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Course profile

Psychological Research Methodology (PSYC7010)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Psychology School

The aim of this course is to expand student's understanding of theory and practice of research methodology, data analysis and report writing in psychology. Topics covered include design and measurement issues, methods for analysing psychological data, procedures involved in the reporting of psychological research, and issues concerned with the interpretation of such research.

This course introduces students to the principles of behavioural data. The aim is to expand students' understanding of theory and practice of research methodology, data analysis, and report writing in psychology. Topics covered include design and measurement issues, methods for analysing psychological data, procedures involved in the reporting of psychological research, and issues concerned with the interpretation of such research.

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of this course is to expand students' understanding of theory and practice of research methodology, data analysis, and report writing in psychology. Topics covered include design and measurement issues, methods for analysing psychological data, procedures involved in the reporting of psychological research, and issues concerned with the interpretation of such research.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Critically review and apply the theoretical background of, application of, and mathematical formulation for the following statistical procedures: 1. z-test 2. Repeated measures and independent groups t-tests 3. Power 4. ANOVA 5. Correlation 6. Multiple regression 7. Non-parametric versions of each of the above

LO2.

Interpret results from statistical analyses involving multiple independent variables or predictors, and identify the implications of the results for hypotheses and research questions.

LO3.

Report and discuss the results of statistical analyses that involve multiple independent variables or predictors, following standard conventions in Psychology.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Paper/ Report/ Annotation LITERATURE REVIEW 35%

2/05/2025 4:00 pm

Presentation PRESENTATION 30%

23/05/2025

In the final workshop

Paper/ Report/ Annotation BUSINESS REPORT 35%

16/06/2025 4:00 pm

Assessment details

LITERATURE REVIEW

Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
35%
Due date

2/05/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Task description

In this Assignment 1, you will be asked to conduct and write a literature review of research relating to employee turnover. Your literature review should include

  • A description of the topic that is being investigated.
  • A summary of findings of previous studies relating to that problem.
  • A critique of the previous research and recommendations for new research that addresses the issues raised. 

Submission guidelines

Your assignment should be submitted via email attachment to the course coordinator.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

PRESENTATION

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Presentation
Weight
30%
Due date

23/05/2025

In the final workshop

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

In Assignment 2, you will be asked to deliver a presentation (in the final workshop) based on your literature review and the t-test and ANOVA analyses you've been conducting. Your presentation should include:

  • A description of the problem that may affect an organisation (drawing on appropriate academic sources to support your arguments).
  • A summary of the results of the literature review relating to the problem.
  • A description of how the data were collected and analysed.
  • A summary of the findings in non-technical language, but using figures and tables where appropriate.
  • A discussion of the implications of the findings in relation to organisational outcomes such as the physical and mental health of the employees, implications for productivity etc.

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

In case of illness, the presentation may be rescheduled to the next workshop session.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.

BUSINESS REPORT

Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
35%
Due date

16/06/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

In Assignment 3, you will be asked to write a business report. The business report builds on your presentation by incorporating the new results from your correlation and regression analyses.

Submission guidelines

The report should be submitted via email attachment to the course coordinator.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 29.99

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 46.99

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49.99

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64.99

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74.99

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84.99

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Recommended

Item Description Further Requirement
Navarro DJ and Foxcroft DR (2019). learning statistics with jamovi: a tutorial for psychology students and other beginners. (Version 0.70). DOI: 10.24384/hgc3-7p15 https://www.learnstatswithjamovi.com/
Rafi, J. (2020). The jamovi quickstart guide. https://www.jamoviguide.com/index.html

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1

(24 Feb - 02 Mar)

Lecture

Lecture 1. Overview and Z distributions

This lecture covers normal distributions and z-scores.

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 2

(03 Mar - 09 Mar)

Lecture

Lecture 2. Single sample tests

This lecture covers hypothesis-testing, single sample tests (when the POPULATION variance is known (Z test) and the POPULATION variance is not known (single sample t test).

Learning outcomes: L01

Workshop

Workshop 1. Overview and Literature Review

In this workshop, we'll discuss the aims and objectives of this course, and learn how to conduct a literature review.

Learning outcomes: L02

Week 3

(10 Mar - 16 Mar)

Lecture

Lecture 3. t-tests

This lecture covers two sample tests, using the same people twice (repeated measures t-test) and two different groups (independent groups t-test). We will also cover the assumptions of t-tests

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 4

(17 Mar - 23 Mar)

Lecture

Lecture 4. Power and effect size

This lecture covers power and effect size.

Learning outcomes: L01

Workshop

Workshop 2. Working with Data

In this workshop, we will begin working with data. We'll focus on data management and data visualisation.

Learning outcomes: L02

Week 5

(24 Mar - 30 Mar)

Lecture

Lecture 5. ANOVA I (one-way independent groups)

This lecture is the first of four lectures covering the most frequently used analysis for group designs: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). An overview of one-way ANOVA will be presented, including the calculation of the omnibus test, partitioning of variance, and the underlying structural model.

Learning outcomes: L01

Workshop

Workshop 3. t-tests and ANOVA

In this workshop, we will learn how to run and interpret the results of statistical tests. We'll being with t-tests and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) using JOMAVI.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 6

(31 Mar - 06 Apr)

Lecture

Lecture 6. ANOVA II (Follow-up tests)

This lecture continues from the calculation of the omnibus tests of the overall one-way to assess group differences using planned comparisons and post-hoc tests.

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 7

(07 Apr - 13 Apr)

Lecture

Lecture 7. ANOVA III (Repeated Measures)

This is the third lecture on ANOVA. In this lecture, students will be shown how the analysis of variance can be used to test repeated time points.

Learning outcomes: L01

Workshop

Workshop 4. Correlation and Regression I

In this workshop, we will continue running and interpreting statistical analyses, focusing this time on correlation and regression analyses.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 8

(14 Apr - 20 Apr)

Lecture

Lecture 8. ANOVA IV Factorial & Non-Parametric

This lecture is the fourth lecture on ANOVA and begins a new topic on analyses that can be used to test data that do not meet the assumptions required to use t-tests or ANOVA.

Learning outcomes: L01

Mid-sem break

(21 Apr - 27 Apr)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

Mid-semester break: No lecture this week.

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 9

(28 Apr - 04 May)

Lecture

Lecture 9: Chi-Square

This lecture will focus on the Chi-Square tests.

Learning outcomes: L01

Workshop

Workshop 5. Correlation and Regression II

In this workshop, we will continue with correlation and regression analyses.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 10

(05 May - 11 May)

Lecture

Lecture 10. Correlations I

This lecture introduces correlations, focusing on the calculation of r, variance accounted (r square), and non-parametric versions of r.

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 11

(12 May - 18 May)

Lecture

Lecture 11. Correlation II & Regression

In this lecture, the concept of correlation (relationship between two variables) is extended to regression (using a known association to make a prediction).

Learning outcomes: L01

Workshop

Workshop 6. Presentations

In this workshop, students will deliver their presentations.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 12

(19 May - 25 May)

Lecture

Lecture 12. Regression

In this final lecture, the concept of regression is further extended.

Learning outcomes: L01

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: