2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
PSYC2523 Research Skills 4
15 creditsClass Size: 290
Module manager: Dr Gina Koutsopoulou
Email: G.Z.Koutsopoulou@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
Pre-requisite qualifications
Successful completion of all pass for progression modules in Level 1 of: BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology, or BSs Psychology with EducationPre-requisites
| PSYC1036 | Research Skills 1 |
| PSYC1037 | Research Skills 2 |
Co-requisites
| PSYC2522 | Research Skills 3 |
This module is mutually exclusive with
| PSYC3423 | Intercalated programme: Research Skills 4 |
Module replaces
PSYC2520; Research Skills 3 Conceptual and Applied Issues (part of)This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
A course on more advanced research methods and statistics, through a series of lectures running in parallel with two linked laboratory-based practicals.Objectives
The two practicals are designed to develop students' skills in identifying research questions, designing experiments, conducting experiments, analysing data, and writing reports. The two will cover two key areas of psychology: correlation & regression in psychology and psychometrics/questionnaire design methods. They will build on the practicals at Level 1 (Research Skills 1 & 2) and Research Skills 3 in semester 1 of the second year, to prepare students for the major project they will complete in their final year. A lecture at the start of the semester "Developing ideas for research" will prepare students for selecting the topic(s) for their Major Project at Level 3 which is selected later in semester 2 of Level 2.A series of lectures on statistics and research methods build on material covered in Level 1 and on the Research Skills 3 module of Level 2 semester 1. This includes coverage of more advanced correlational techniques, multiple regression, psychometric testing, factor analysis and a brief introduction to meta-analysis.
On completion of this module, students should:
1) Have developed their research skills relating to the generation of hypotheses and the development of research designs.
2) Have developed skills in the conduct of psychology experiments in a range of research contexts.
3) Be able to identify and apply appropriate core statistical techniques for the analysis of psychological data.
4) Have further developed their skills in critical evaluation and report writing.
5) Have developed skills required for the major project they will complete in their final year.
Learning outcomes
From this module students will develop a critical understanding of:
1) theoretical, ethical, and practical issues concerned in the design and conduct of psychology experiments.
2) the application of statistical methods for the analysis of experimental data.
3) approaches to the study of human behaviour, and personality, including psychological scales.
Skills outcomes
Literature searches, report writing, understanding of experimental design and analyses along with the critical view brought by quantitative and qualitative research.
Syllabus
This module has two related components: 1) The two practicals; 2) a series of 10 lectures on research methods & statistics
Each practical, taken by all students at Level 2, will be completed over a five week period - with students required to submit a report of their work in the sixth week for assessment.
The lectures will build on Level 1 research methods and statistics, and on Research Skills 3 in semester 1 of Level 2 and cover: developing ideas for research; correlational techniques, multiple regression, introduction to psychometric testing, sampling and population surveys, reliability and validity in psychological scales, item analysis in questionnaire design, factor analysis, and introduction to more advanced techniques (power analysis and meta-analysis).
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Practical | 2 | 10.00 | 20.00 |
| Private study hours | 120.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 30.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Private study
Essential reading for statistics lectures: 10 x 2.5 hoursStatistics and research methods revision: 10 x 2.5 hours
Independent small group practical work: 3 x 10 hours
Report writing for practicals: 2 x 20 hours
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Progress during each practical will be monitored by the staff who will be meeting with the students in both large and smaller groups (appropriate to each practical design). More generally, the spread of assessment points across the two semesters will facilitate monitoring of student progress and intervention if necessary. As students must pass all components of the module, a failure of any of the practicals would lead to an alternative assignment being given, and the student's personal tutor would also be notified - so that future progress could be monitored. Personal tutors will have the opportunity to discuss Semester 1 performance in their individual meetings with tutees at the beginning of Semester 2. Key will be feedback provided in written form on each of the practical reports: such feedback is both on the script itself and on new forms which break down each section of the report for detailed grade-specific feedback.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Practical Report | Report 1 | 35.00 |
| Practical Report | Report 2 | 35.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 70.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 1 hr 00 mins | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 30.00 | |
As the two main assessments (practical reports and examination) relate to distinct components of the module students will be required to pass both elements.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 29/04/2024 16:19:53
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