Psychology MRes

On completion of the taught modules students will have developed their knowledge base and attained a high level of competence in the required skills for conducting an extended research project. Therefore, there are no formal taught sessions however; core tutorial sessions relevant to the project completion timeline have been identified as compulsory. Examples of session topics are as follows:

Literature searching and developing a research idea

Presentation skill development

Writing a detailed research proposal

Ethics, ethical approval, and health & safety

Writing an MRes. research report

Writing a critical skills reflection

Throughout the year attendance at Departmental Research Seminars, research group meetings, and research participation are offered.

1. To provide the student with an opportunity to investigate systematically and in depth a topic of direct relevance to psychology and their personal interests.
2. To enable the student to draw on and contribute to the development of the growing body of knowledge in the field of psychology.
3. To present the outcomes of their research in the form of a written dissertation of publishable quality. 
4. To be able to articulate and discuss the findings in an oral examination.

This module introduces students to the essentials of psychological research, and includes an introduction to qualitative methods and quantitative methods, including questionnaire / survey and experimental research methods.

Overviews of qualitative methodologies are given covering both data acquisition (e.g interview, focus group, photo elicitation) and major analysis techniques (e.g. discourse analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis,
etc.). Thematic or content analysis is covered in more detail.

The module also introduces quantitative designs (e.g. surveys and experimental studies) and key analytical techniques. Laboratory exercises provide students with hands-on activities and include training in the use of statistical software packages (e.g. SPSS).  The module introduces students to the nature and philosophy of the experimental method, the design and execution of psychological experiments, descriptive statistics, frequentist and Bayesian inferential parametric and non-parametric statistical procedures (e.g. chi-square, t-tests, (factorial) ANOVA, correlation, regression, and allied analyses). The module covers the replication crisis and potential remedies.

Students receive guidance on the production of qualitative and quantitative research reports.

To provide MSc level students, who may not have studied psychological methods and statistics in depth before, with advanced training in the methods of psychological research, including: 

• An understanding of the principal concepts of psychological methods and statistics
• A thorough grounding in the selection and use of appropriate methodologies
• Knowledge of the major quantitative and qualitative methods used in psychological enquiry
• Clear understanding of the use of computer packages for statistics

This module will introduce students to the issues that surround the successful management and completion of research projects in professional and applied settings. The course will focus on two core strands. Firstly ethical and professional standards will be examined in detail. The course will then focus on the practical issues and skills surrounding research projects, their development and their management. An emphasis on applied research, and on research with different populations, will be made during the course.

Content:

Professional standards, procedures and ethics in research

Research proposals: selling the idea

Writing research proposals

Grant applications

The design of research projects

Costing research projects

Developing research timelines

Project and team management.

Disseminating research

Time management

Effective listening and communication

Influencing strategies

Presentation skills

Research and the development of policy and practice

• To develop a strong set of transferable skills in students;
• To enable students to gain an appreciation of the professional and ethical issues relating to research and practice in applied psychology;
• To enable students to gain an understanding of the processes involved in developing, writing and presenting research proposals;
• To provide students with practical experience in the costing and time-scaling of research projects;
• To provide students with an understanding of the issues involved in the management of applied research;
• To provide students with training in skills relevant to the successful management of research projects e.g., effective communication;
• To provide students with an appreciation of the ways in which research influences and develops policy and practice.

The module introduces students to the nature and philosophy of applied psychology, reinforcing evidence-based critical thinking. The module reminds students about the essentials of psychological research, including brief refreshers on the basics of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of applied psychological methods (e.g. observational studies, interviews, single case studies, and experimental methods). 

The module also considers quantitative experimental and correlational methods and introduces appropriate analytical techniques for both. Workshops provide students with hands-on activities and will include training in the use of statistical software packages (e.g. SPSS) to supplement the training students will have gained during their undergraduate work. Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to conduct and understand the output of a range of analyses, both descriptive and inferential (e.g. Generalised Linear Model, Structural Equation Modeling, Exploratory Factor Analysis). Taught sessions will provide students with the opportunity to critically evaluate research designs and assess the quality of evidence for different aspects of applied psychology practice. A practical overview of realist qualitative methodologies is given (e.g. interviews, content analysis, thematic analysis). Students are expected to explore at least one qualitative approach in detail.

Students will receive guidance on the appropriate communication of qualitative and quantitative analysis. 

To provide level 7 students, who have an existing grounding in relevant research methods, with advanced training in the methods of psychological research, including: 

• An understanding of advanced concepts in regard of psychological methods and statistics
• A thorough grounding in the selection and use of appropriate advanced methodologies
• Knowledge of the major quantitative and qualitative methods used in research in the field of applied psychology
• Advanced understanding of the use of computer packages for data analysis and handling