Courses & Units
Research Skills in Psychology PSY211
Introduction
The field of psychology has an aim that, on the surface, appears straightforward: to understand human behaviour. However, human behaviour is varied and complex, and achieving this goal presents a considerable challenge. Researchers must be familiar with and adhere to regulatory requirements to ensure that research is consistent with ethical principles. The breadth of questions that psychology attempts to answer demands researchers are able to employ a wide array of research methods and design principles. The variety of data collected in psychological research, and the purposes for which data is collected, requires that researchers make informed choices from a range of data analysis tools. Researchers must also make decisions about the format and style of presentation for summarising and reporting conceptual and numerical information for a variety of audiences. In this unit you will examine research methods that will help you design studies to investigate questions about relationships and differences among psychologically relevant variables. You will learn when and how to use data analysis methods to summarise data, test statistical hypotheses and interpret the results for relationships and differences among variables. You will learn about the principles that underlie ethical research, in relation to both research participants and the conduct of researchers themselves. The skills and knowledge developed in this unit will provide you with the necessary tools to critically evaluate research from the major sub-disciplines of psychology, as well as a wide-range of other science-based disciplines.
Summary
Unit name | Research Skills in Psychology |
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Unit code | PSY211 |
Credit points | 12.5 |
College/School | College of Health and Medicine School of Psychological Sciences |
Discipline | Psychology |
Coordinator | Associate Professor Matt Palmer |
Available as an elective? | Yes |
Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
Availability
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
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Hobart | Semester 1 | On-Campus | International | Domestic | |
Launceston | Semester 1 | On-Campus | International | Domestic | |
Cradle Coast | Semester 1 | On-Campus | International | Domestic | |
Online | Semester 1 | Off-Campus | International | Domestic |
Key
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Note
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Key Dates
Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
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Semester 1 | 26/2/2024 | 22/3/2024 | 15/4/2024 | 2/6/2024 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2024 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2024 will be available from the 1st October 2023. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the strengths and limitations of fundamental research methods within specified research contexts.
- Select and conduct fundamental statistical analyses to test hypotheses about relationships and differences in specified research scenarios.
- Interpret and communicate the methods and results of example research studies with attention to the informational needs of an academic audience.
- Compare the quality of ethical practices adopted in research examples with national standards for ethical research involving diverse populations.
Fee Information
The 2024 Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) rates are still being finalised by the Government and we will update the domestic fee information as soon as we have more details.
Requisites
Prerequisites
PSY111Mutual Exclusions
You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:
KHA201 or KHB100Teaching
Teaching Pattern | 2 hour online lecture modules weekly (12 weeks) |
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Assessment | Practical exercises portfolio part 1 (30%)|Practical exercises portfolio part 2 (30%)|Written Assignment (40%) |
Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
Required |
You will need the following text: Burton, L. J., et al. (2018). Psychology Research Methods. (1st Ed.) Wiley. |
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Recommended |
Navarro D.J. & Foxcroft D.R. (2022). Learning statistics with jamovi: A tutorial for psychology students and other beginners. (Version 0.75). DOI: 10.24384/hgc3-7p15 American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). American Psychological Association. Note: There are some excellent resources available online that cover APA style, formatting, etc. A great example is the Online Writing Lab (Purdue University): | Links | Booktopia textbook finder |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.