PSYCHOL 1004 - Research Methods in Psychology
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014
This course introduces students to the basic principles of research methods in Psychology. The focus of the course is on students learning how to do research in Psychology, with an emphasis on student-centred activities and problem solving. Students will learn about such key concepts as the scientific method;
operationalizing constructs; independent and dependent variables; data types and ways of measurement; confounding variables; experimental and non-experimental design; questionnaire construction; developing and testing hypotheses; descriptive statistics and describing data graphically; and the ethics of research.
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PSYCHOL 1004 Course Research Methods in Psychology Coordinating Unit Psychology Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Assessment Online quiz, practical report, group paper and written examination Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Peter Strelan
School of Psychology Office: Ph +61 8313 5693; Email psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.auCourse Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Understand and apply the fundamental principles of the research process as they relate to answering research questions in psychology
2. Analyse critically information particularly in relation to identifying causal and spurious relations in research claims
3. make decisions about the appropriate use of basic research techniques and research design as they apply to answering different psychological questions
4. Utilize specific research skills as they relate to the development and implementation of research designs in psychology, including experimental manipulation, operationalizing variables, measurement, and making decisions about validity and reliability
5. Effectively interpret and communicate research findings
6. Identify appropriate techniques underlying different research approachesUniversity Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-6 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 5 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1-6 Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1-6 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-6 An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1-6 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
For additional information regarding required resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link:
http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.htmlRecommended Resources
Recommended Text
Pelham & Blanton, Conducting research in psychology: Measuring the weight of smoke, Wadsorth. Any edition.
Note that we do not slavishly follow this text. But, it presents ideas in a way that is similar to how we do it and therefore we think it will be most useful for filling in any conceptual gaps. As such, we certainly recommend you purchase it.
Barr Smith Library – Psychology on the Web
The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.
For additional information regarding recommended resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link:
http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.htmlOnline Learning
In this course you will participate in online learning environments via MyUni (https://auth.adelaide.edu.au/login). In your online learning you will read, listen to a number of presentations, be expected to participate in online discussions via discussion boards, and complete and submit assessments online.
This course may also use MyUni for one or more of the following:
• Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
• Submission of summative assessment- Access to lecture recordings
• Access to tutorial materials
• Additional readings
• Self-directed learning activities
• Exam preparation materials
Link to MyUni:
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is about doing psychology. The focus is less on lecturing, and emphatically on students engaging with research principles and techniques in psychology. Thus, the bulk of the course is concerned with students doing – that is, engaging in small group activities to solve problems and undertake tasks that are closely related to lecture content. To facilitate this, contact will be structured such that there will be an initial pre-recorded lecture made available at the start of the week, during which time basic principles will be introduced and tasks/activities/problems will be set. Students may listen to and engage with these lectures at a time of their choosing.
During the session together in the lecture theatre, key points from the lecture will be reiterated and questions arising will be addressed. Students will then organise themselves into informal groups and engage with set problems. Teaching staff will walk around the theatre to trouble-shoot problems and discuss solutions with students. Then, at the end of the sesson, teaching staff will address solutions and discuss with the student group as a whole.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements:
a) Multiple choice quizzes. There will be 4 of these, all conducted online. They will assess students’ understanding of key principles introduced and practiced during the previous weeks. = 4 hours
b) Group project research proposal. Students will develop a proposal for an experimental design, on a set research question. The proposal will enable students to demonstrate their grasp of principles concerning operationalization, independent variables (IVs) and dependent variables (DVs), avoiding confounding variables, and the application of good experimental design principles. = 12 hours
c) Research report. Students will collect data to test specific research hypotheses on a set topic. This report will enable us to assess all aspects of the course. = 36 hours
d) short answer exam. Will assess student’s ability to apply key principles. = 2 hours
e) Lectures = 12 hours
f) In-theatre small group problem-solving sessions = 24 hours hours
g) Weekly reading, quiz prep = 30 hours
h) Exam preparation = 22.5 hours
i) End of semester examination = 1.5 hours
TOTAL = 144 HOURSLearning Activities Summary
Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to changeWeek Topic Lecture Week 1 Housekeeping; the scientific method and the research process Research methods Week 2 Operationalizing constructs; behavioural observation Research methods Week 3 Types of data; IVs and DVs; Ways of measuring Research methods Week 4 Reliability and validity Research methods Week 5 Threats to validity; 3rd variable [spurious and mediating] explanations Research methods Week 6 Experimental Design Research methods Week 7 Quasi-experimental and non-experimental design Research methods Week 8 Turning research questions in testable hypotheses Research methods Week 9 Making sense of data Research methods Week 10 Questionnaire design Research methods Week 11 Ethical issues in doing research Research methods Week 12 Longitudinal and pre-post intervention designs Research methods Small Group Discovery Experience
Each student will have the opportunity to engage in two SGDEs during the course (Weeks of August 13 and September 10).
The first SGDE is concerned with a fundamental research paradigm used in psychology, experimental design. In this SGDE, students will form small groups in which their task is to design an experiment to address a real world problem with serious consequences: The effect of listening to music on headphones while driving. Students will apply principles of experimental design that they have learnt in a corresponding lecture. Up to 10 different academic members of staff will attend the SGDE in the lecture theatre, walking around the small groups and offering guidance and advice and trouble-shooting. They will also offer their own insights into the experimental work that they do in their own area of research, including insights into the logistical and practical pitfalls and advantages associated with such research. The design that students develop will ultimately be submitted as part of assessment.
The second SGDE is concerned with a fundamental aspect of research in psychology, ethics. In the first part of the SGDE, students will form small groups in which their task is to act as an ethics committee and debate the merits and otherwise of a contentious research proposal, taking into account ethical considerations mandated by the Australian Psychological Society, to which they will have been introduced in a corresponding lecture. In the second part of the SGDE, students in each group will be allocated different roles and asked to argue particular points for and against a second contentious proposal. In each group an academic member of staff will facilitate the discussion. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) being assessed Multiple Choice Quizzes Summative 20% All Small group experimental design proposal Summative 10% 2-6 Research Report Summative 30% All 2-hour short answer exam Summative 40% All Assessment Detail
• Multiple choice quizzes: There will be 4 sets of online multiple choice quizzes over the semester comprising 10 questions each and testing ability to apply principles learned in the preceding weeks. Feedback will be provided.
• Small group experimental design proposal: Students will submit a proposal for an experimental design to solve a set problem. This piece of assessment will provide students with direct experience in grappling with the challenges of the most prevalent research design in mainstream psychological research.
• Research report: The research report closely resembles the primary way in which scientific researchers communicate with each other: through published peer-reviewed journal articles. Students will write up a report on self-reported data that will provide them with experience in most of the concepts, principles, and techniques introduced in this course: specifically those relating to issues of operationalization of constructs; validity and reliability; types of data, IVs and DVs; ways of measurement; questionnaire development; interpreting data; turning research questions into hypotheses; spurious relationships; issues of causation; and non-experimental and experimental design.
• End of semester short answer exam: This will consist of several short answer/essay-type questions requiring students to solve problems—in other words, consistent with the philosophy of the course, which is that students learn best by doing.Submission
Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for details on submission process/requirements, penalties for late submission, the process of applying for extensions, and the staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback and policy relating to re-submission/redemptive work.
http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.htmlCourse Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
