PSYCHOL 4201 - Research Methods & Statistics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

This course is designed to consolidate and extend existing undergraduate knowledge concerning methodology and statistics. The course provides expose to a range of conceptual, methodological and statistical skills that are likely to be encountered during the completion of Honours theses as well as in future research and professional work. Students are instructed in the threats to validity and reliability in methodological designs, given exposure to advanced analytical techniques such as bootstrapping, planned contrasts, mediation and moderation in regression, hierarchical modelling and logistic regression. There is also an advanced section on tests for proportion and count data. One third of the course is directed towards qualitative methods including a review of the methods used in thematic and discourse analysis.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 4201
    Course Research Methods & Statistics
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assumed Knowledge PSYCHOL 3020 or equivalent
    Course Description This course is designed to consolidate and extend existing undergraduate knowledge concerning methodology and statistics. The course provides expose to a range of conceptual, methodological and statistical skills that are likely to be encountered during the completion of Honours theses as well as in future research and professional work. Students are instructed in the threats to validity and reliability in methodological designs, given exposure to advanced analytical techniques such as bootstrapping, planned contrasts, mediation and moderation in regression, hierarchical modelling and logistic regression. There is also an advanced section on tests for proportion and count data. One third of the course is directed towards qualitative methods including a review of the methods used in thematic and discourse analysis.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Paul Delfabbro

    Administration
    Ms Carmen Rayner
    Phone: +61 8313 5704
    Email: carmen.rayner@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Room 419, Hughes Building
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 Consolidate and extent knowledge into the use of statistical packages required quantitative analysis (e.g., R, SPSS and Excel).
    2 Review advanced topics in statistics relevant to the conduct of both experimental and applied research.
    3 Apply different forms of qualitative analysis, including the analysis of themes and discourse analysis
    4 Evaluate critically the methodological designs and select appropriate analytical strategies for their research projects.
    5 Understand the interpretation and appropriate reporting requirements for statistical and qualitative data.
    University 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. 1-5
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1-3
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1,2,5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1,5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 4
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    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 Honours Program Handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html 
    Online Learning
    Material from the training seminars offered during the semester will be made available on MyUni. This course may 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:  https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This component of the course involves compulsory attendance at a series of research training seminars. The rest involves independent student learning, consultations with supervisors and the course co-ordinator.
    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.

    Face-to-face lectures:  6 x 3hrs = 18 hours  
    Laboratory sessions:  6 x 3hrs  = 18 hours  
    Mid-semester course-work:  20 hours
    Independent reading and practical work during semester: 68 hours
    Exam preparation:  29.5 hours
    Exam:  2.5 hours

    Total:  156 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Quantative Methods Carolyn Semmler
    Week 2 Quantative Methods Carolyn Semmler
    Week 3 Quantative Methods Paul Delfabbro
    Week 4 Quantative Methods Paul Delfabbro
    Week 5 Quantative Methods Daniel Navarro
    Week 6 Quantative Methods Anna Chur-Hansen
    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Mid-semester exercise Summative 30 1-5
    Examination Summative 70 1-5
    Assessment Detail
    The mid-semester exercise will be varied from one year to the next. In some years, it will involve the independent analysis of a set of data and presentation of the findings in an APA compliant format. Students will receive the data and then have to conduct appropriate analyses to make sense of the data. In other years, students will be presented with a complex set of results and be asked to provide an interpretation. The examination (3 hours) will focus on conceptual knowledge, in particular, the selection of appropriate statistical tests, the interpretation of statistical outputs, the analysis of qualitative themes, the principles governing discursive analysis and/or thematic analysis.
    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.
    Course 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.

  • 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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • 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.