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2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC5900M Advanced Research Issues in Psychology

15 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Paige Davis
Email: P.Davis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

At least an upper second class honours degree in Psychology or a discipline containing a substantial amount of psychology and research, or upper second class average across levels 2 and 3 on the MPsyc Advanced Psychology programme (University of Leeds)

This module is mutually exclusive with

PSYC5908MMPsyc Advanced Psychology Research Project

Module replaces

Masters-level elective option

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module explores advanced issues and approaches associated with running research projects in psychology. The structure of the module will broadly follow 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. These issues will be considered in the context of research in psychology, with examples discussed in the fields of developmental, neuropsychological, health, and organisational psychology.

Objectives

The primary objective of this module is to explore advanced issues and approaches associated with running research projects in psychology. The module will aim to engage students with the latest debates and approaches regarding running high quality and impactful research. After completion of the module, students should have a greater understanding and appreciation of these issues, and how to apply them to their own work. Objectives of the module are closely aligned to learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
- Understand the process of research and be able to critically reflect on the role that epistemological argument and the nature of the problem play in developing a research framework
- Critically evaluate research plans and the conduct of research studies from an open science perspective
- Compare and contrast psychology research issues across different applied settings, including critical issues in design, access, data collection, ethics and working with specific participant groups
- Evaluate and articulate the ethical issues associated with specific research examples along with suggesting modifications to study design to address them
- Develop research to achieve both success in academic publication and impact through non-academic dissemination and engagement of key stakeholder groups
- Adapt your writing and presentation style for communicating research findings, to appeal to varied audiences, including lay audiences
- Understand the academic publication and peer review process, including being able to formulate a constructive critical review of a sample manuscript

Skills outcomes
This module will develop subject-specific skills across the range of research issues and techniques covered in the syllabus.


Syllabus

The syllabus covers the following advanced research issues:
- 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 in health services and organisational settings) – 3 sessions
- Research ethics and practice
- Academic publication
- Research impact, engagement and non-academic dissemination
- The peer review process

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture71.5010.50
Seminar22.004.00
Independent online learning hours15.50
Private study hours120.00
Total Contact hours14.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

Students will have 120 private study hours. We envisage that this time will be spent thus:

Reading for each session, including seminar topics: 54 hours
Seminar prework: 2 hours
Preparing and writing coursework: 20 hours
Revision and exam practice: 35 hours

For the remaining 9 hours we anticipate that students will make use of online materials to explore the issues raised by the syllabus further, including use of electronic materials, on-line resources and selected review of titles in the suggestions for further reading to supplement core reading linked to the session content.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

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

- Via in-class discussion in all taught sessions.
- In the seminars (on ethics and the peer review process). These will take the form of interactive group-work sessions, in which students will discuss issues and present outcomes of this discussion to the class, with peer and tutor feedback.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
-------------------------Press release (500 words)40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment1 hr 30 mins60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)60.00

The exam will require students to provide short written answers to four questions covering different topics across the module.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 12/12/2023

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