Research Methods in Psychology MSc

This module is designed to help introduce you to the theoretical and practical complexities of the research process. The module will cover both qualitative and quantitative techniques, and it is aimed as a series of taster sessions. If you feel any of the techniques suits your research, your supervisor, and expert members of staff, will help you learn more about your chosen technique. Research training in the form of literature searching, constructing literature reviews, communicating and publicising your work will also be covered. Additional areas to be covered in this module include: The research process, research techniques, research ethics and scientific writing skills. This module is delivered face-to-face over 24h of lectures (2h per week) and requires 264h of student managed learning (11 hours for workshop preparation, 75h for reading and writing essays and 78 h for writing the portfolio) totalling 288h hours of learning activities.

Develop a critical understanding of the principles of data collection and analysis for psychology and consider the theoretical basis of advanced quantitative methods. You will analyse example data sets using general linear models such as ANOVA, MANOVA, ANCOVA, multiple linear regression, and factor analysis. You will learn about good reporting practices and will learn how to report and interpret complex results. These chosen statistical methods have been directed by the Economic and Social Research Council's Postgraduate Training Guidelines (fourth and fifth editions).

Gain a critical understanding and practical skills in advanced qualitative techniques, including interpretative phenomenological and discourse analysis. We have created the content of this module with direction from the Economic and Social Research Council's Postgraduate Training Guidelines (fourth and fifth editions).

You'll chose an independent research topic from an area of expertise within our department (subject to availability of suitable supervision) and will conduct a significant research project in that area which may involve a literature review, data collection, analysis and a write-up. The final piece of work should be equivalent to a maximum of 12,000 words.

In this module we will cover the theoretical foundations of the cognitive neuroscience approach and address many of the leading topics in the field. These include memory and learning, face and visual object processing, language, central executive function and intelligence. We will cover past and present research, although the emphasis will be on currently unresolved theoretical debates.

Explore the developmental cause, risk factors and implications to everyday life in children with both developmental disorders and child-related mental health problems. Within developmental disorders, the topics covered will include normative development, autism and pervasive developmental disorders and language and communication disorders. Within child mental ill health the topics covered will include affective disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse, and childhood trauma.

This module will focus on Social Psychological Approach to Consumer Psychology. Its overall aim is to provide an insight into the psychological and social factors that influence consumer behaviour at various stages of consumption. The module will emphasise the reasons why the study of contemporary consumerism is important in fully understanding human behaviour as well as modern economies. The module will discuss social-psychological aspects of consumers’ functioning such as social influence tactics used in sales, persuasion, advertising or e-commerce alongside the role of consumer’s personality and identity. Application of theories and research to topics such as sustainable consumption, food consumption, branding and advertising will be considered. The module is designed to illustrate the diversity of schools of thought, paradigms and methods present in the field and to demonstrate the multiple ways that the psychology of the individual and groups can be applied to understanding consumers. During the course of the module emphasis will be placed on critical consideration of the application of theory to consumer context. The module will equip students with a range of key transferable skills useful in the workplace, such as oral presentation skills, critical thinking, analysis of cases and application of theory to aid understanding of consumer behaviour. This module is delivered face-to-face over 12h of lectures and 12h of seminars (2h per week) and requires 276h of student managed learning (96 hours lecture/seminar reading and 180 hours reading and preparation for coursework and exam) totalling 300h hours of learning activities.