Module JXH-1050:
Scientific Enquiry

Module Facts

Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Overall aims and purpose

This module introduces research methods and statistics that are used within psychological and sport and exercise sciences. These research skills are essential to develop for future modules on your degree e.g. research project/dissertation.

Course content

The module will cover topics including research design, ethics, descriptive and inferential statistics, presentation of findings, and report writing.

The module will involve discussions about a range of issues in research design and statistics along with the opportunity to collect and manipulate data. Some of the activities will include designing research, undertaking data collection and analyses, using computer software to describe and analyze data, and learning how to communicate the results of research in written reports.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

An excellent answer to the task brief with evidence of additional reading, and original interpretation. Comprehensive understanding of research design and statistics covered in the module. Accurate statistical analysis and interpretation. Clear, accurate and excellent communication, presentation and formatting.

threshold

An adequate answer to the task brief, largely based on lecture material. Basic understanding of research design and statistics covered in the module. Some errors in statistical analysis and interpretation. Some errors and weaknesses in terms of communication, presentation and formatting.

good

A good answer to the task brief with evidence of additional reading, and original interpretation. Good understanding of research design and statistics covered in the module. Mostly accurate statistical analysis and interpretation. Clear communication, with few errors in presentation and formatting.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the ability to design and answer basic research questions.

  2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of statistics used in psychological and sport and exercise sciences.

  3. Produce a concise scientific written research report using appropriate statistics and figures or tables to communicate data.

  4. Demonstrate the ability to productively work as part of a team by contributing, in the role of a research participant, to the research conducted within the School

  5. Demonstrate the ability to interpret a variety of different statistical outputs produced by SPSS.

  6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of research and study design used in psychological and sport and exercise sciences.

  7. Become proficient in using the statistical package SPSS: correctly inputting data, running the appropriate statistical analysis, and interpreting the output

Assessment Methods

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Lecture

Students will receive lectures that broadly explain research design and statistics. These lectures will also help students prepare for exam and coursework assessments, including the opportunity to receive feedback from peers and ask questions to staff.

 30
Workshop

Students will have workshops to further develop practical research statistics.

 10
Private study

Students are expected to devote 160 hours of guided independent study. Independent study includes individual research and reading time, peer discussion, and assessment preparation.

 160

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • research and assess paradigms, theories, principles, concepts and factual information, and apply such skills in explaining and solving problems
  • describe, synthesise, interpret, analyse and evaluate information and data relevant to a professional or vocational context
  • demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
  • work effectively independently and with others
  • take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and continuing personal and professional development
  • demonstrate evidence of competence in the scientific methods of enquiry, and interpretation and analysis of relevant data and statistical outputs.
  • develop transferable skills of relevance to careers outside of sport, health and exercise sciences.
  • communicate succinctly at a level appropriate to different audiences.

Be computer literate for the purpose of processing and disseminating data and information

Resources

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/jxh-1050.html

Reading list

The following textbooks are useful for this module, some of which are available in our library and free to read online:

Vincent, W.J. & Weir J. (2012) Statistics in Kinesiology (4th Edition), Human Kinetics. ISBN 978-1450402545.

Field, A. (2017) Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th Edition). Sage. ISBN 978-1526445766.

Courses including this module