Module Code - Title:
PS4901
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EMPIRICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
The purpose of this research methods module is to familiarise students with a range of laboratory-based activities and psychometric testing in psychology and to develop students ability to design, collect, code and analyse empirical data using experimental methodologies and psychometrics testing. This module is designed to give students and in-depth understanding of the rationale of the procedures, to develop students critical reflection on these procedures and to develop students independent research skills.
Syllabus:
This module primarily covers experimental research methods and psychological testing methodologies to assess behaviour, mental processes and personality characteristics. The laboratory part of the module introduces students it basic experimental procedures and their underlying concepts e.g. randomisation, experimenter bias, confounding variables, quasi-experiment. The module also covers the rationale of scale constructions and test constructions to assess individual differences. Students learn to design, conduct, code and analyse experimental psychometric test data whilst paying due consideration to the welfare of participants and attending to the appropriate ethical guidelines. Students will demonstrate independent research skills in two research projects based on the procedures that are taught. The tutorials are designed to critically reflect on the purpose and rationale of the research methods.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Understand the rationale of experimental research, scale constructions and psychometric testing .
Assess the quality of the psychological research methods and applications.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Display confidence in using research designs.
Embrace the research designs that psychological research offers
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Demonstrate to independently design basic psychological studies and psychometric tests.
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will be taught in lab sessions and tutorials. The teaching style will be interactive. In addition, students will have to demonstrate independent research and submit coursework that summarises their research activities and that discusses the pros and cons of the research procedures that they applied.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Devellis, R.F. (2003)
Scale Development: Theory and Applications (2e)
, London: Sage
Maxwell, S.E. and Delaney H.D. (2004)
Designing Experiments and Analyzing Data, A Model Comparison Perspective (2e)
, Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum
Pallant, J. (2007)
The SPSS Survival Guide (3e)
, New York: McGraw Hill Education
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
sandra.obrien@ul.ie