Applied Psychological Research Methods (30 credits)
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.

Advancing Research: Computational Modelling, Statistics and Open Space (30 credits)
Understanding behaviour is challenging because of the complexity of the mind, a wide range of situational and social influences on it, and individual differences amongst people. Researchers tackle this complexity using a variety of computational and statistical approaches. This module will provide you with a grounding in a selection of advanced quantitative methods, leaving you with a rich and integrated understanding of how computational and statistical methods can be used to predict behaviour and test scientific theories. Indicative topics include machine learning, cognitive modelling, Bayesian analysis, and reproducibility. With a focus on reproducibility of methods, the module will leave you well-positioned to enhance the trustworthiness and quality of the research you conduct. You will have the opportunity to gain practical experience with statistical analysis in the open-source JASP package as well as develop your computational programming skills in MATLAB, and to tackle data from novel perspectives such as data-driven, bottom-up machine learning techniques and developing computational simulations of human thought and behaviour that can be compared against observed data.

Professional Practice in Psychology (30 credits - Semester 1 and 2)
This module offers you the experience to develop your employability skills in both an applied and a research setting. You will take part in an interview with a member of the module team and work to secure a placement relevant to your interests and specialism prior to the start of the placement. We will encourage you to consider how you can apply your psychological knowledge and expertise to your placement and to reflect on the skills you have developed through your placement. You will be expected to visit your placement on approximately a weekly basis for 30-50 hours during the second semester. While we would strongly encourage you to engage with a work-based placement for the valuable opportunity and insights it can provide, you will have the option to conduct an academic-based placement at Keele University.

In addition, this module provides valuable experience on a live research project working alongside an experienced research mentor or mentors. After completing a skills audit in the first semester you will be assigned to a research project offered across the range of expertise available, with care taken to ensure that the research project develops or extends your research skills in an area that you have identified. Projects will vary from year to year depending on current staff research, and you might take a number of different roles in the research from designing and preparing research materials through to analysing existing datasets. The module will help you to develop a key range of research skills including learning to follow guidance and respond to feedback and effective communication of research in writing.

Professional Practice in Psychology (30 credits - Semester 1 and 2)
This module offers you the experience to develop your employability skills in both an applied and a research setting.
You will take part in an interview with a member of the module team and work to secure a placement relevant to your interests and specialism prior to the start of the placement. We will encourage you to consider how you can apply your psychological knowledge and expertise to your placement and to reflect on the skills you have developed through your placement. You will be expected to visit your placement on approximately a weekly basis for 30-50 hours during the second semester. While we would strongly encourage you to engage with a work-based placement for the valuable opportunity and insights it can provide, you will have the option to conduct an academic-based placement at Keele University.

In addition, this module provides valuable experience on a live research project working alongside an experienced research mentor or mentors. After completing a skills audit in the first semester you will be assigned to a research project offered across the range of expertise available, with care taken to ensure that the research project develops or extends your research skills in an area that you have identified. Projects will vary from year to year depending on current staff research, and you might take a number of different roles in the research from designing and preparing research materials through to analysing existing datasets. The module will help you to develop a key range of research skills including learning to follow guidance and respond to feedback and effective communication of research in writing.

Using Evidence-Based Approaches to Change Practice Across the Lifespan (30 credits)
In this module, we will explore how scientific evidence can be used to influence policy and practice across the lifespan in a range of different settings such as education, government, charity sector, social change, the legal system and more. This will be done using real case studies carried out by Keele staff and external contributors where appropriate. The assessment will give you the opportunity to write a policy briefing in the format used to help Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff navigate complex research.

You will also gain in-depth experience with action research, a democratic research tool that works with participants instead of studying them from afar. We will teach you the core principles and guide you through a real lived example of action research of your own design. You will be taught about ethics, professionalism and fairness as well as how to navigate working with communities, co-produce research findings and get their collective voice heard by sharing findings with those in positions of power and influence.

Applied Research Dissertation (60 credits, Semester 1-3)
This module is the culmination of your Masters programme of study and enables you to apply the skills gained across the programme to an empirical study in an area of psychology within your programme's discipline. You will have the opportunity to work closely under the supervision of an academic member of staff on designing, conducting, analysing and reporting their research in a dissertation.