QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS - 2020/1

Module code: PSYM065

Module Overview

This course is a lab-based/practical course intended to get students to use SPSS and understand what they are doing when they use it.

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

FIFE-SCHAW Christopher (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 117

Lecture Hours: 33

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

An undergraduate degree.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Week 1 SPSS refresher: Bivariate tests

Week 2 SPSS refresher: Bivariate tests/choosing multivariate procedures

Week 3 Power calculation using G*POWER

Week 4 MCQ class test/Data screening

Week 5 Factor Analysis

Week 6 Reliability assessment

Week 7 Simple Regression

Week 8 Multiple Regression

Week 9 Logistic Regression

Week 10 Cluster Analysis

Week 11 Multidimensional Scaling

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
School-timetabled exam/test 30 MINUTE UNSEEN MCQ CLASS TEST 25
Examination 90 MINUTE UNSEEN PRACTICAL OPEN BOOK EXAM USING SPSS 75

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

i) Knowledge of common bi-variate and multivariate statistical procedures used in psychology

ii) the ability to use SPSS to conduct statistical analysis

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • School-Timetabled Sum. Examination/Test: 30 Minute Unseen MCQ Class Test

  • School-Timetabled Sum. Examination/Test: 90 Minute Unseen Practical Exam Using SPSS



Formative assessment and Feedback

i) In-class formative feedback via problem sheets

ii) feedback on their performance in the MCQ 

Module aims

  • This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the philosophy underlying psychological research using quantitative methods

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Equipped with enough information to critically assess research using quantitative methods KCPT
2 Prepared to apply appropriate techniques to real data sets and be able to interpret output from these analyses in a sophisticated and reflective manner CPT
3 Familiar with the use of common analytic procedures instantiated in SPSS KPT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Give students the opportunity to gains hands-on experience of using SPSS to solve real research based statistical questions in psychology.

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Combination of lectures and computer-based exercises.

  • Class-based problem sheets with in–class formative feedback on their learning


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSYM065

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Health Psychology MSc 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Environmental Psychology MSc 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Research Methods in Psychology MSc 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Social Psychology MSc 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.