PL1D120 - Investigating Methods and Evidence in Psychology 05 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 5

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL1D120
Module Title: Investigating Methods and Evidence in Psychology
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology
Faculty Sub Group: Youth and Community
Module Leader: Laura Drummond, Sarah Evans
Module Team: Alexis Jones, Dan Bowers, Martin Graff, Leigh Attwood, Biao Zeng, Iwan Rowlands, Andrea Mahoney, Karen Chamberlain, Kirsty Richards, William Price, Alessia Evans, Genevieve Griffiths
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake: 2023
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 5
Valid From 05 Jul 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2029

Module Aims

To provide an introduction to how research is conducted and the opportunity to acquire skills in psychological research methods, including introductory quantitative and qualitative analysis, and an appreciation of ethical issues.

Content Summary

This module will introduce students to the process of conducting research in Psychology, experimental and non-experimental designs, introduction to parametric and non-parametric methods of assessing group differences and relationships between variables.

Further, the module will introduce the student to both qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as interpreting and reporting the results of statistical tests; choosing the correct statistical test; threats to internal and external validity of research designs. An introduction to SPSS will also be included on this module.

Throughout the module itself, content will be relevant to each particular programme of study through the delivery method. Content will be delivered through downloadable online presentations. These will be supported by three hours of weekly face-to-face content delivered as a 2-hour orientating workshop and a 1-hour consolidation session to deliver an exercise/analysis activity. In addition, there will be a weekly1 hour drop in session to ensure that students who are concerned about different aspects of methods are fully supported.

Throughout the module an emphasis will be placed on considering the fundamental ethical issues relating to psychological research. Students will be introduced to the University’s ethical procedures and the guidelines of the British Psychological Society, and will use these to identify the ethical issues inherent in a variety of research contexts.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 72
Independent Study 160
Directed Study 168
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Display a clear appreciation of how research is conducted in Psychology and the main issues and constraints.
LO2 Show an embedded knowledge of the relationship between theories and associated research methods, findings and ethical issues in Psychology.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 2 A qualitative report on a relevant psychology topic 0 2000 30 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 A quantitative report on a relevant psychology topic 0 1500 30 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 1 Presentation identifying ethical issues with a scenario 10 N/A 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 2
Report 1
Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 1

Reading List

Brace, N., Kemp, R. and Snelgar, R. (2016) IBM SPSS for Psychologists (And Everybody Else). Palgrave Macmillan: Hampshire.

BPS (2014) Code of Human Research Ethics (pdf). URL: http://www.bps.org.uk/system/files/Public%20files/inf180_web.pdf

Willig, C. (2013). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology Third Edition (UK Higher Education OUP Psychology)