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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Research Methods & Statistics 1
Module Code PSYC121
School 37
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Johannes Karl
Semester 2: Johannes Karl
Autumn: Johannes Karl
Module TeachersJohannes Karl
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Coursework Only
Description

This module will introduce students to the most common quantitative analytic techniques in psychology. It will familiarise students with basic statistical tests, their appropriate usage and how to compute the tests using R. The module also supports the development of skills including data analytics and visualisation. A strong emphasis is placed on enabling students to integrate theory and statistical reasoning skills, including analytic competence, using laboratory experiments, practical laboratory classes and online labs. The content of laboratory activities will be informed by other core modules taken in Year 1 and through the use of real-world datasets.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the ability to import, clean, and manipulate datasets in R
2. Identify and use basic data analysis and visualization 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, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing
4. Conduct, Report, and Interpret inferential tests such as correlation, simple regression, and t-tests
5. Use APA conform reporting for statistical results.
6. Gain first hand research experience by participating in psychological research projects within the school including those of staff, post-graduate students and undergraduate final year projects.
7. Use searching skills to effectively use library and online psychology resources.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Directed learning13Students will access digital resources relating to statistical reasoning, data entry and data visualisation
Lecture36Psychological skills are supported using learning activities analysing data sets
Online activity37Students will complete online activities, and topic-related online loop quizzes
Independent Study39Write-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

R and Rstudio
Introduction to the R language environment; entering, importing, and saving data.

Experimental and Survey design

Descriptive statistics
Measures of central tendency & dispersion.

Describing and exploring Data using graphs
Introduction to data visualisation using for spread and inferential statistics.

Sampling distributions
Normal distribution, skewed data, and z-scores; the student-t distribution; the Central Limit Theorem and sample error.

Statistical Inference
Inferential analysis using correlation, simple regression, and t-tests, and pitfalls in their interpretation.

Theoretical and Practical Foundations of Hypothesis testing
The null hypothesis and underpinning assumptions; probability and statistical significance; Type I and Type II error.

Inferential statistics
Parametric and non-parametric tests of difference and association for two conditions; assessing normality.

Report writing
Writing APA-style psychology research reports, including appropriate citations and references.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Loop QuizCompletion of online six Loop quizzes relating to the content of the module.12%n/a
Loop QuizCompletion of online four Loop quizzes relating to the content of the module, combined with a section covering the writeup of a statistical test.28%n/a
Report(s)Write-up of a complete APA-style psychology report with revision opportunity worth 50% of overall module grade.50%n/a
Report(s)Structured response letter to the initial report submission10%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • American Psychological Association: 2019, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7, American Psychological Association (APA), 143383216X
  • Thulin, M.: 2021, Modern Statistics with R, https://www.modernstatisticswithr.com/,
  • Rajiv Jhangiani,I-Chant A. Chiang,Carrie Cuttler,Dana C. Leighton: 0, Research Methods in Psychology, 1085976920
  • Garrett Grolemund,Hadley Wickham: 0, R for Data Science, 1491910399
  • Russell A. Poldrack: 2018, Statistical Thinking for the 21st century, https://statsthinking21.github.io/statsthinking21-core-site/,
  • Andy Hector: 2021, The New Statistics with R, Oxford University Press, USA, 9780198798187
  • Andy Field,Jeremy Miles,Zoë Field: 2012, Discovering Statistics Using R, SAGE Publications, 9781446200469
  • Cozby,Scott Bates: 0, Methods in Behavioral Research, 9781260084207
  • Barry H. Cohen: 2013, Explaining Psychological Statistics, John Wiley & Sons, 9781118436608
  • Barbara G. Tabachnick,Linda S. Fidell,Jodie B. Ullman: 0, Using Multivariate Statistics, 9780134790541
Other Resources

None
New Module
Programme or List of Programmes
BPDTBSc Psychology & Disruptive Technologies
BPMBSc in Psychology with Mathematics
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