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Last modified: 12 May 2026 10:46
The main aim of this course is to help students prepare and run their own Psychological research. As such this is a ‘hands-on’ course, where students will have the opportunity to conduct a qualitative research project and practice using statistical software for a variety of statistical analyses. The course provides a thorough grounding in qualitative and quantitative research methods through a lecture series. Examples of topics covered in the course include verification and falsification of results; understanding reliability and validity, ANOVA and qualitative research strategies.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to prepare and conduct their own psychological research. Emphasising a hands-on approach, the course offers students the opportunity to design and carry out a qualitative research project, as well as gain experience using statistical software to perform a range of quantitative analyses. Through an integrated lecture series and practical computer classes, students will develop a strong foundation in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Topics include verification and falsification of research findings, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and core qualitative research strategies.
This course also introduces students to key principles of psychological assessment. They will learn about the measurement of reliability and validity and why these concepts are so important in research and professional psychology practice. Psychological assessment is widely used by chartered psychologists across clinical, occupational, and forensic settings, and this course provides an overview of psychometric theory alongside real-world applications of testing and measurement. Students will explore the legal and ethical considerations involved in test administration, ensuring they understand both best practices and professional responsibilities. Examples of topics include the assessment component include IQ and mood measurement, clinical neuropsychological tests assessing cognitive dysfunction and memory, assessment approaches for dementia, and forensic aspects of testing such as the detection of legal malingering. This is ideal for students preparing for careers in applied psychology, offering a comprehensive blend of research training and assessment expertise essential for professional practice.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 | Feedback Weeks | 18 | |
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the principles of quantitative and qualitative psychological research. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 55 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 19,20 | Feedback Weeks | 24 | |
| Feedback |
A 2-hour on-campus Multiple-Choice Questions Exam worth 55% of the overall grade. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the principles of quantitative and qualitative psychological research. |
| Procedural | Apply | Analyse statistical outputs generated through software (e.g., SPSS, JASP, R). |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 13 | Feedback Weeks | 15 | |
| Feedback |
A 3,000-word Group Lab Report worth 40% of the overall grade. Written feedback provided via MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Apply knowledge of psychological research to design and implement research activities. |
| Procedural | Create | Clearly communicate research findings orally and in writing. |
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
5 formative Online SPSS Lab Assignments. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Analyse statistical outputs generated through software (e.g., SPSS, JASP, R). |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the principles of psychometrics and how they apply to assessment of specific populations. |
| Procedural | Create | Clearly communicate research findings orally and in writing. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the principles of quantitative and qualitative psychological research. |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply knowledge of psychological research to design and implement research activities. |
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