research can enhance our understanding of human minds and behaviour, and develop understanding of the range of analytical tools that can be used to explore music-psychological data. The module emphasises practical work and provides you with the opportunity to design, conduct, analyse and write-up two empirical projects which form your assessment. Whilst some prior experience of research methods and the data analysis software SPSS is an advantage, the course does not assume prior learning in these areas. This module is not optional and is only available to students studying on the MA Applied Psychology of Music and PGDip/MA Music and Wellbeing courses.

Objectives

This module aims to develop your understanding and application of quantitative and qualitative research techniques in the field of music psychology. Through a series of weekly lectures, seminars, independent and group tasks, you develop skills in considering and evaluating the ways in which empirical research can enhance our understanding of human minds and behaviour, and develop understanding of the range of analytical tools that can be used to explore music-psychological data. The module emphasises practical work and provides you with the opportunity to design, conduct, analyse and write-up two empirical projects which form your assessment.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:

1.Use and evaluate quantitative and qualitative research techniques in music psychological research

2.Design and implement independent projects utilising quantitative and qualitative research techniques

3. Apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analytical techniques to address research questions in music psychology.

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

4. Analyse research data effectively in order to draw meaningful conclusions

5. Evaluate and contextualise empirical research findings within relevant literature.

6. Communicate the results of empirical research in an appropriate domain-specific style.

Syllabus

This module allows you to develop your understanding and application of quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Through a series of lectures, seminars, independent and group tasks, you will consider and evaluate the ways in which empirical research can enhance our understanding of human minds and behaviour. The module will emphasise practical work and provides an opportunity for you to practice quantitative and qualitative research techniques hands-on, culminating in the submission of two small empirical projects. Students will be challenged to consider innovative ways of conducting music psychological research and to apply their knowledge about the domain more generally in order to identify its limitations and future direction.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	2.00	40.00
Private study hours			260.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Lectures take place in seminar/workshop format which have a practical focus. Each week students will prepare work (this may be to prepare writing on an epistemological approach, develop some interview questions, conducting and reporting an observation, running descriptive and inferential statistics on datasets) which will be discussed in small groups and in plenary format which provides students with weekly opportunities to receive peer and lecturer feedback on their skills and understanding.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Empirical study using qualitative techniques - 3600-4400 words	50.00
Assignment	Empirical study using quantitative techniques - 4500-5000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The same type of task but a new topic will be required for resits.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 19/07/2024

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