PYB210 Research Design and Data Analysis

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

PYB210 extends on the analytical methods you learnt in PYB110 and prepares you for the more complex research designs you will engage with in PYB350. Research design, data analysis and associated digital capabilities are core skills in the discipline of psychology and integral to the scientist-practitioner model and are skills highly valued by employers of psychology graduates. A sound understanding of research design and data analysis will build your ability to work with and interpret data from a variety of sources, enabling you to critique research, and to apply an evidence-based approach to problem solving, invaluable skills in a wide variety of careers. PYB210  will develop your knowledge of research design, data collection methods and analysis, providing you with a theoretical grounding in analysis of variance techniques, regression, and qualitative methods, the practical ability to employ analytic software to conduct analyses and to interpret and report these analyses.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply an understanding of the major principles of the scientific method underpinning quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to answer research questions or test hypotheses.
2. Select, conduct, interpret and report appropriate statistical analyses (e.g. correlation, regression, 1 Way ANOVA), to answer research questions or test hypotheses in simple research designs from a variety of options and sources
3. Employ digital capabilities to analyse data and communicate results professionally.
4. Employ knowledge of research design and analysis to critically evaluate the conduct and interpretation of psychological research.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit takes a research design approach to data analysis, where quantitative and qualitative analyses are viewed as a step in a larger process which includes formulating theoretically sound research questions or hypotheses, selecting suitable research methodologies, data collection methods and analyses to answer research questions or test hypotheses. PYB210 uses a program of lectures to provide you with theoretical understanding and tutorials which will develop your practical data analysis skills. The lectures are recorded and a wide range of learning resources are available on CANVAS. Additional Maths and IT support is provided through the Faculty Student Success Group The teaching program and resources will provide you with a sound theoretical understanding of research design and data analysis techniques. Completing the progressive quizzes will help you to test your understanding and keep up to date with the unit content. In the laboratory classes, an action-based learning approach is taken where you will complete exercises designed to build a corpus of skill in the areas of experimental design, the use of statistical analysis software, key qualitative methodologies and analyses, reporting results, and the interpretation of data. The unit is intended to promote your learning by encouraging active participation in classes and to guide you in how to engage in critical inquiry when reviewing the research design and analysis techniques in psychology.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

There will be many opportunities for you to develop your understanding and skills and to obtain feedback throughout the program. Answers to tutorial or practice quiz exercises will be provided for you to check your understanding as the semester progresses. Feedback will also be given during tutorials in response to your performance on tasks and activities in tutorials. Summative feedback of your achievement of skills will be provided through the assessment tasks detailed below.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in this unit includes progressive online quizzes which will require you to critically assess research designs and evaluate and interpret data analyses; a problem solving task in which you are required to analyse data and write up the results and interpret results in the context of the research design, and a final examination. In all cases, these items of assessment are designed to ensure that you understand, and can apply, the concepts taught in the unit. Detailed assignment information and marking criteria will be provided.

You are required to electronically submit all written assignments for content matching checks.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Online Quizzes

The online quizzes will require you to answer questions and critically assess different research designs, and analysis techniques and to interpret data analysis output. Quizzes are due progressively throughout the semester and provide you with the opportunity to assess your understanding of the unit content.

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

You are a member of research team developing a paper for publication. You will be given the research scenario and data that the team is working on. Your task is to analyse and interpret the data in the context of the research design. Your research team has also asked that you evaluate the strengths and limitations of the design and the implications of these on the conclusions you draw from your findings.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Final Examination

The final exam will be held during the examination period and will consist of multiple choice questions which test your knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, and key analytic approaches covered in this unit. Questions will also require you to interpret output from the statistical analyses covered in the unit. 

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

PY45 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)

1. Describe and evaluate the core scientific perspectives of psychology with reference to theories, methods and research, from diverse perspectives, including first-nations perspectives.
   Relates to: Online Quizzes , Problem Solving Task, Final Examination
2. Critically examine the scientific discipline of psychological research and theories using oral, written and digital communication to address psychological issues in a respectful, ethical and professional manner.
   Relates to: Online Quizzes , Problem Solving Task, Final Examination
3. Implement a range of digital capabilities to access, examine and utilise evidence-based information in the context of effectively responding to, and communicating, real world problems.
   Relates to: Online Quizzes , Problem Solving Task, Final Examination