Postgraduate - UnitPSY4051 - Research design and analysis

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit	School of Psychological Sciences
Offered	Monash Online Teaching Period 5 2014 (Online)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Matthew Mundy

Synopsis

This unit covers at a more advanced level topics in research design and analysis presented in first-year psychology. Students will further develop their understanding of the research process and some of the most commonly used methods of statistical analysis. Students will also become familiar with the statistical software package, SPSS. Topics covered include: parametric and nonparametric procedures to compare two or more independent or matched samples; correlation and linear regression; planned and post hoc comparison techniques; power and sample size considerations; interpretation of output; experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research strategies; between- and within-subjects designs; and ethics.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will have the ability to:

Critically review methodological, ethical and statistical issues associated with designing and evaluating empirical research within the discipline of psychology.
Communicate scientific ideas, procedures, results, and conclusions using appropriate language, formats, and digital technology.
Analyse single-factor quantitative data by selecting the appropriate statistical test, evaluating its assumptions, and interpreting test results within the applicable boundaries.
Apply IT skills to enter, organise, and analyse data (e.g., using statistical software, such as SPSS).
Formulate research questions and apply problem-solving skills to develop a plan for systematically addressing these questions through empirical research.

Assessment

Weekly lab exercises (200 words per week) (6 x 5% = 30%)
Applied research design task (1,500 words) (35%)
Secure online examination (40 mins per exam) (10% + 10% + 15% = 35%)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Matthew Mundy

Workload requirements

Students should expect to spend an average of 15-20 hours per week on this unit. This time will cover:

video lecture materials (1 hour);
synchronous & asynchronous discussion (1-2 hours);
synchronous web-based 'class-time' for skills-based activities (2 hours);
weekly readings (4-5 hours);
weekly skills-based assessment tasks (4-6 hours); and
content-based assessment (4-5 hours, including revision and formative assessment).