PSY2026 : Research Methods in Psychology 2d
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Jessica Baggaley Clay
- Lecturer: Dr Efstathia Tzemou
- Owning School: Psychology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module has multiple aims:
1. Introduce students to qualitative research with secondary data, through the engagement with empirical practical work
2. Introduce students to methods of collecting secondary data for qualitative research and a method of qualitative analysis appropriate to secondary data
3. Introduce students to the philosophical underpinnings of positivistic qualitative analysis
4. Introduce the students to the use of mixed methods in generating psychological knowledge
Support students to become independent researchers
Outline Of Syllabus
Principles of positivist qualitative research and mixed methods research
Using literature for developing and justifying an appropriate research question for positivist qualitative research
Positivist qualitative research and mixed methods research design
Methods of secondary data collection
Positivist qualitative research methods of analysis
Reporting qualitative research in the positivist tradition.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:30 | 1:30 | Oral presentation, peer assessed |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Non-synchronous online pre-recorded lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 43:00 | 43:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 11 | 1:30 | 16:30 | Present in person |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 11:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Present in person |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The overall rationale is to teach empirical psychology through practical experience. The various sessions are aimed at providing opportunities for students to develop and practice the necessary skills and knowledge outcomes.
The lecture materials introduce the principles of positivistic qualitative research and mixed methods research and relevant data collection and data analysis methods and to guide students to obtain the necessary background knowledge required to conduct their research and justify their methodological choices.
The practical sessions guide students through the research steps of designing, collecting appropriated data for and analyzing the data of a qualitative study in the positivistic tradition and mixed methods research, culminating in communicating the findings in an oral presentation and a scientific poster. Students are asked to apply the theoretical knowledge introduced in the lecture materials thereby developing both their knowledge of empirical psychology and their research skills.
The student-led sessions aim to encourage students to take responsibility of their research project and take initiative in trouble shooting and problem solving. By doing so students will develop skills and confidence as independent researchers.
The staff-led sessions provide the students with the opportunity to receive weekly formative feedback and reflect on their group work. They also guide students through the more challenging aspects of the practical work.
Guided independent study provides the opportunity to synthesise and consolidate the skills and knowledge covered in the activities mentioned above. Furthermore, the poster and oral presentation will be prepared in private study time.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poster | 2 | M | 100 | An A1 size scientific poster |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | A 5 min peer assessed oral presentation |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The scientific poster and the oral presentation will give the student the opportunity to disseminate their scientific work using two of the most common means of dissemination in psychology. The poster aims to assess the students’ ability to communicate their work concisely and through visual elements, to demonstrate their attainment of the other learning outcomes.
The formative oral presentation will give students the opportunity to engage with the process of evaluating oral presentations, whilst demonstrating critical understanding of one of the research methods taught and demonstrate the ability to evaluate the literature, use appropriate methods of analysis, and follow the conventions of scientific dissemination.
If they fail the module the students will have to submit the scientific poster in the August examination period.
If the module is failed students will resit failed assessments in the same format during the August resit period.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PSY2026's Timetable