Undergraduate Course: Investigating Behaviour: research methods in psychology (LLLI07015)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This is a for-credit course offered by the Office of Lifelong Learning (OLL); only students registered with OLL should be enrolled.
The course will introduce you to the various research methods used by psychology to investigate behaviour. We will cover a variety of topics: the research process; experimental / non-experimental research methods; quantitative and qualitative data; primary and secondary sources. Finally, basic statistical analysis and ethical issues that arise when conducting research in psychology will be discussed. |
| Course description |
1. The relationship between science and psychology.
This theme continues throughout the course.
2. The research process; quantitative and qualitative data; primary and secondary sources.
3. Research methods - the experimental method (1): rationale - hypotheses; independent and dependent variables and types of experiment.
4. Research methods - the experimental method (2): types of experimental designs.
5. Research methods - the experimental method (3): critique of the experimental method.
6. Research methods - non-experimental methods (1): social survey - interviews and questionnaires; Case Study.
7. Research methods - non-experimental methods (2): observational method; correlation.
8. Basic data analysis: mean; median; mode; range and standard deviation.
9. Conducting research in psychology.
10. Course summary.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
¿ Explain the relationship between science and psychology;
¿ Describe the research process;
¿ Explain the terms quantitative/ qualitative data and primary/ secondary sources;
¿ Describe the experimental method, non-experimental methods and basic statistical analysis;
¿ Describe how psychological research is carried out, specifically highlighting ethical issues.
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Reading List
The Tutor will supply the necessary material. If students wish to purchase a general book of psychology, one possible choice would be:
Martin, G.N., Carlson N.R., and Buskist, W., 2007. Psychology. 3rd Edition. Harlow: Pearson.
Web sources
BBC Science and Nature Resource ¿ The Mind:
www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/index_surveys.shtml
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Please contact Reception to arrange a confidential appointment with our Student Guidance Advisor if you feel you have specific study requirements to enable you to study an Open Studies course or complete assessments. Giving us this information will enable us to make arrangements to meet your requirements for studying in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr James Mooney
Tel: (0131 6)50 3077
Email: james.mooney@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Diane Mcmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 6912
Email: D.McMillan@ed.ac.uk |
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