Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Psychology and Social Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Research Methods in Psychology 1

• Unit Code

  PSY1102

• Year

  2015

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  Online

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Description

This unit introduces students to the use of research methods and statistics in psychology. The scientific method and its importance to an understanding of ourselves and our environment are described. The unit covers the main types of research designs and methodology, psychological models, basic statistical concepts and techniques. It also provides practical skills on designing psychological experiments, organising, graphically presenting and analysing data with statistical software, and communicating results using academic style.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded PSY4102

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Analyse laboratory-derived data and write a standard research report using American Psychological Association (APA) structure and formatting conventions.
2. Demonstrate competence in basic statistical techniques, using manual analysis methods.
3. Demonstrate competence in interpreting basic computer-based analyses.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of experimental research methodology.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method, and an appreciation of its role in developing psychological knowledge.
6. Promote evidence-based approaches to understanding human behaviour.
7. Specify the basic research designs and methodologies.

Unit Content

1. Basic statistical concepts.
2. Descriptive statistics and graphical representations.
3. Experimental and quasi-experimental research methods in psychology.
4. How to communicate research findings.
5. How to conduct research.
6. Introduction to inferential statistics.
7. Introduction to parametric statistics and non-parametric statistics.
8. Research as a way of adding to the body of knowledge.
9. Use of statistical software.

Additional Learning Experience Information

On campus: Lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and modules. Online: Discussion fora, live tutorials, live laboratory sessions, modules, residential school.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Text References

• Diez, D. M., Barr, C. D., etinkaya-Rundel, M. (2014). Introductory Statistics with Randomization and Simulation. OpenIntro. [Online book approved by the American Institute of Mathematics]
• Cumming, G. (2012). Understanding The New Statistics: Effect Sizes, Confidence Intervals, and Meta-Analysis. New York: Routledge.
• Navarro, D. J. (2014). Learning Statistics with R: A Tutorial for Psychology Students and Other Beginners (Version 0.4). Adelaide: Author.
• Pearl, J. (2000). Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Note: Seminal Reference.
• Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D. C., & Thomas, D. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Note: Seminal Reference.
• Fisher, R. A. (1935). The Design of Experiments (5^th ed., 1951; 7^th ed., 1960; 8^th ed., 1966) Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Note: Seminal Reference.
• Kaplan, D. T. (2011). Statistical Modeling: A Fresh Approach (2^nd ed.). New York: Project Mosaic.
• Judd, C. M., McClelland, G. H., & Ryan, C. S. (2008). Data Analysis: A Model Comparison Approach (2^nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
• Beins, B. C. (2012). APA Style Simplified: Writing in Psychology, Education, Nursing and Sociology. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
• ^ American Psychological Association (2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6^th ed.) Washington, DC: Author.
• ^ Coolican, H. (2014). Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (6^th ed.). East Sussex: Routledge. 

Journal References

• Advances in Experimental Social Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Journal of Expeimental Psychology: General
• Psychological Science
• Trends in Cognitive Science
• Psychological Methods

Website References

• http://www.psychologicalscience.org/ ">http://www.psychologicalscience.org/">http://www.psychologicalscience.org/ Note: Website of the Association for Psychological Science.
• http://psychology.org.au/ ">http://psychology.org.au/">http://psychology.org.au/ Note: Website of the Australian Psychological Society.
• http://opl.apa.org/ ">http://opl.apa.org/">http://opl.apa.org/ Note: Online psychology laboratory.
• http://www.apastyle.org/ ">http://www.apastyle.org/">http://www.apastyle.org/ Note: Resource explaining the APA manual.

^ Mandatory reference

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