PSY4403 · Psychology research project: Methodology and data collection

Overview

The aim of PSY4403 is to enable you to produce a high quality research project component, consisting of the production of a research project methods section, and research project data accumulation. This unit forms part of your undertaking of a supervised research project that aims to provide training in both discipline specific and generic research skills. The methods section of the GDPA research thesis will consist of a description of the methods to be used to answer the research questions, and the accumulation component of the research project will consist of accumulation of research data via the conducting of experiments, surveys, interviews, focus groups, textual analyses, and database access. You will be provided with course materials and guidance to help them produce high quality research methods and data accumulation research project components, and to coherently synthesise these into the overall research project. The development of these skills and their application to the production of quality research method and data accumulation components will build on your research and writing skills developed in previous courses.

Areas of study: Psychology

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Explain how their own research fits into a broader research context;
2. Prepare a description of the research methods that will be used to appropriately answer the research project's research questions;
3. Develop and demonstrate high level skill in writing up the research methods section of a research report;
4. Acquire research data that can be appropriately analysed and used as the basis for answering research questions and testing research hypotheses;
5. Select and justify the selection of appropriate statistical and other analysis methods;
6. Communicate the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project, and reflect on individual transferable skills and characteristics relevant to professional research

Workload

You should expect to spend an average of 20-25 hours per week per unit This time will cover: One-on-one research supervision (30 minutes per week) Group supervision (1 hour per Teaching Period) Independent research (4 hours) Weekly readings (4-6 hours) Knowledge-based assessment (8-10hrs, including revision)

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.