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PSY-40163 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 30 September 2026

PSY-40163 - Applied Psychological Research Methods
Coordinator: Chris Street Tel: +44 1782 7 33386
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

You will develop a critical understanding of different quantitative and qualitative philosophical approaches to understanding the world (e.g., social constructivist, semantic, frequentist, Bayesian). The module takes you through the full research process, from the implementing of an appropriate research method to address a psychological question to handling, extracting and analysing the data and finally through to interpreting and disseminating the findings.

Aims
This module provides training for students around advanced research skills, design, and analysis. It aims to provide students with advanced research skills and familiarity with a breadth of research designs in psychology so that they can progress through the rest of the programme being able to set their work in wider context. It includes an advanced and critical understanding of different quantitative and qualitative research skills and methods (e.g., discursive analysis, Bayesian t-test) and philosophical approaches (e.g., semantic, social constructivist, frequentist, Bayesian).

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically apply advanced psychological research methods to answer a research question: 1,2
Communicate the findings of an advanced analysis to a scientific audience: 2,3
Demonstrate competence in a range of analytical skills: 1
Critically evaluate and justify research methods and analyses: 3

Study hours

Synchronous hours:
Class time: 48 hours
Asynchronous hours:
Online guided asynchronous activities: 24 hours
Assessment preparation and completion: 167 hours
Independent study hours: 85 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 50%
Portfolio
Students will be presented with questions that cover the full range of the module content, namely quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies and analyses. Students will be required to provide short answers (no more than 400 words per question) in response to set questions. Taught topics will be grouped into methodological and analytical themes, such as Data Sampling, and students will be required to choose a subset of these questions to answer as explained in the assessment. This design ensures that breadth of understanding is assessed across methodology and analysis and across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. The total word count for the portfolio is 4,000 words ±10%.

2: Laboratory Report weighted 30%
1,500 to 2,000 word lab report
This is part one of a two-part assessment. Students will analyse a set of either quantitative or qualitative data in order to produce a 1,500-word to 2,000-word scientific lab report formatted to APA standard. Students will use at least one analytical technique that was taught on the module. Quantitative lab reports are expected to be approximately 1,500 words while qualitative lab reports are expected to be approximately 2,000 words. In part two, students will answer questions about their lab report in a mini-viva format. Students must complete both part one and part two in order to get a grade. Students cannot get a grade for part one without completing part two.

3: Viva weighted 20%
Conversation on lab report
This is part two of a two-part assessment. Students complete a 20-minute mini-viva style conversation around their lab report assessment. These conversations are assessed by the module leader and module coordinator. The conversation will be led by questions from the markers, who will explore how the methodological design answers the research question, understanding the rationale for the research given the existing literature, the philosophical and/or conceptual underpinnings of the analytical technique used, alternative analyses that could be employed to answer the question and the implications of this for the research design, and future research directions. Students will be provided with topic areas that will be addressed in the conversation to help students prepare, but will be informed that staff may include their own questions as well to test all ranges of abilities. The conversation will take place within a two week period following the submission of the lab report. Students must complete both part one and part two in order to get a grade. Students cannot complete part two if they do not complete part one. Students cannot get a grade for part one if they do not do part two.

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: 30 September 2026