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PSY-40131 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

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

PSY-40131 - Quantitative research methods
Coordinator: David Walker Tel: +44 1782 7 34265
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

This module will cover commonly used quantitative research methods in psychology, ranging from statistical models such as t-tests, ANOVA, and regression through to psychometric scale development. Additionally, you will be provided with hands-on experience working on your own research projects. The module develops statistical understanding vital to the comprehension of psychology research. The logical and numerical skills developed are of use throughout psychology, other disciplines and activities, and are highly regarded by potential employers.

Aims
This module will present students with an opportunity to study classic and modern quantitative research methods applied by psychologists to investigate human behaviour. Topics are drawn from across the discipline of Psychology and will provide students with the tools necessary to answer various research questions utilising quantitative techniques.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify and calculate inferential statistics appropriately based on given hypotheses and types of data collected;: 1,2
conduct, analyse and evaluate an experiment;: 1,2
write an experimental lab report using APA formatting;: 1
take part in and experience (or write about) the practice of experimental design, data collection, and data analysis;: 3
design a study that complies with ethical standards.: 1

Study hours

Scheduled teaching:
12 x 2 hours lab classes = 24 hours
Total scheduled teaching and learning = 24 hours
Independent study:
12 x 3 hours asynchronous learning = 36 hours
3 x 1 hour for MCQs = 3 hours
82 hours to complete lab report
5 hours RPT (allowing time to sign up to studies)
Total = 126

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 70%
Lab report
Students, in groups of 2-3, conduct a small-scale research project, which involves experiment design, execution, and analysis. Students must complete an ethics application which is reviewed by the lab tutors in advance of conducting the study. Each member of the group individually writes up the experiment (2,000 words) in the style of a laboratory report (i.e. abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion).

2: Multiple Choice Questions - Knowledge weighted 20%
Fortnightly MCQ's
Students will take 3 fortnightly MCQ quizzes. The average of the best 2 scores will be used for the final score for each student, as per the guidelines for continuous assessment in the School of Psychology. These will cover data analysis scenarios and application of the breadth of subject knowledge.

3: Assignment weighted 10%
Research participation
Students will complete approximately 3-4 hours of research participation time OR they will write a 500 essay on research methods or ethics.

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