| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Psychological Research Methods |
| Unit ID: | PSYCP6014 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 090701 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit seeks to enhance the students' understanding of the process and scientific basis of psychological research by reviewing methodological practices found in the discipline. These include, but are not limited to, classical experimental designs, survey-based designs, as well as observational designs and qualitative approaches to psychological research. Students will review the place and purpose of a variety of statistical procedures as they relate to research methodology. They will also enhance their ability to select, conduct, and interpret statistical procedures in (a) relation to the aims of their research project, and (b) light of contemporary understanding of best practice in research methods and data analysis. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | |  | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify, describe, and evaluate quantitative and qualitative approaches to research |
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| K2. | Identify and compare experimental and quasi-experimental research designs |
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| K3. | Describe and assess threats to internal and external validity in research |
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| K4. | Identify and describe the principal ethical issues in psychological research including, but not limited to, requirements regarding First Nations, LGBTQIA+, and CALD populations |
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| K5. | Identify and describe basic and intermediate concepts in statistics |
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| K6. | Describe and assess a broad array of statistical analytical techniques including their manner of application, their appropriate interpretation, and the importance of their outcomes |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Select a research design appropriate to a research question |
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| S2. | Use appropriate software to perform a range of statistical techniques considered adequate for fourth-year projects |
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| S3. | Interpret the output of a range of statistical techniques to identify the implications, and limitations, of the data in addressing a research question |
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| S4. | Appropriately report the results of statistical analyses following current reporting conventions |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Critically analyse and evaluate research methodologies and statistical analyses reported in contemporary psychological research journals |
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| A2. | Select and appropriately apply statistical analytical techniques in testing hypotheses |
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| A3. | Demonstrate an ability to both draw and critically evaluate reasoned conclusions from the use of research methodologies and statistical techniques commonly encountered in psychological research |
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| Unit Content: |
•Research Methods: - The relationship between methodology and knowledge - Ethical and practical issues in carrying out research - Questionnaire design and measurement issues in psychology (including reliability and validity of measurement instruments) - Quantitative Methods: Experimental and quasi-experimental designs; survey and correlational designs - Qualitative methods including naturalistic observation, grounded theory, and thematic analysis
•Statistics: - Basic descriptive statistics - Power, effect size, confidence limits, transformations - Brief consideration of non-parametric forms of analyses - Use and limitations of parametric forms of analyses including ANOVA, ANCOVA, MANOVA, MANCOVA, correlation and regression (including advanced regression techniques), and factor analysis - Performing basic and advanced ANOVA and regression analyses using appropriate statistical software, including evaluating the assumptions of these analyses - Emerging trends and recommendations in data analysis |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S3, S4, A1, A3 | Presentation of a critical analysis of a published research article. | Presentation | 20-30% | | 2. | K5, K6, S2, S3, S4, A2, A3 | Perform, report, and interpret analyses of supplied data sets and draw appropriate conclusions in response to hypotheses or research questions provided. | Analysis Assignment | 30-50% | | 3. | K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3 | 2 hour online test comprising mutliple choice and short answer questions. | Online Test | 30-50% |
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