2024
Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
Name: Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
Code: PSI11091L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Psychology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
General
? Acquire a reflective attitude, critically and ethically based, about using research methods in psychology.
? Demonstrates competence to conceive and write an empirical research project in psychology.
Specific
-Demonstrates competence in using documental databases and analyzing critically empirical research reports.
? Demonstrates competence to report the participants? characteristics, or a corpus, and the adequate procedures to analyze a research problem.
? Demonstrates competence in writing a research project according to the American Psychological Association?s guidelines.
? Acquire a reflective attitude, critically and ethically based, about using research methods in psychology.
? Demonstrates competence to conceive and write an empirical research project in psychology.
Specific
-Demonstrates competence in using documental databases and analyzing critically empirical research reports.
? Demonstrates competence to report the participants? characteristics, or a corpus, and the adequate procedures to analyze a research problem.
? Demonstrates competence in writing a research project according to the American Psychological Association?s guidelines.
Contents
1. Quantitative and qualitative research in psychology: divergences/convergences
2. Formulation of research problems in psychology: critical analysis of references to establish goals and hypotheses or research questions
3. Interplay between problems and methods in quantitative research
3.1 Population and sampling
3.2 Data generation/collection: observer/observation, interview, tests/questionnaires, and experimental devices
3.3 Formulating and testing hypotheses and variables? status and metrics
3.4 Experimental method: origins, stages, and internal/external validity of experimental and clinical-experimental research models
3.5 Correlational research: origins, explanation vs. description, and internal/external validity in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
4. Interplay between problems and methods in qualitative research
4.1 Case studies and ethnographic studies
4.2 Content analysis
5. Interdependency between ethical and technical aspects in psychological research
2. Formulation of research problems in psychology: critical analysis of references to establish goals and hypotheses or research questions
3. Interplay between problems and methods in quantitative research
3.1 Population and sampling
3.2 Data generation/collection: observer/observation, interview, tests/questionnaires, and experimental devices
3.3 Formulating and testing hypotheses and variables? status and metrics
3.4 Experimental method: origins, stages, and internal/external validity of experimental and clinical-experimental research models
3.5 Correlational research: origins, explanation vs. description, and internal/external validity in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
4. Interplay between problems and methods in qualitative research
4.1 Case studies and ethnographic studies
4.2 Content analysis
5. Interdependency between ethical and technical aspects in psychological research
Teaching Methods
Theoretical classes
Quantitative and qualitative research are contrasted regarding epistemological foundations, methodological strategies, and the role of the researcher, highlighting the virtues of using mixed methods. The stages of empirical research in psychology, based on qualitative and qualitative models, methods, and techniques, are discussed. The work performed throughout the semester is supported by reading sheets to prepare answers for an individual knowledge acquisition test.
Practical classes
Writing an empirical research project on students? adaptation to Higher Education. To support this work, performed in small groups, a script with objectives and planning and a tutorial with guidelines for writing the project sections are provided and discussed. A task will also be performed to build a research protocol and collect data via an online platform.
Quantitative and qualitative research are contrasted regarding epistemological foundations, methodological strategies, and the role of the researcher, highlighting the virtues of using mixed methods. The stages of empirical research in psychology, based on qualitative and qualitative models, methods, and techniques, are discussed. The work performed throughout the semester is supported by reading sheets to prepare answers for an individual knowledge acquisition test.
Practical classes
Writing an empirical research project on students? adaptation to Higher Education. To support this work, performed in small groups, a script with objectives and planning and a tutorial with guidelines for writing the project sections are provided and discussed. A task will also be performed to build a research protocol and collect data via an online platform.
Assessment
Continuous Assessment Scheme
Attendance at 75% of classes is compulsory to pass the course, and also obtain a minimum mark of 9.5/20 in each of the following components.
(1) Assessment of group work (maximum of 3 students) performed during the semester: an empirical research project (40%). An oral defense of the group work may be requested.
(2) Construction, in group, of a research protocol and online data collection (5%).
(3) Individual assessment performed during exam periods: an open-book test of acquired knowledge (55%).
Final Assessment Scheme
The final assessment is individual and results from combining two elements: a knowledge assessment test (60%) and a research project (40%). A mark equal to or greater than 9.5/20 will be considered for the final classification.
Attendance at 75% of classes is compulsory to pass the course, and also obtain a minimum mark of 9.5/20 in each of the following components.
(1) Assessment of group work (maximum of 3 students) performed during the semester: an empirical research project (40%). An oral defense of the group work may be requested.
(2) Construction, in group, of a research protocol and online data collection (5%).
(3) Individual assessment performed during exam periods: an open-book test of acquired knowledge (55%).
Final Assessment Scheme
The final assessment is individual and results from combining two elements: a knowledge assessment test (60%) and a research project (40%). A mark equal to or greater than 9.5/20 will be considered for the final classification.
Teaching Staff
- António Augusto Pinto Moreira Diniz [responsible]
- João Nuno Ribeiro Viseu
Certificações
