PSYCHOL 4301 - Research Methods & Statistics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017

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 4301
    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
    Restrictions Available to students in the BPsychSc (Honours) and Honours year of BPsych (Honours)
    Assessment Practical exercise, final examination
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Paul Delfabbro

    Professor Paul Delfabbro, paul.delfabbro@adelaide.edu.au, 8313 4936
    Course Timetable

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

    Please refer to Honours handbook
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1.   To develop skills in the use of SPSS
    2.   To enhance knowledge of the analysis of count and proportion data
    3.   To develop advanced regression skills
    4.   To develop knowledge of power analysis and bootstrapping techniques
    5.   To enhance qualitative analysis skills
    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
    1-5
    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
    2
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-4
    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
    5
    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
    5
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Details will be made available on MyUni.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Details will be made available on MyUni.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Details will be made available on MyUni.
  • 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
    Students will be asked to complete a written assignment worth 30% that requires them to interpret a number of research problems and select, conduct and interpret the appropriate statistical test. The remaining 70% will be based on a written exam that will include: the interpretation of statistical outputs; the identitification of appropriate statistical tests to address research problems; and questions relating to the conceptual understanding of statistical concepts.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students will be required to complete a written assignment and a written exam.
    Assessment Detail
    The written assignment will be marked based on the extent to which students are able to demonstrate the ability to select the appropriate statistical test as well as conduct and report the analysis accurately.  
    Submission
    The 30% assignment will be submitted online via Turnitin and the Canvas system.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    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.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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