PB130     
Statistics and Research Methods for Psychological and Behavioural Science

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Thomas Curran CON 3.16

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Psychological and Behavioural Science. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

Course content

This course equips students with the bedrock knowledge and skills for conducting research in psychology and behavioural science. It integrates core concepts from the process of planning and conducting research with those involved in understanding and analysing data. Its lectures and classes introduce enough research methods and statistics to provide a foundation for Years 2 and 3. Students will be provided with a dataset that they can use to put what they learn into practice, as well as having the opportunity to collect and analyse data of their own.

This course aims to:

• To situate contemporary research in psychology and behavioural science in the historical context of psychological enquiry;

• To convey an understanding of the processes required in planning, carrying out, summarising, and evaluating research in psychological and behavioural science;

• To introduce principles for designing, conducting, and writing up qualitative and quantitative research projects;

• To introduce statistical methods needed to familiarise oneself with a dataset, summarise its key features, and identify key relationships among variables;

• To provide practical experience of collecting and analysing psychological and/or behavioural data.

• To prepare students for later courses in statistics and research methods for psychological and behavioural science

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, lab sessions and classes totalling a minimum of 84.5 hours across Michaelmas Term and Lent Term. There is a reading week in Week 6 of Michaelmas Term and Week 6 of Lent Term. In response to the current situation, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of live online classes, Q+A sessions, online lab sessions and pre-recorded short online videos. You will receive the same amount of teaching whether you are on campus or online.

Formative coursework

Students will complete a number of pieces of formative work to cement learning and prepare for summative assessments.

Indicative reading

Many readings will be made available via the PB130 GitHub.

Assessment

Exam (30%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Project (30%, 2500 words) and other (30%) in the LT.
Poster (10%) in the MT.

Key facts

Department: Psychological and Behavioural Science

Total students 2019/20: 31

Average class size 2019/20: 25

Capped 2019/20: Yes (36)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.