Course overview
This course will develop the skills and knowledge required to understand and carry out research in psychology and the behavioural sciences. Students will learn about quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. They will learn how to sensibly investigate and test various kinds of research questions and how to interpret the findings of research. A software package will be used to develop skills in quantitative data analysis.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand fundamental concepts of quantitative data analysis including descriptive statistics, probability theory and hypothesis testing, and the conclusions that can be drawn when applying them to psychological research.
- Identify the appropriate quantitative data analysis and/or qualitative approach to different kinds of basic psychological research questions and hypotheses.
- Understand basic ways of conducting qualitative research in psychology.
- Conduct and interpret basic types of quantitative data analyses commonly involved in psychological research using statistical software.
- Present the methods and results of psychological research in the appropriate APA format.
- Recognise the benefits of applying both qualitative and quantitative approaches to certain research questions in psychology.