6B020E - Applied Research: Designing Projects that Matter 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 6B020E
Module Title: Applied Research: Designing Projects that Matter
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Interventions
Faculty Sub Group: Psychology
Module Leader: Emily Groves, Klara Price
Module Team: Victoria Markham
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are:

1.    To enable students to apply and extend their research knowledge and skills by designing a creative, ethically sound, and methodologically robust research proposal that addresses a real-world issue affecting children and young people.

2.    To foster students’ ability to think critically and collaboratively by engaging with current challenges in children’s lives and communicating their ideas effectively through a professional research proposal presentation.

Content Summary

This module gives you the opportunity to bring your research skills to life by designing a meaningful project that addresses a real-world issue affecting children and young people today. Building on your knowledge of research methods, you’ll take the lead in exploring topics that matter - from parenting and education to social media, identity, and wellbeing.

Working closely with your supervisor and collaborating in small peer groups, you will:

1.    Develop and refine a focused research question that tackles a pressing, practical challenge faced by children and young people.

2.    Engage critically with ethics, identifying both the broader ethical considerations of working with young populations and the specific issues relevant to your chosen topic.

3.    Design high-quality research methods, selecting methods that best capture participants voices and experiences.

By the end of the module, you’ll present your research proposal in a professional format, demonstrating how your ideas could drive change and deepen our understanding of children’s development and wellbeing.

This module gives you the opportunity to be curious, think creatively, work collaboratively, and make a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of children and young people.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Scheduled Learning and Teaching 21
Guided Study 10.5
Summative Assessment and preparation 60
Independent self-directed learning 209.5
Total Hours Selected 81

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To critically evaluate and address key ethical considerations when conducting research with children and young people.
LO2 To design a methodologically robust research proposal that addresses a real-world issue affecting children and young people.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Student Choice 1 Student choice: Asynchronous; Student choice. 30 4500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Student Choice 1

Reading List

Essential Reading

1.    British Psychological Society. (2021). BPS Code of Ethics and ConductBritish Psychological Society.*

2.    Bell, J., & Waters, S. (2018). Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers. Open University Press McGraw-Hill.*

3.    Creswell, J. W., & Guetterman, T. C. (2025). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Pearson.*

 

Supplementary Reading

4.    Roberts-Holmes, G., Harmey, S., & Levy, R. (2023). Doing your early years research project: A step by step guide. SAGE.*

5.    O’Reilly, M., Ronzoni, P. D., & Dogra, N. (2013). Research with children: Theory and practice. SAGE.*

*(relevant to all topics/weeks)