Module: Psychology Research Project BPY

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Psychology Research Project BPY
Module Code	PSY1044 (ITS: PSYC400)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	20

Description

Module Aims: To enable students to design, carry out and report a psychology research project under the supervision of a member of academic staff.

Learning Outcomes

1. Design and plan a research project and manage the time involved to complete the project, and related report, within given time constraints.
2. Source, read and critically evaluate the primary literature on the chosen topic.
3. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and also to recognise the need for, and seek, appropriate academic supervision.
4. Identify, justify and use an appropriate methodology in addressing the identified research problem.
5. Consider ethical issues that might affect the study and design a methodology that addresses ethical requirements.
6. Execute research in the laboratory or field.
7. Accurately record, interpret and report relevant data in a manner that addresses the research question.
8. Critically analyse, interpret and draw conclusions from the research findings.
9. Demonstrate awareness of one's communication abilities, including areas for development.
10. Communicate effectively in written or other non-oral formats, adapting to the audience profile as required (following the accepted conventions of psychology)
11. Communicate effectively in oral formats, adapting to audience profile as required.
12. Demonstrate appropriate listening skills to enhance communication.
13. Demonstrate the effective use of digital technology for communication.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	16	Lecturer-delivered Clinics
Lecture	12	Supervision
Independent Study	472	Independent research project and thesis write-up, ethics preparation and oral presentation preparation
Total Workload: 500

Section Breakdown
CRN	11485	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Áine Travers	Module Teacher	Styliani Vlachou

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Develop a research proposal outlining area of study, project rationale, aims, significance and methods.	10%	n/a
Report(s)	A substantial written report (i.e., dissertation). This must be formally structured following the conventions of the discipline.	80%	n/a
Presentation	Presentation of results at a seminar series to an audience of peers and academic staff. To include information about recording and interpretation.	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Final Year Project (FYP) Indicative Content
The student will be assigned to an academic supervisor and will research a directed or chosen project. Following initial training and supervision, the student will formulate a research design and prepare a detailed proposal for submission to the Undergraduate Psychology Ethics Committee (UPEC). This piece of work is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Once ethical approval is granted, research will begin under the guidance of the supervisor. On completion of the project, the student will present their results at a seminar series to an audience of peers and academic staff. The student will also submit a typed report of the research for examination. In addition to one-to-one supervision with his/her supervisor and a series of problem-solving clinics that mirror the stages of the research process, there may be lectures on the following indicative topics:

• Preparing a research proposal

• Negotiating Ethics Committees

• Common pitfalls

• Self-management

• Maximising supervision

• Writing-up your research project

• APA style

• Disseminating research findings

Indicative Reading List

Books:

American Psychological Association: 2020, Publication manual of the American Psychological Association : the official guide to APA style, 7th Edition, APA,
Bell, J.: 2010, Doing your research project: a guide for first time researchers in education, health and social science, 5th, Open University Press, Maidenhead,
Braun, V. & Clarke, V.: 2022, Thematic analysis: a practical guide, SAGE,
Brinkmann, S. & Kvale, S.: 2018, Doing interviews, 2nd Edition, SAGE,
Davies, M.B. & Hughes, N.: 2014, Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative or quantitative methods., 2nd, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, 288, 978-113730642
Denscombe, M.: 2014, The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill,
Field, A.: 2018, Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics, 5th Edition, SAGE,
Orna, L, Stevens, G.: 2009, Managing information for research, 2nd, Open University Press, Buckingham, UK,
Pallant, J.: 2020, SPSS survival manual : a step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS, 5th, McGraw-Hill Education (UK),
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI): 2019, PSI Code of Professional Ethics, 4th Edition, The Psychological Society of Ireland, Ireland,
Wood, C.P., Giles, D. & Percy, C.: 2012, Your psychology project handbook, 2nd, Prentice Hall, 978-0273759805
White, P.: 2009, Developing research questions, Palgrave, 152, 978-1403998156
Brace, N., Kemp, R. & Snelgar, R.: 2003, SPSS for psychologists, 2nd, Psychology Press, 399, 978-0805847741
Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S.: 2002, The qualitative inquiry reader, SAGE, 420, 978-0761924920
Denzin, N.K. & Yvonna S.L.: 2011, The SAGE handbook of qualitative research, 4th, SAGE, 785, 978-1412974172
Evans, J.: 2007, Your psychology project, SAGE Publications Limited, 288, 978-1412922326
Gravetter, F.J. & Wallnau, L.B.: 2012, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, International ed of 9th revised ed, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 767, 978-1111839550
Hair, J. F, Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L.: 2013, Multivariate data analysis., 7th, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 978-1292021904
Kazdin, A.E.: 2010, Single-case research designs: Methods for clinical and applied settings, 2nd, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 464, 978019534188
Nolan, S. & Heinzen, T.: 2019, Essentials of statistics for the behavioral sciences, 4th, Worth, 0, 9781319248741
Harris, P.: 2008, Designing And Reporting Experiments In Psychology, 3rd, McGraw-Hill Education (UK), 310, 978-0335221783
Tabachnick, B.G. & Fidell, L.S.: 2019, Using multivariate statistics, 7th Edition, Pearson, 978-0205890811
Willig, C.: 2012, Qualitative analysis and interpretation in psychology, Open University Press, London, 256, 978-033524141
Willig, C. & Stainton-Rogers, W.: 2017, The SAGE handbook of qualitative research in psychology, 2nd Edition, SAGE Publications Limited,
Zar, J.H.: 2014, Biostatistical analysis, 5th Edition, Pearson,

Articles:

Braun, V., & Clarke, V.: 2006, Using thematic analysis in psychology., Qualitative Research in Psychology., 3(2), 66611
2019: Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis., Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 66612, 2
Twelve tips for conducting qualitative research interviews.: Medical Teacher, 41(9), 66613, 2, Trainor, L. R., & Bundon, A.
Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health,: 13(5),

Other Resources

None