Research Methods and Data Analysis III

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• interpret and present the output of statistical tests and measures
• formulate experimental designs to answer simple research questions
• evaluate and compare different research methods and designs
• select and apply appropriate statistical tests and measures via hand calculations and SPSS
• write-up results of various statistical tests following APA guideline
• evaluate ethical issues relating to psychological research
• understand the rationale behind different statistical tests, probability and hypothesis testing, various research methods, statistical significance, power, reliability, generalizability, and replicability

• Refresher from the year one (descriptives, probability, normal distribution and z-scores, sampling distribution, CLT, power); Hypothesis testing
• Hypothesis tests applied to means: t-tests for independent and related samples)
• Nonparametric equivalent of t-tests
• Simple Analysis of Variance (for independent and related samples)
• Nonparametric equivalents to ANOVA
• Factorial Analysis of Variance (between, within, and mixed models)
• Correlation (parametric, nonparametric, partial)
• Simple and Multiple Regression
• Categorical data and chi-square
• Ethics

Theoretical lectures, followed by physical/interactive SPSS lectures and tutorials/feedback sessions (preferably 1 x 90 minute session per week delivered on campus).

In the theoretical lectures students learn about different statistical techniques, their rationale, requirements and hand computations. Then the second set of physical/interactive lectures will be mostly SPSS based - students will learn how to carry out different tests, interpret SPSS outputs and write up results.

The associated tutorials/feedback sessions are entirely practical and involve the use of hand calculations and SPSS in data analysis.

There are Teaching Assistants who actively ensure that students are understanding and completing the tasks. Office Hours are offered and extra revision sessions are scheduled before the final exams.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.