Module: Research Methods & Statistics 1

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Research Methods & Statistics 1
Module Code	PSYC110 (ITS) / PSY1094 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Psychology
Module Co-ordinator	Louise Hopper
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
Array

Description

This module will introduce students to the most common quantitative analytic techniques in psychology. It will introduce students to basic statistical tests, their appropriate usage and how to compute them using SPSS statistical software. The module also supports the development of transversal skills including data analytics and visualisation. A strong emphasis will be placed on developing and supporting statistical reasoning skills, including analytic competence, through laboratory experiments and computer-based practical sessions. The content of practical sessions in this module will also be informed by other core psychology modules taken in Year 1.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be able to source and import data and apply basic operations for cleaning, and processing this data in preparation for data analysis using basic functionalities of Spreadsheet and SPSS.
2. Identify and use basic data analysis and visualisation tools to describe, conduct and interpret basic descriptive statistics such as central tendency and variance.
3. Describe statistical concepts such as the normal distribution, probability, sampling distributions, and hypothesis testing
4. Describe, conduct and interpret confidence intervals and basic inferential statistics
5. Use SPSS to perform statistical tests
6. Identify the relevant insights extracted from a dataset and effectively and appropriately communicate (interpret, critique, and present) these in an APA-style psychology research report.
7. Use library and online psychology resources effectively
8. In order to support these learning outcomes, students will be encouraged to participate in psychological research projects within the school including those of staff, post-graduate students and undergraduate final year projects.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Combined remote synchronous and asynchronous lectures introducting statistical and probability concepts and reasoning skills
Laboratory	24	Psychological skills are supported using learning activities, including conducting experiments and analysing data sets
Online activity	37	Students will complete online activities, and topic-related online loop quizzes
Independent Study	40	Write-up of psychology practicals, becoming familiar with statistical concepts and research methods, identifying and critiquing key readings, report preparation
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Report writing

Describing and exploring Data using graphs

Descriptive statistics – measures of central tendency & dispersion

Distributions

Confidence intervals

Hypothesis testing

Inferential statistics (tests of difference and association for two conditions) e.g. Parametric and non-parametric statistics

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Loop Quiz	Completion of online Loop quizzes relating to the content of the module.	20%	As required
Completion of online activity	Engagement with online content (e.g. online discussions of quantitative results).	10%	As required
Report(s)	Write-up of practical reports worth 70% of overall module grade	70%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Allen, P., Bennett, K., & Heritage, B.: 2018, SPSS Statistics: A Practical Guide with Student Resource Access 12 Months., Cengage AU.,
Brace, N., Kemp, R., & Snelgar, R.: 2016, IBM SPSS for psychologists: And Everybody Else, 6th Ed., Routledge, Abingdon, UK,
Cohen, B.H.: 2013, Explaining Psychological Statistics, 4th Ed., Wiley, London, UK,
Field, Andy: 2018, Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics, 5th Ed., SAGE, London, UK,
Gravetter, F.J., Wallnau, L.B., & Forzano, LA.B.: 2019, Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 10th Ed., Cengage Learning, Boston, USA, 9780357365298
Harris, P: 2008, Designing and Reporting Experiments in Psychology, 3rd Ed., Open University Press, Maidenhead, 9780335221783
Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S.: 2015, Research Methods In Psychology, 10th Ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing, New York, USA,
Sternberg, R.J. & Sternberg, K.: 2015, The Psychologist’s Companion: a guide to writing scientific papers for students and researchers., Cambridge: University Press, UK,
Urdan, T. C.: 2016, Statistics in plain English (3rd ed.)., Taylor & Francis., Abingdon,
American Psychological Association: 2009, Concise Rules of APA Style, 6th Ed., Eurospan University Press, London, 9781433805608
American Psychological Association.: 2010, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.), Washington, DC,
Bowell, T., & Kemp, G. (2014).: 2014, Critical thinking: A concise guide., Routledge., New York,
Brace, N., Kemp, R., & Snelgar, R.: 2015, SPSS for psychologists: A guide to data analysis using SPSS for Windows, 5th Ed., Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, UK,
Breakwell, G. M., Hammond, S., Fife-Schaw, C., & Smith, J. A.: 2012, Research Methods in Psychology, 4th Ed., SAGE Publications Ltd., London,
Cozby, P.: 2012, Methods in Behavioural Research, 11th Ed., McGraw Hill, London, 9780078035159
Creswell, J. W.: 2008, Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches, 3rd Ed., Sage, London, UK,
Denscombe, M.: 2017, The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects, 6th Ed., Open University Press, UK, 978-033526470
Dunn, D. S.: 2012, The Practical Researcher: A student guide to conducting psychological research, 3rd Ed., Wiley Blackwell, Chichester,
Field, A. & Hole G.: 2003, How to Design and Report Experiments, Sage, London, UK,
Flick, U.: 2014, An introduction to qualitative research, 5th Ed., Sage, London, UK,
Greene, J. & D’Oliveira, M.: 2005, Learning to use statistical tests in psychology, 3rd Ed., Open University Press., Buckingham, UK,
Hinkle, D. E.: 2009, Applied Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences: International Edition, 5th Ed., Houghton Mifflin, Boston, USA, 9780495808855
Howell, D.C.: 2012, Statistical Methods for Psychology, 8th Ed., Wadsworth, Hampshire, UK,
Moore, D.S., McCabe, G.P. & Craig, B.: 2016, Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, 9th Ed., W.H.Freeman & Co, New York, USA,
Oliver, P.: 2010, The student's guide to research ethics, Open University Press, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK, 9780335237975
Pallant, J.: 2016, SPSS Survival Manual, 6th Ed., Open University Press, Maidenhead, UK,
Wright, D.B. & London, K.: 2009, First (and Second) Steps in Statistics, 2nd Ed, SAGE Publications Ltd., London, 9781412911429

Other Resources

None

Readings will be supplemented by core module materials such as journal articles, on-line resources and materials prepared for lectures and practical sessions.