PY0419 - Quantitative Psychological Laboratory Experience and Skills

On this module you will learn through a series of self-guided and guided learning activities, which are classroom and laboratory based sessions. You will build the knowledge and learn transferable skills to have the confidence to run your own research study and take part in small-scale empirical research studies, acting as both “participants” and as “researchers”. The practical sessions, guided learning activity and synthesising learning session, will provide you with opportunities to practice the skills in a structured setting, though you will also be able to use and benefit from the skills in other parts of the degree. You will learn about research design, data collection and analysis, and be prepared to write psychological reports.

You will learn in our specialist psychology teaching labs, using current research software (e.g. SPSS; bibliographic resources) and equipment. You will learn to use different software packages (e.g. PowerPoint) to present your findings and enhance your communication skills.

You will be required to complete one formative and two summative assessments. For the formative assessments you will create a lab book, a personalised “how-to” guide for conducting quantitative research and writing research reports, which will help you prepare your summative assessments, and you will be able to use in future modules. One summative assessment is a short individual oral presentation based on your chosen research study. The task will grow skills in developing a strong rationale (Introduction to your research), forming robust hypotheses, planning methods (Methods section), and presenting to a general audience (making research accessible to all). The other summative assessment is an individual quantitative research report based on your chosen research study.

The module tutors will support you by making a variety of resources linked to the lectures and assessments available on the eLearning Portal (e.g. PowerPoint slides, lectures handouts, lecture recording) along with links to resources to encourage further exploration of specific research topics. A discussion board on the eLearning Portal will be available for students to pose and respond to questions among peers and to the module tutor. This enhances collegiality and also means that support is available to all students. Technology enabled learning will be implemented through the use of specialist testing software, data recording and analysis software, online submission and marking of the summative assessment.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MK1: You will be expected to demonstrate understanding of a range of research methods and data analysis techniques
• MK2: You will recognise the value of evidence in the development of psychological knowledge

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MIP1: You will explore and operationalise research questions, understand statistical reasoning, and demonstrate competence in a number of quantitative research methodologies, therefore enhancing your employability.
• MIP2: You will recognise ethical and cultural issues within psychology and psychological research

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MPV1: You will develop the characteristics of a Northumbria psychology graduate, by demonstrating effective oral and visual communication skills

Formative assessment
You will complete a lab-book/”how-to” guide containing all content learned within the module aiding you in completing your summative assessments and future modules (MK1, MK2; MIP1, MIP2). Each week, you will draft part of the quantitative lab report and receive feedback from your demonstrators.
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Summative Assessment
You will have two summative assignments:

1.Short individual oral presentation (20% of total module mark) (MK2, MPV1). You will be asked to design and deliver a short individual oral presentation about your chosen research study, aimed at the general public. The task will grow skills in developing a strong rationale, forming robust hypotheses and planning methods.

2. Individual quantitative lab report (2000 words; 80% of total module mark) detailing a research study designed and conducted by you (MK1, MK2; MIP1, MIP2).

Feedback

Formative assessment

Weekly verbal feedback will be provided by demonstrators to illustrate areas for improvement for the summative assessments on this module.

Summative Assessment

Short individual oral presentation:
Written feedback will be provided on a marking sheet, this feedback will show you areas to improve in your second summative assessment, your lab report.

Individual quantitative lab report:

Rich and detailed written feedback will be provided through annotations on your quantitative lab reports.

None

None

This module will develop your understanding of quantitative research methodologies and report writing within psychology, and build transferable, employability skills. Each week will cover a different aspect of quantitative research and involve three learning sessions.

First, we will build your fundamental knowledge of quantitative research . You will be required to watch and engage with posted eLearning material. This session will guide you at your own pace through the different steps involved in running a quantitative research study and deliver the core knowledge required to run a study. The session will incorporate interactive features (e.g., videos, quizzes) and a varied approach to teaching methods (e.g., inclusion of rapid ‘lightning’ recaps of topics). Involve short talks and demonstrations from experts.

Next, you will build practical quantitative research skills through a live, guided learning session that will build on the knowledge acquired in the lecture. The session will use a guided learning approach, where you will be provided with a workbook that can be completed by individuals and in groups using the lecture materials with your Lecturer and a team of demonstrators present to answer all your questions. The workbook will feature questions relating to that week’s lecture content and optional questions supporting you mauver this module.

In the synthesising learning session, you will apply your new research knowledge and skills to your own research project working on specific parts of your assessment each week with the help of your peers and demonstrator in a small group environment. Your demonstrator will provide you within this session with formative feedback for your oral and written assessments. You will implement the knowledge and skills developed during Sessions 1 and 2 in a meaningful way – for your own research study.

Essentially, you will learn how to be a successful researcher through conducting your own research project. Overall, you will engage in discussions regarding quantitative methodologies and experimental design, research ethics, and the communication of research findings to the academic community and public. You will also develop your ability to effectively communicate in both written and oral formats through the completion of one formative (lab book) and two summative activities (lab report and oral presentation). Rich and detailed individual feedback will be provided for the summative and formative assessments. In addition, the week-by-week creation of a lab book will provide you with a personalised “how-to” guide for conducting quantitative research and writing research reports, which you will be able to use in future modules.