PSYCHOL 1004 - Research Methods in Psychology
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PSYCHOL 1004 Course Research Methods in Psychology Coordinating Unit Psychology Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible PSYCHOL 1005 Restrictions Students studying the BPsychSc Program from 2018 need to enrol in PSYCHOL 1005 (restricted to BPsychSc Students) Assessment Online quiz; written assessment; tutorial attendance engagement tasks Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Deanne Green
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
1 Understand and apply the fundamental principles of the research process as they relate to answering research questions in psychology 2 Critically annalyse information particularly in relation to identifying causal and spurious relations in research claims 3 Make decisions about the appropriate use of basic research techniques and research design as they apply to answering different psychological questions 4 Utilize specific research skills as they relate to the development and implementation of research designs in psychology, including experimental manipulation, operationalizing variables, measurement, and making decisions about validity and reliability 5 Effectively interpret and communicate research findings 6 Identify appropriate techniques underlying different research approaches University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
1 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
1, 6 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
4 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
2 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Recommended Resources
Recommended Text
Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences
6th Edition; published by Cengage
Authors: Frederick J Gravetter & Lori-Ann B Forzano
This book is available as an e-book ($67.45).
However, I strongly recommend that you also purchase the online resources that accompany the e-book because the total package is only an extra 4 dollars: $71.95 (i.e., e-book + online resources).
The additional online materials include practice MCQs, which you will find invaluable for testing your knowledge as you go along.
To purchase, click on the link in the MyUni website of this course - under 'Textbook' in the Course Information module.
Barr Smith Library – Psychology on the Web
The Library is a major resource centre for students. See http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.
Online Learning
In this course you will participate in online learning environments via MyUni (https://auth.adelaide.edu.au/login). In your online learning you will read, listen to a number of presentations, be expected to participate in online discussions via discussion boards, and complete and submit assessments online.
This course may also use MyUni for one or more of the following:
• Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
• Submission of summative assessment- Access to lecture recordings
• Access to tutorial materials
• Additional readings
• Self-directed learning activities
• Exam preparation materials
Link to MyUni:
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is about doing psychology. The focus is less on lecturing, and emphatically on students engaging with research principles and techniques in psychology. Thus, the bulk of the course is concerned with students doing - that is, engaging in activities during contact times to solve problems and undertake tasks that are closely related to lecture content. To facilitate this, contact will be structured such that there will be initial pre-recorded lecture content made available at the start of the week, during which time basic principles will be introduced. Students may listen to and engage with these presentations at a time of their choosing. In the majority of teaching weeks there will be interactive sessions in the lecture theatre where an academic member of staff will lead and guide students through key conceptual points, illustrating them with reference to actual research, and engaging students with research-related problems that need to be solved. There are also 6 weeks of tutorials, where key concepts are further explored through practice and implementation and small group work.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
There are four assessment products
[1] Conceptual knowledge MCQ quiz = 20%
Preparing for and completing this assignment = approximately 20 hours
[2] Tutorial engagement = 15%.
Tutorial attendance = 6 hours
Preparing for and completing this assignment = approximately 6 hours
[3] Research report covering concepts and principles addressed in the first eight weeks of the course = 30%. Preparing for and completing this assignment = approximately 45 hours
[4] End of semester exam = 35%. This exam is multiple-choice and open book and will be submitted online in week 12. The exam items will be provided to students approximately 5 weeks ahead of the submission date.
Preparing for the exam = 45 hours
* Lecture theatre interactive sessions = 10 hours
* Pre-recorded online lecture material + revision = approximately 25 hours
TOTAL = 157 HOURS
Disclaimer: Assessment details are provisional and subject to change.Learning Activities Summary
Week 1 Housekeeping; the scientific method and the research process Week 2 Operationalizing constructs; IVs and DVs; Ways of measuring; Types of data; Questionnaire design Week 3 Validity and Reliability Week 4 Experimental design; Repeated measured design; Random selection vs random assignment; Week 5 Non-experimental design; 3rd variable problems; threats to validity Week 6 Describing data Examining relations between variables Week 7 Examining differences between groups/conditions; Turning research questions into testable hypotheses Week 8 no session: submit applied paper Week 9 Ethics Week 10 Longitudinal and pre-post designs Week 11 Quasi-experimental design; thematic analysis; coding qualitative data and examing relations between categorical variables Week 12 no session: Exam submission
Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome Research report Summative 30% 1-6 Open book MCQ exam administered internally in week 12 Summative 35% 1-6 Tutorial engagement Summative 15% 1-4, 6 Conceptual knowledge MCQ quiz Summative 20% 1-3, 6 Assessment Detail
• Applied paper: This assignment will require students to demonstrate understanding of key concepts as covered in the first 8 weeks of the course, and demonstrate how to apply these concepts and principles.
* End of semester open book multiple choice exam: The items in this exam test ability to apply learning. Thus, the vast majority of items in the exam are problem-based [as opposed to testing knowledge of facts].
* Conceptual knowledge quiz: Tests knowledge of key concepts
* Tutorial engagement: tests extent to which students engaged with tutorial material.
Disclaimer: These assessment details are provisional and subject to changeSubmission
No information currently available.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
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- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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