PSYCHOL 4201 - Research Methods and Statistics
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PSYCHOL 4201 Course Research Methods and 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 Restrictions Available to Honours year of BPsych (Hons) students only Assessment Mid semester exercise 30%, Qualitative exercise 20% and Examination 50% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Paul Delfabbro
Course 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
At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1 To be able to use statistical packages required quantitative analysis (e.g., R, SPSS and Excel). 2 To be able apply advanced knowledge in statistics to experimental and applied research. 3 To be able to apply different forms of qualitative analysis, including the analysis of themes and discourse analysis 4 To be able to critically evaluate the methodological designs and select appropriate analytical strategies for their research projects. 5 To understand the interpretation and appropriate reporting requirements for statistical and qualitative data. 6 To be able to understand the concepts of validity and reliability as they apply to psychometric testing and be able to critically evaluate widely used psychometric tests. 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) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1-5 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
2-4 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
1, 5 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
1 Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
3 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
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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.htmlOnline 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 hoursLearning Activities Summary
Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change.Week Topic Lecture Week 1 Quantitative Methods Carolyn Semmler Week 2 Quantitative Methods Paul Delfabbro Week 3 Quantitative Methods Paul Delfabbro Week 4 Quantitative Methods Nick Burns Week 5 Implementation Science Deborah Turnbull Week 6 Qualitative Methods Anna Chur-Hansen -
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 addressed Mid-semester exercise Summative 30 1-5 Exercise Summative 20 1-5 Examination Summative 50 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.
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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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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.
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