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PSY-40026 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 14 December 2025

PSY-40026 - Research Methods
Coordinator: Lauren Metcalfe
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module is designed to develop your understanding of research methodology. A range of research methods will be introduced and explored through a combination of teaching input, discussions and experiential learning. This will assist you in constructing an appropriate research design for your MSc research dissertation in which you will justify the relevance of your chosen research area to person-centred theory and practice. You will have the opportunity to present your research plan to peers and research supervisors, to respond to questions, and reflect on feedback to take this forward into the next phase of your research.

Aims
The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to a range of research methods/methodologies and to assist students in constructing an appropriate research design for their MSc research dissertation, relevant to person-centred theory and practice.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-40026/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a critical understanding of empirical research methodologies used to explore key areas of counselling and psychotherapy, with consideration of their applicability to person-centred theory and practice.: 1
Critically explore literature relevant to the area of your proposed study, demonstrating alignment with your chosen research methodology and include emerging or innovative approaches where appropriate.: 1
Justify how your proposed research will inform current person-centred therapeutic approaches and professional knowledge to the counselling professions.: 1
Evaluate how your proposed research will contribute to the counselling professions, justifying how your study may inform current therapeutic approaches and professional knowledge.: 1
Demonstrate a critical understanding of how the design of your research study aligns with person-centred values and integrates the BACP Ethical Framework and the BACP Guidelines for Research in the Counselling Professions.
: 1

Study hours

70 in-situ contact time, made up of 14 x 5-hour weekly sessions
80 hours independent study dedicated to preparing ethics application, assessment and private study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 100%
Research Proposal delivered through a 20 minute presentation with 5 minute Q&A
You will deliver a 20-minute (pre-recorded) narrated presentation, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with dissertation supervisors and peers. The presentation should cover the following elements: - An overview of the research topic and how this may relate to person-centred theory and practice. - Reflexivity and the researcher's positionality. - The chosen methodology and its philosophical foundations. - The scope of the literature review or justify your approach to your literature review - Methods of data collection/gathering and analysis. - Ethical considerations linking to the BACP Research Guidelines and BACP Ethical Framework must be included. - A references slide must be included at the end of the presentation.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 14 December 2025