Psychological Research Skills 5b module (PY52008)

Statistical techniques related to correlation and regression are of central importance in empirical (evidence-based) research within many disciplines (e.g. psychology, sociology, economics, and medicine).

Therefore, learning the essential features of these techniques and acquiring an ability to use them proficiently is very important for a wide range of professionals.

This module covers a variety of statistical techniques based on correlation and regression, which will then be used in the analysis of research data.

Although these are fairly sophisticated techniques, the module does not assume a great deal of previous knowledge about statistics and will cover the basic concepts behind them.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• learn the concepts (e.g. z-scores, standard normal distribution) necessary for a proper understanding of statistical techniques based on correlation and regression
• learn to use advanced correlation techniques, simple and multiple regression, regression with categorical predictors, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• analyse, interpret and write up data resulting from psychological studies. 
• use statistical techniques based on correlation and regression proficiently, and know which of these techniques need to be used in different research contexts
• use a range of advanced software products in the generation of reports, including conducting advanced statistical tests. 
• use advanced software to generate data visualisations of research results and to effectively communicate these through written or visual form. 
• critically evaluate old and modern research in psychology through assessment of written, statistical, and graphical elements of research papers.

Assignments / assessment

• ten weekly quizzes (10%)
  • given during the weekly workshops
  • each quiz will have 10 multiple-choice questions
• results sections write-up (15%)
  • you will be presented with a research scenario and a dataset related to that scenario, and asked to perform and write up the results of some statistical analyses
• practical report (25%)
  • you will be given a large dataset and asked to choose and analyse some of the date
  • the results of your analyses will be written up in a report
• final exam (50%)
  • based on 36 multiple-choice questions

Teaching methods / timetable

• weekly one-hour lectures
  • ten lectures in total
• weekly one-hour in-person workshops
  • workshops allow you to practice the statistical techniques discussed in the lectures via practical exercises
  • the exercises will require the use of SPSS
  • a PhD demonstrator will be present to help and assist
• four practical sessions
  • includes a feedback session on your practical report
  • designed to allow you to put into practice some of the statistical techniques learned in lectures