2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC5900M Advanced Research Issues in Psychology

15 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Dr Catherine Gibbons
Email: C.Gibbons@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

At least an upper second-class honours degree in Psychology or a discipline containing a substantial amount of psychology and research

This module is mutually exclusive with

PSYC5908M

MPsyc Advanced Psychology Research Project

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is designed to provide students with a detailed understanding of issues and approaches in research projects in psychology. By following the steps taken in a research project, from conception, planning, execution of research in different contexts, and ethical considerations, through to research impact, publication and other forms of dissemination, it equips students with key knowledge of this process. These issues will be considered with examples from the fields of developmental, neuropsychological, health, and organisational psychology.

Objectives

1. Develop critical perspectives in the development and planning of research projects
2. Gain an understanding of the replication crisis and of open science tools.
3. Build knowledge and confidence in conducting research in different contexts and with different stakeholders (working with older adults, children, community partners)
4. Promote advanced understanding of research ethics and practice
5. Develop understanding of the processes in academic and non-academic dissemination, peer review, and impact

The learning activities include recorded lectures linked to interactive group workshops with opportunity for regular discussion. Each session will tackle a different issue from the syllabus, working through aspects of research from conception to dissemination over the course of the module. In addition, two seminars, on ethics and peer review.

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

1. Demonstrate critical and advanced understanding of research conceptualisation and planning.
2. Demonstrate advanced understanding of the requirements of pre-registration and open science.
3. Ability to apply relevant research knowledge, through critical evaluation, to conducting research in a range of psychological contexts, both theoretical and applied.
4. Recognise and understand appropriate ethical research and practice and its application in psychological contexts.
5. Formulate an accurate and engaging press release on psychological research for a non-academic audience, demonstrating synthesis and evaluation of relevant empirical literature.


Skills Learning Outcomes

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

1. Writing for both academic and non-academic audiences, including appreciation of impact of applied research
2. Ability to understand and function within ethical frameworks.
3. Planning and organisational skills

Syllabus

* Critical considerations in development and planning of research projects
* Pre-registration and open science.
* Conducting research in different contexts (working with older adults, children and community partners)
* Research ethics and practice
* Academic publication
* Research impact, engagement and non-academic dissemination
* The peer review process

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Preparation Class	1	1.00	1.00
Practicals	7	1.50	10.50
Lecture	7	1.00	7.00
Seminar	2	2.00	4.00
Private study hours			127.50
Total Contact hours			22.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored, and formative feedback provided, as following:

For the press release students will be provided with a technical summary of a research study in an interactive session as part of the relevant lecture, which they are required to translate into a 'lay summary’ and identify an image to supplement the text. To support this process, students will be introduced to tools to formally evaluate the accessibility of the text and image (e.g., calculating reading level). Students will receive feedback throughout this process. They will then have a chance to further tweak their text to reach higher readability levels (which they can check their success against accessibility tools). This process feeds directly into the press release assessment.

Students will also be required to write SAQ-type questions to bring to a seminar dedicated to examination preparation. Students can ask their questions, provide responses in groups and receive feedback from academic staff.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course Assessment	Press release (500 words)	40.00
Online Assessment	SAQ	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

There is no compensation between summative components of assessment, all components must be passed. In the event of failure of one or more component(s), the module mark will be capped at 50 on successful resit of the failed component(s).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 11/11/2024

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