M48 Doing Social Psychological Research
Aims and Learning Outcomes
This module aims to provide students with theoretical and methodological expertise to conduct social psychological research.
By the end of this module students are expected
- to be trained reading both theoretical and empirical work critically, and to apply existing literatures to their own research in informed and systematic ways.
- to be knowledgeable about a range of methods, techniques and tools to empower them to make informed choices about how to conduct their own empirical research
- to have an advanced understanding of the relationship between theoretical constructs and the appropriate methods of investigation in social psychology.
Course Convenor
Dr Peter Hegarty
Other Contributors
Dr Adrian Coyle, Professor Chris Fife-Schaw
Contact Hours
20
Required Prerequisite Study
None.
Completion Requirement
Completion of the module (and the acquisition of 15 Course credits) requires a total of 20 contact hours (in the form of lectures). Students are also required to invest a minimum of 100 hours of study time in completion of the module and to successfully complete the assignments
Assessments
Knowledge and understanding is assessed by two (unmarked) written assignments and three formal written coursework assignments.
Suggested Reading
American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Bem, D. (2002). Writing the Empirical Journal Article. In J. M. Darley, M. P. Zanna, & H. L. Roediger III, (Eds.) The Compleat Academic: A Career Guide. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Available at http://comp9.psych.cornell.edu/dbem/writing_article.html).
Breakwell, G.M., Fife-Schaw, C., & Hammond, S. (Ed.). (2000). Research methods in psychology. London: Sage.
Campbell, D.T., & Stanley, J.C. (1963). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research. Chicago: Rand McNally.
Cook, T.D., & Campbell, D.T. (1979). Quasi-experimentation: Design & Analysis Issues for field settings. Chicago: Rand McNally.
Haslam, S.A., & McGarty, C. (2003). Research methods and statistics in psychology. London: Sage.
Hendrick, C., & Clark, M.S. (Eds.). (1990). Research methods in personality and social psychology. London: Sage.
Judd, C.M., Smith, E.R., & Kidder, L.H. (1991). Research methods in social relations. Fort Worth: Hardcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Reis, H.T., & Judd, C.M. (2000). Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Richardson, J.T.E. (1996). Handbook of qualitative research methods for psychology and the social sciences. Leicester: British Psychological Society.
Smith, J. A. (2003). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. London: Sage.
Willig, C. (2001). Introducing qualitative research in psychology: Adventures in theory and method. Buckingham: Open University Press.