STATISTICS AND DATA ANALYSIS FOR THE MSC IN PSYCHOLOGY (CONVERSION) - 2022/3

Module Overview

The module introduces students to statistical analysis and critical thinking. Teaching typically involves a combination of theory lectures and practical workshops. Lectures focus on statistical theory and critical thinking, and demonstration of statistical techniques. Workshops focus on practical application of theoretical and analytical content from the preceding lecture(s). Datasets are explored and analysed in statistics workshops using jamovi in a student-led approach that is guided by tutors. Together, lectures and workshops provide knowledge of statistical analyses and critical thinking from both a theoretical and practical perspective, resulting in a good introduction and grounding in statistical methods in psychology. 

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

ASKEW Chris (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Basic numerical skills (GCSE mathematics)

Module content

The weekly lectures and workshops will cover theory and practice related to and including the following indicative topic areas:

• Introduction to research methods


• Hypothesis testing and research designs


• Descriptive statistics & significance testing


• z-scores and normal distribution


• An introduction to statistical testing, including t-tests and correlation


• Identifying and evaluating critical arguments, theory & evidence


• Constructing critical arguments

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate understanding of both critical thinking and quantitative data analysis.

 

1. Quantitative coursework (4 pages worth 75% of the module mark)

This assignment has been designed to assess competence in test selection in relation to data evaluation, use of jamovi, and writing results in the formal style used in psychology. 

Assesses LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 and LO5

 

 2. Critical thinking coursework (2 pages worth 25% of the module mark)

This assignment has been designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their skill in constructing a sound argument about a psychological question based on a critical evaluation of research.

Assesses LO6

 

Formative assessment and feedback
The module contains a high level of discussion about analysing psychological research and using it to answer psychological questions. Through this, good critical thinking is modelled by the lecturer, practiced by the students and continual feedback is given about how their arguments in classroom discussion map onto the standards of critical thinking outlined in the lectures. The tutorials further support this in a smaller group that supports interaction from all students.

Weekly statistics workshops consist of a worksheet and data sets to analyse. Students receive feedback on their progress via a feedback sheet of worked solutions. In addition, workshop tutors provide individualised verbal guidance and feedback during the sessions. In statistics lectures, students typically complete MCQ questions and receive immediate feedback to enable them to check their understanding of the module content.

Module aims

• Correctly analyse experimental data using basic statistical procedures and understand the assumptions and limitations of these.
• Correctly interpret statistical results and understand the correct formats used to present data and results.
• Introduce students to the critical evaluation of psychological research

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  There are 9 weeks of 2-hour statistics lectures and 8 weeks of 2-hour statistics workshops. In addition there are 2 weeks of 2-hour critical thinking tutorials.
  
  Lectures cover statistical theory and how to use jamovi to run statistical analyses. Students gain practice applying these techniques in workshops/tutorials. Critical thinking tutorials involve theory, practice and group discussion. 
  
  There is a dedicated VLE site where handouts from the lectures and workshop materials are available. Readings are set each week. 
  

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: PSYM094

Programmes this module appears in

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 2022/3 academic year.