Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

40.000 Credits or 20.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Awel Vaughan-Evans

The aim of this module is to provide students with first-hand experience of conducting psychological research. This will further develop their skills in collating and reviewing literature, experimental design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation. It also gives students the opportunity to develop their planning, organizational and team-working abilities.

Students will be engage with all aspects of the research process, including designing experiments, considering ethical issues, testing participants, analysing data, and writing research reports.

threshold

• Knowledge of key research areas/principles only • Weaknesses in understanding of the research area • Limited evidence of background study into topic • Research report only poorly focussed on question and with some irrelevant material and poor structure • Arguments presented but lack coherence • Several factual/computational errors • No original interpretation • Only major links between topics are described • Limited problem solving • Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy

good

Good • Strong knowledge of the research area • Understands most but not all of the research area • Evidence of background study into topic • Focussed research report with good structure • Arguments presented coherently • Mostly free of factual/computational errors • Some limited original interpretation • Well known links between topics described • Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches • Good presentation with accurate communication

excellent

• Comprehensive knowledge of research area • Detailed understanding of research area • Extensive background study into topic • Highly focussed and well structured research report • Logically presented and defended arguments • No factual/computational errors • Original interpretation • New links between topics are developed • New approach to the research problem • Excellent presentation with very accurate communication

1. 1. Present research in a short oral presentation.
2. 1. Produce an original piece of forensic psychology research work in the form of a final year project.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
DISSERTATION	Dissertation	Students will write a research report to effectively communicate the research conducted as part of this module. The dissertation will contain all the usual elements of a research report (abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, appendices), and must be APA formatted. Before submitting the final version, students will receive written feedback on drafts of their introduction, methods and results.	90.00
ORAL	Oral presentation	This part of the module is split into two sections: POPPS and the final oral presentation. Both elements are worth 5% of the grade, however the POPPS element will be exemption based. If you do not complete the final oral presentation, you will receive a grade of 0 for the entire component.	10.00

		Hours
Tutorial	As part of the dissertation project, you should have regular meetings with your supervisor. The amount indicated here should be used as a guideline, however students should have regular consultations with their supervisor once every two weeks.	12
Tutorial	The module organiser will hold weekly 2-hour drop-in sessions throughout both semesters. Students may attend these drop-in sessions without making an appointment. Students may ask questions about the module, the research process and/or the module assignments during these sessions, however they may not ask the module organiser to read over or provide feedback on a draft assignment. Students should contact their individual research supervisors for draft feedback.	44
Workshop	Psychology Oral Presentation Practice Sessions (POPPS) In semester 1, students will attend weekly 1-hour POPPS sessions. In these sessions, students will continue to develop their oral presentation skills, to prepare them for the final oral presentation, held in semester 2.	11
Individual Project	As this is a 40 credit module, students should spend 400 hours working on the module. Supervisor meetings, module drop-ins and POPPS classes contribute to these hours, however you should use the remaining hours to work on your project. Students should use this time to: • Conduct a thorough review of the literature in their chosen field • Contribute to the design and development of their research project • Consider the ethical implications of their research project • Collect participant data • Analyse the research project data • Plan and complete their assignments (oral presentation; dissertation draft & final version) • Develop a clear understanding of the module's content note that this list is not comprehensive	333

• 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
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• 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

• Understand the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.
• Apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues and integrate ideas and findings across the multiple perspectives in psychology.
• Communicate psychological concepts effectively in written form.
• Communicate psychological concepts effectively in oral form.
• Be computer literate for the purpose of processing and disseminating psychological data and information.
• Retrieve and organise information effectively.
• Handle primary source material critically.
• Engage in effective teamwork for the purpose of collaborating on psychological projects.
• Be sensitive and react appropriately to contextual and interpersonal psychological factors.
• Use effectively personal planning and project management skills.
• Work effectively under pressure (time pressure, limited resources, etc) as independent and pragmatic learners.
• Problem-solve by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions, making critical judgements, and evaluating outcomes.
• Reason scientifically and demonstrate the relationship between theory and evidence.
• Carry out empirical studies by operationalizing research questions, generating hypotheses, collecting data using a variety of methods, analysing data using quantitative and/or qualitative methods, and present and evaluate research findings (under appropriate supervision).
• Comprehend and use psychological data effectively, demonstrating a systematic knowledge of the application and limitations of various research paradigms and techniques.
• Use a range of statistical methods with confidence.
• Employ evidence-based reasoning and examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with the use of different methodologies, paradigms and methods of analysis in psychology.
• Use a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software, laboratory equipment and psychometric instruments.
• Be aware of ethical principles and approval procedures.

Compulsory in courses:

• C813: BSc Psychology with Forensic Psychology year 3 (BSC/PSYFP)
• C84B: BSc Psychology with Forensic Psych (4 yr with Incorp Foundn) year 3 (BSC/PSYFP1)
• C81P: BSc Psychology with Forensic Psychology with Placement Year year 4 (BSC/PSYFPP)