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Advanced Research Methods In Psychology (PSYC40014)
Undergraduate level 4Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Assoc. Prof. Amy Perfors
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
In this subject, students will be introduced to advanced research skills and methods to critically investigate, measure and assess research topics involving human behaviour, interactions, and thought in a variety of contexts. In addition, students will acquire an understanding of fundamental principles in psychological assessment of individual traits and dispositions, in particular, how to evaluate the reliability and validity of psychological assessments. Emphasis will be placed on how the skills and techniques being taught are tools for gathering evidence relating to real-world problems typically encountered in the behavioural sciences, but not limited to this area, for which meaningful inferences can be generalised beyond the particular sample data available. Topics to be covered may include research design, implementation, and evaluation; techniques for measuring human behaviour, emotions, and interactions; the application of quantitative models to data in order to identify differences and associations, make predictions, and assert possible causation.
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 role of threats to valid inferences in designing, undertaking, and reporting research.
- 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.
- Use research designs to discount pertinent threats to valid inferences in research.
- 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 measurable 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: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must be enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Psychology and have completed one of Mind, Brain & Behaviour 1 (PSYC10003 or PSYC90097) or Mind, Brain & Behaviour 2 (PSYC10004 or PSYC90098)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
PSYC30013 Research Methods for Human Inquiry
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: 3 November 2022
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
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assignment
| Early in the teaching period | 25% |
Assignment
| Late in the teaching period | 25% |
End of semester examination
| During the examination period | 50% |
Hurdle requirement: Each piece of assessment must be submitted. Attendance of at least 80% of laboratory classes. In case of failure to meet the attendance 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 period | N/A |
Additional details
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Andrew Perfors Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 40 contact hours comprising: 12 x 2 hours of lectures per week; 12 x 1 hour of weekly lab classes; and 4 x 1 hour of weekly seminars. Total time commitment 185 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 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
Time commitment details
185 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
No prescribed texts. Detailed lecture notes, problem sets, short answer questions, and multiple choice tests provided for each lecture.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Last updated: 3 November 2022