Module Information

Module Identifier
PS21310
Module Title
Quantitative Research Methods
Academic Year
2021/2022
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment .5 Hours   Quiz  30%
Semester Assessment Research report  2000 Words  70%
Supplementary Assessment Research report  asking questions of the same theoretical and statistical type asked in the Workbook 2000 Words  70%
Supplementary Assessment .5 Hours   Quiz  If students fail the module overall, failed components must be re-sat or determined  30%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Collect quantitative data using appropriate tools, methods or techniques

Select and apply appropriate statistical analyses to datasets

Select and apply knowledge of appropriate research designs in order to address research questions

Draw conclusions from the outcomes of statistical analyses

Communicate clearly the results of statistical analyses

Demonstrate the ability to work in an ethical manner

Brief description

Building on skills and understanding developed in your first year of study, this module will enable you to develop further practical skills in developing quantitative research questions and designs, and selecting and applying appropriate forms of statistical analysis to address research questions of psychological interest.

Content

Principles, philosophy and ethics in quantitative research
Exploring data: Measurement, types of variables, scales, measurement and statistical error, distribution, statistical assumptions, reliability and validity
Exploring relationships and predicting variables: Correlation, simple linear regression, multiple regression
Exploring differences between groups/conditions: Between-subjects, within-subjects, mixed and factorial designs
Exploring categorical data

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number A primary focus of this module is on developing further statistical literacy within the psychological sphere. Students will do this by running, reporting and interpreting a range of statistical analyses.
Communication Students will develop skills in communicating the results of statistical analyses.
Improving own Learning and Performance Practicals afford students will the opportunity to check their application of knowledge of statistical tests to psychological data. Students will be able to monitor their own performance by making use of self-check resources to guide their development.
Information Technology Students will develop further skills in using specialist software to review, model and analyse numerical data.
Personal Development and Career planning This module develops employability by supporting students in further developing research, analytical and report-writing skills.
Problem solving Students will learn to solve practical research design and analysis problems. Emphasis will be placed on operationalising research designs and selecting appropriate forms of analysis.
Research skills Students will build on their research skills by showing they are able to work ethically, choose appropriate research data collection and analysis tools.
Subject Specific Skills Students will build skills, knowledge and understanding in a set of core quantitative research tools, methods, techniques and analyses.
Team work Students may work together to design and run a small scale study on psychological phenomena.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5