Advanced Research Methods

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Dr Lisbeth Drury
• Assessment: three weekly in-class tests (5% each), three take-home SPSS assessments (5% each) and a 15-minute presentation (70%)

Advanced research methods are central to the theory and practice of any area of psychology. Research in business psychology is especially challenging as it has to combine extremely high standards of research practice with the constraints of empirical work within working environments.

This module forms the foundation for you to go on to develop a sound, workable and ethical empirical research project. The skills and knowledge developed allow critical analysis of information across a wide range of sources including social policy documents, business reports and scientific research papers.

Indicative syllabus

• Fundamentals of research and SPSS essentials 
• Developing questions and hypotheses for quantitative research
• Quantitative research design and data collection
• Questionnaire validity and reliability
• Linear regression analysis
• Experimental methods: ANOVA
• Qualitative research methods and approaches
• Qualitative research analysis and credibility
• Linear regression 2: moderation and mediation
• Dissemination of research: giving presentations and writing reports

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand key research methods in psychology
• be able to generate testable hypotheses and research questions
• understand research design in psychology
• know how to utilise SPSS/PASW software appropriately, for data coding, treatment and analysis
• understand a range of statistical data analysis techniques
• understand psychological measurement methods
• know of qualitative data analysis techniques
• know how to write a psychology research report in American Psychological Association format
• be able to carry out empirical studies involving a variety of methods of data collection including experiments, observation, psychometric tests, questionnaires, interviews and field studies
• be able to employ evidence-based reasoning, and examine practical theoretical and ethical issues, associated with the use of different methodologies, paradigms and methods of analysis in psychology at work
• be able to use a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software, laboratory equipment, and psychometric instruments
• understand the parameters and merits of business psychology research as conducted in different contexts (workplace, academic etc.)
• be able to design and deliver a research presentation.