PS4A5     
Methods for Social Psychology Research: Fundamental Qualitative and Fundamental Quantitative Methods

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Bradley Franks QUE.3.03

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Health, Community and Development, MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology, MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology and MSc in Social and Public Communication. This course is not available as an outside option.

All components of this course are compulsory for students' taking degree programmes in the Department of Social Psychology.

Course content

This course is for all MSc students' in the Department of Social Psychology.  It will: 1) provide an overview of methodological issues for Social Psychological research; 2) cover core skills in research design in Social Psychology; and 3) provide training in core Social Psychological methods of analysing quantitative and qualitative data. By the end of the course as a whole, students' will be equipped with methodological skills that will enable them to conduct empirical research for their MSc dissertation and possibly research after the MSc.

Teaching

All teaching takes place in the MT.  The course has three components: 1) PS4AA which consists of 10 hours of teaching on methodological issues and research design, including a new MY course on the designing of experiments and questionnaires; 2) MY421M Qualitative Research Methods; and 3) MY465 Intermediate Quantitative Course

Formative coursework

Students will follow the formative work requirements on the MY course(s) that they take under each stream.

Indicative reading

Bauer, M. and Gaskell, G. (2000) Qualitative researching with text, image and sound - a practical handbook London, Sage Breakwell, G. Foot, H. and Gilmour. (1988) Doing Social Psychology: Laboratory and Field Exercises. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Miell, D. and Wetherwell, M. (1998) Doing Social Psychology. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

Assessment

Other (100%) in the MT, LT and ST.

Students will be assessed according to the elements of teaching that they take on this course (see ‘teaching’ information provided).

Key facts

Department: Social Psychology

Total students 2014/15: Unavailable

Average class size 2014/15: Unavailable

Controlled access 2014/15: No

Lecture capture used 2014/15: Yes (MT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills