PB411      One Unit
Methods for Social Psychology Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Alexander Goddard

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology, MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology, MSc in Social and Public Communication and MSc in Societal and Environmental Psychology. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes.

All components of this course are compulsory for students taking

  • MSc in Organisational Social Psychology
  • MSc in Psychology of Economic Life
  • MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology
  • MSc in Social and Public Communication

Course content

This course is for MSc students in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science.  It will:

1) provide an overview of methodological issues for psychological research;

2) cover core skills in research design in Psychology; and

3) provide training in core 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 research in a variety of real world contexts.

Teaching

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.

Teaching takes place in the AT.  The course has two components:

  • MY421A Qualitative Research Methods (AT)
  • MY465 Intermediate Quantitative Analysis (AT)

Formative assessment

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.
  • Haslam, S.A., & McGarty, C. (2014). Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology. London: Sage.
  • Miell, D. and Wetherwell, M. (1998) Doing Social Psychology. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

Assessment

Exam (50%), duration: 120 Minutes in the January exam period

Course participation (5%)

Project (40%)

Peer review / assessment (5%)


Key facts

Department: Methodology

Course Study Period: Autumn Term

Unit value: One unit

FHEQ Level: Level 7

CEFR Level: Null

Total students 2024/25: 133

Average class size 2024/25: 13

Controlled access 2024/25: No
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Course selection videos

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Personal development skills

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