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PSY-40045 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

PSY-40045 - Dissertation - Psychology
Coordinator: Chris Street Tel: +44 1782 7 33386
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 60
Study Hours: 600
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A


Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

This module is the culmination of the MSc programmes in Psychology, and enables you to apply the skills gained in the rest of the programme to an empirical study in an appropriate area of psychology. You will work closely under the supervision of an academic member of staff on designing, conducting, analysing and reporting their research in a dissertation.

Aims
To enable students to design, carry out and report an empirical study in psychology, applying appropriate design skills developed in Advanced Research Skills and Design, with content knowledge developed from appropriate content modules, and analytic skills developed in data analysis modules to present, interpret and discuss findings.
To enable students to construct and submit an application for the ethical approval of a research plan.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Apply knowledge acquired in other modules of the course to the empirical investigation of a specific research question or hypothesis: 1
Consider alternative approaches to research and be able to conduct independent research in their chosen psychology specialism: 1
Complete a major piece of independent research from design through to final report: 1
Present their work in written form according to standards established by contemporary psychology research: 1
Secure ethical approval by a relevant Keele University Ethics Committee (e.g., School of Psychology Ethics Committee) for any research planned with humans or other animals: 2

Study hours

24 hours of one to one supervision.
Asynchronous study:
- Preparing for supervision: 24 hours
- Preparing the application for Research Ethics approval: 6 hours
- Time spent working independently on literature review, design, implementation, analysis and writing up of dissertation: 546 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Dissertation weighted 100%
10-15,000 word dissertation
Students write between 10,000 to 15,000 word dissertation reporting their empirical research in a relevant area of psychology. This will include an introduction, method, results, discussion, and reference list presented in APA format.

2: Ethical Approval weighted 0%
complete an application for ethical approval by a relevant Keele University Ethics Committee (e.g. School of Psychology)
Submission of application for ethical approval of research plan that involves humans and/or other animals, and for the application to be approved.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and 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/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024