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Research Methods for Human Inquiry (PSYC30013)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
Overview
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In this subject, students will acquire research skills and methods to critically investigate, measure and assess psychological research. In addition, students will acquire an understanding of fundamental principles in the psychological assessment of individual traits and dispositions. Emphasis will be placed on how (a) the skills and techniques being taught are tools for gathering evidence relating to real-world problems that are typically encountered in the psychological sciences and (b) meaningful inferences can be generalised beyond the particular sample data at hand. Topics to be covered may include research design, implementation, and evaluation; techniques for measuring human behaviour, emotions, and interactions; the application of relatively simple quantitative models to data in order to identify group differences, associations, and predictions.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge
On completion of this subject, students should demonstrate knowledge of:
- The translation of research questions into appropriate methods of investigation.
- The application of different types of quantitative methods to real-world problems.
- The fundamental principles of individual and group-based psychological assessment.
Skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed skills to:
- Translate complex problems into measurable questions, hypotheses, methods for analysis, findings and answers.
- Evaluate evidence from quantitative methods to support answers to, and inferences about, complex research problems.
- Identify specific kinds of limitations when using quantitative methods.
- Evaluate the reliability and validity of common psychological tests and other approaches to psychological assessment.
Application of knowledge and skills
On completion of this subject, students should be able to apply their knowledge and skills to:
- Investigations that are directly relevant to psychological sciences and to other areas of social inquiry.
- The critical assessment of research in scientific publications and of the reporting of such research more generally.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Think critically and coherently about complex problems;
- Translate aims and objectives for investigating complex problems into measureable questions, hypotheses, findings, and answers;
- Evaluate both various kinds of evidence to support answers to, and inferences about, complex problems;
- Synthesise and present evidence in meaningful and interpretable ways for others to comprehend;
- Critically recognise and articulate various limitations when investigating complex problems.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required for this subject
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
512320 Research Methods 3
512302 Research Methods for Human Inquiry
Recommended background knowledge
Prior coursework in at least two Level 2 psychology subjects is recommended. Level 2 psychology subjects includes Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Personality & Social Psychology. Students are recommended to have previous experience with statistical analysis software, preferably SPSS.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Additional details
Assessed Tasks
- 1500 word assignment, due mid semester (35%)
- 3 hour exam, due end of semester (65%)
Hurdle requirements:
- Each piece of assessment must be completed
- Attendance of at least 80% of laboratory classes.
In case of failure to meet the hurdle requirement, additional work related to the missed class activities (e.g., short 500 word essay on missed topic) will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Paul Dudgeon Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 4 March 2019 to 2 June 2019 Last self-enrol date 15 March 2019 Census date 31 March 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 May 2019 Assessment period ends 28 June 2019 Semester 1 contact information
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment for this subject is 170 hours
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
No prescribed texts.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Psychology Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Psychology Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 15 February 2024