PSYCH211-20A (HAM)

Understanding Psychological Research

15 Points

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Division of Arts Law Psychology & Social Sciences
School of Psychology

Staff

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Convenor(s)

Jaimie Veale

Jaimie Veale
9216
JK.1.03
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jaimie.veale@waikato.ac.nz

Oleg Medvedev

Oleg Medvedev
9212
K.1.23
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oleg.medvedev@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Cate Curtis

Cate Curtis
9207
J.1.27
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cate.curtis@waikato.ac.nz

Jane Furness

Jane Furness
9232
K.1.02
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jane.furness@waikato.ac.nz

Mohi Rua

Mohi Rua
9213
K.1.01
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mohi.rua@waikato.ac.nz

Ottilie Stolte

Ottilie Stolte
9231
JK.1.02
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ottilie.stolte@waikato.ac.nz

Devon Polaschek

Devon Polaschek
9224
J.1.03
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devon.polaschek@waikato.ac.nz

Administrator(s)

: donna.walsh@waikato.ac.nz

Placement/WIL Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

: alistair.lamb@waikato.ac.nz

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
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Paper Description

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This paper will introduce you to a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. Through a combination of lectures and practical exercises, you will learn some of the techniques of psychological research and come to understand some of the issues relevant to conducting and evaluating research.
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Paper Structure

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This paper is taught through lectures and workshops/laboratories. The lectures are video conferenced live to Tauranga students. An associated Moodle site serves lecture notes, additional resources, and provides an online forum for announcements, Q&A, and discussions.

The paper has a Moodle page which provides students with course information. Through this page, students can access Panopto recordings and PDFs of lecture slides. The Moodle page is also where students select a workshop time, communicate with course staff, and upload electronic versions of their assessment.

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Learning Outcomes

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Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • Explain, compare, and contrast various research methods used by psychologists, including their key characteristics, strengths, and limitations
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Identify appropriate methods for answering research questions in diverse cultural and social contexts
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  • Think critically about issues concerning methodology, trustworthiness, and research rigour
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  • Consider how psychologists can use research to address complex social issues
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  • Develop an understanding of psychological research beyond technical proficiency
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  • Develop a basic understanding of Kaupapa Māori research methods and how it relates to psychological research
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  • Identify and evaluate the main ethical considerations of research
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Develop skills in basic statistical literacy
    Linked to the following assessments:
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Assessment

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Test 1 will assess material taught in the first portion of the trimester. Test 2 will assess material taught following test 1. These tests will take place in the usual lecture theatre, unless otherwise advised.

The lab report will be based on the research project you conduct in your workshop group.

3% of your grade will be based on exercises you complete in the qualitative research workshops.

Course Credits for Research Participation

Students may be able to obtain up to 4% worth of additional course credit obtained by participating in research undertaken by students or staff of the University of Waikato or by completing a text based research exercise. These course credits cannot be used to change your overall grade from a fail to a pass, but they may be used to increase your grade, for example, from a B to a B+.

Relevant projects will be advertised on Psych Café (under Research Participation).

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Assessment Components

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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 0% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 0% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Test 1
32
2. Test 2
32
3. Lab report
33
4. Workshop exercises
3
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
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Required and Recommended Readings

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Required Readings

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Quantitative section:

Price, P. C., Jhangiani, R. S., Chiang, I-C. A, Veale, J. F., & Williams, M. N. (2020). Research methods in psychology (New Zealand ed.).
Available for download through Moodle

Qualitative section:

There is no course text for the qualitative section of the course. Readings will be made available on Moodle where appropriate.
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Recommended Readings

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American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Author.

Field, A. (2013/2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (4th ed./5th ed.). SAGE.

Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS survival manual (6th ed.). Open University Press.

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Other Resources

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Course Manuals, Readings, and Lecture Notes
This paper has two accompanying manuals. The Statistics Chapters includes background statistics reading. The Course Workbook contains the workshop exercises. Both of these manuals can be accessed through Moodle.

Readings to accompany lectures will be available on Moodle.

We will endeavour to make lecture notes available on Moodle prior to each lecture, but this is at the discretion of each lecturer.

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Online Support

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There is a Moodle page for PSYCH211 which is a shared space for students enrolled in this paper at both the Hamilton and Tauranga campuses. The Moodle page has further information about the paper, announcements, links to Panopto recordings, course rep contact details, online discussion forum, and more. The Moodle page is where students sign up for a workshop time. The PDFs of the lecture slides will be posted on the moodle page just before or soon after lectures are delivered.
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Workload

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The amount of work expected of a typical student in a 15-point paper (offered over one semester) is approximately 8-10 hours per week. This figure is only approximate, as papers vary in their requirements and students vary in both the amount of effort required and the level of grades they wish to achieve. To do well in this paper we think you should expect to do at least three to four hours of study on your own each week, in addition to the three hours of lectures and two hours of workshop sessions.
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Linkages to Other Papers

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Prerequisite(s)

Prerequisite papers: PSYCH100, PSYCH101, PSYC101 or PSYC102 (or equivalents)

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: PSYC208

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