Applied Research Methods (ARM): Planning & Designing Research

Module overview

The Applied Research Methods Modules cover the common needs for training in research methods and statistics of all students in their first year of postgraduate study in psychology. As one of a series of research units, it provides trainees with knowledge and skills to develop proficiency in the Health Professions Council (HPC) Standards of Proficiency (SOP).

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This is a 10 CATS (5 ECTS) module, which translates into a total study time of 100 hours. These 100 hours are split into 18 teaching hours and 82 hours of independent study. Teaching will consist of six three hour long workshop sessions. During teaching sessions a variety of teaching and learning methods will be used including lecture presentations; group work (for example role play of an ethics committee, assessing research questions and forming hypotheses, discussing study designs), using a computer to conduct literature searches and calculations. Opportunities for formative assessment and feedback are built into the module in the form of in-class teaching and learning activities. Staff provide verbal feedback during these activities to help you gauge and develop your knowledge and understanding. Test-yourself multiple choice questions (with automated feedback/answers) are available on Blackboard so that you can evaluate your own knowledge and understanding.

Study time
Type	Hours
Independent Study	70
Preparation for scheduled sessions	12
Lecture	18
Total study time	100

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

Jacobson, N. S. & Truax, P. (1991). Clinical significance: a statistical approach to defining meaningful change in psychotherapy research.". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59(1), pp. pg.12-19.

Textbooks

Marks, D. F. & Yardley, L (2004). Research methods for clinical and health psychology. London: Sage.

Barker, C. Pistrang, N. & Elliott, R. (2015). Research Methods in Clinical Psychology: Anintroduction for Students and Practitioners. Sussex: Wiley.

Field, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. London: Sage.

British Psychological Society (2021). BPS Code of Human Research Ethics.

Morley, S. (2018). Single-case methods in clinical psychology. Routledge.

American Psychological Association (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Assessment

Assessment strategy

Exam

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Exam	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Exam	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External