The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their competence and independence in conducting social research using the data analysis tools covered in the programme. The goal is to give students the opportunity to use these tools in service of a research project within the academic context of social psychology and related disciplines, integrating advanced data analysis with relevant theoretical understanding and academic literature.

Within this module, students will conduct research using secondary data and report on their findings. Students are expected to build on the training they received in quantitative research methods, exploratory data analysis, data visualisation, and network analysis to develop their own research question in collaboration with their supervisor. The supervisor will provide support in developing research questions and assessing the viability of the research project.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Analyse existing literature to identify opportunities for an original research contribution to social sciences  - Design a coherent research plan for an independent research project  - Justify the research question and analytical approach in a written dissertation  - Critically evaluate the methodology and findings of their research, including limitations and implications

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Appreciate the value of advanced data analysis techniques in the development of academic knowledge   - Demonstrate confidence in conducting independent research

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In this module, students will conduct research that builds upon the contemporary methodological approaches they have encountered in their programme, such as advanced statistical techniques, data analysis and visualisation methods implemented in R, and network analysis approaches. The independent nature of the module allows students to select and apply methodological innovations most appropriate to their specific research problem, with supervisors providing support on how to implement these techniques effectively and align them with best practices. Although students need to demonstrate the ability to conduct research independently, they will be assisted by faculty members throughout the research process, for example by scheduling on-campus or online supervision meetings.   This module involves students developing all UL graduate attributes: curiosity in formulating and critically evaluating research questions, agility in adapting to analytical challenges, courage in pursuing novel methodological approaches, responsibility in their research practice, and articulation in collaborating with supervisors and communicating research findings.