PY0419 - Quantitative Psychological Laboratory Experience and Skills

You will learn through a range of research-rich activities, including self-directed exercises and practical training and experiences in a laboratory setting. Through engaging in research as a participant and researcher, you will gain an understanding of different methodological approaches and develop skills in the delivery of quantitative research. Practical sessions will provide you with opportunities to practice your quantitative research skills in a structured setting and help you to learn about research design, data collection and analysis, and be prepare you to write psychological reports.

You will learn in our specialist psychology teaching labs, where you will receive training in (i) specialist statistical software for data analyses, (ii) software and equipment that can be used to deliver high-quality quantitative research, and (iii) software and platforms to help you to present your research and enhance your communication skills.

You will complete one formative and three summative assessments. For the formative assessment you will engage with a lab notebook comprising a range of learning activities and guidance. Feedback acquired when engaging with the lab notebook will build your confidence in quantitative research and prepare you for the summative oral presentation and lab report assessments. These assessments will develop your skills in communicating research, critically evaluating theories and evidence reported in existing literature, creating a strong study rationale, applying appropriate methodological and analytical approaches, and interpreting research findings. You will also learn about the value of research culture, contemporary research topics, and gain practical research experience through the research culture experience summative assessment.

The module tutors will support you by making a variety of resources linked to the learning activities and assessments available on the eLearning Portal (e.g. PowerPoint slides, report templates, examples of quantitative reports, and online reading lists) 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 means that support is available to all students. Technology enabled learning will be implemented using 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 develop awareness of contemporary research topics and the value of a research culture in the advancement of psychological science

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 engage with a lab notebook that will help you to acquire formative feedback on your work throughout the module. This will provide a resource that will assist you in completing your summative assessments for this and future modules (MK1, MK2, MIP1, MIP2, MPV1).

Summative assessment:

1. Research culture experience (10% of the module mark) (MK2). You will be required to collect points on the Department of Psychology’s research participation system through engaging with current psychological research. This assessment will develop your knowledge of quantitative methodological approaches, the value of research, contemporary psychology research topics, and embed you within our departmental research culture.

2. Individual oral presentation (20% of the module mark) (MK1, MPV1). You will design and deliver a short individual oral presentation that is aimed at a non-scientific audience. This assessment will develop your visual and verbal science communication skills.

3. Individual quantitative lab report (70% of the module mark) (MK1, MIP1, MIP2). You will develop a 2,000-word scientific lab report that will focus on your ability to conduct and report a quantitative study.

Feedback:


Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module via the completion of learning activities in a lab notebook. This feedback will assist you in completing the summative oral presentation and written lab report.

Rich and detailed individual written feedback will be provided for the oral presentation and written lab report summative assessments. For the research culture experience assessment, cohort feedback will be provided to explain and reaffirm the value and benefits of engaging with research, and how this can contribute positively to your future assessments.

General feedback for the cohort will also be provided for each summative assessment component, including mean, standard deviation and distribution of marks.

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This module will introduce you to quantitative research in psychology. You will develop knowledge and practical skills in quantitative research and gain an appreciation of the importance of research culture to the advancement of psychological science.

Each week of the module will cover a different aspect of a quantitative research study and involve three research-rich learning approaches. First, you will build fundamental knowledge of quantitative psychological research through a range of learning activities, for example, recorded lectures, group discussions, and MCQ quizzes. Second, you will acquire skills in quantitative research through practical training and experiential learning activities. Finally, you will apply your knowledge and skills through the design and delivery of a quantitative study. Your learning will be supported through a variety of resources and class tutors.

Through engagement with a lab notebook, you will acquire formative feedback from the class tutors throughout the module. This feedback will be used to build your confidence in quantitative research and prepare you for the summative oral presentation and lab report assessments, which will focus on your ability to communicate quantitative psychological research in both oral and written formats. You will also learn about the value of research culture, contemporary research topics, and gain practical research experience through the research culture experience summative assessment. Taken together, the module learning activities and assessments will provide you with an understanding of quantitative research in psychology and develop core knowledge and skills that will benefit your studies and the development of professional and transferable skills.