Research Methods for Human Inquiry (PSYC30013)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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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:

  • Evaluate evidence from quantitative methods to support answers to, and inferences about, complex research problems.
  • Translate complex problems into measurable questions, hypotheses, methods for analysis, findings and answers.
  • Evaluate the reliability and validity of common psychological tests and other approaches to psychological assessment.
  • Identify specific kinds of limitations when using quantitative methods.

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: 21 January 2025

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: 21 January 2025

Assessment

Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Assignment

  • 1500 words
Mid semester35%

Exam

  • 3 hours
End of semester65%
Hurdle requirement: Each piece of assessment must be submitted.Throughout the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: 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.Throughout the teaching periodN/A

Last updated: 21 January 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorAndrew Perfors
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020
    Last self-enrol date13 March 2020
    Census date30 April 2020
    Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020
    Assessment period ends 3 July 2020

    Semester 1 contact information

    Assoc. Prof. Amy Perfors

    amy.perfors@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

Estimated total time commitment for this subject is 170 hours

Last updated: 21 January 2025

Further information

Last updated: 21 January 2025