Students

PSYU3351 – Research Methods in Psychology

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Ian Stephen
Contact via Email
By appointment
Lecturer
Alissa Beath
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By appointment
Lecturer
Emily Cross
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By appointment
Lecturer
Ella Oar
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By appointment
Tutor
Timothy Marsh
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By appointment
Tutor
Madison Kho
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By appointment
Tutor
Karina Chan
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By appointment
Tutor
Samiul Hossain
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By appointment
Tutor
Brad Skinner
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By appointment
Student Centre Administrator
Novello Alday
Contact via email
By appointment
Kevin Brooks
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
((Admission to BPsych(Hons) and 60cp in PSY or PSYU or PSYX units at 2000 level including (PSY248 or PSYU2248 or PSYX248 or PSYX2248)) OR ((60cp from PSY234 or PSYU2234 or PSYX234 or PSYX2234 or PSY235 or PSYU2235 or PSYX235 or PSYX2235 or PSY236 or PSYU2236 or PSYX236 or PSYX2236 or PSY246 or PSYU2246 or PSYX246 or PSYX2246 or PSY247 or PSYU2247 or PSYX247 or PSYX2247 or PSY248 or PSYU2248 or PSYX248 or PSYX2248) and (30p(Cr) from PSY234 or PSYU2234 or PSYX234 or PSYX2234 or PSY235 or PSYU2235 or PSYX235 or PSYX2235 or PSY236 or PSYU2236 or PSYX236 or PSYX2236 or PSY246 or PSYU2246 or PSYX246 or PSYX2246 or PSY247 or PSYU2247 or PSYX247 or PSYX2247 or PSY248 or PSYU2248 or PSYX248 or PSYX2248))
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is an introduction to research methods used in psychology and related disciplines. Psychology uses the scientist-practitioner model as its basis. Successful completion of this unit gives students an understanding of the range of methods that psychologists use to answer their research questions, their strengths and weakness and the historical antecedents of the science of psychology. One of the learning objectives of this unit is to provide insight into the process of doing research: devising the question, selecting a research strategy, conducting the study, evaluating the data, and reporting and interpreting the results, as well as practical experience in doing research. Students learn important research terminology, sampling strategies, measurement strategies, and how to write a research report.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Appropriately design a research project, including identification of the research question and methodology, data analysis and interpretation of results.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate knowledge of research terminology, methodologies, sampling and measurement strategies
  • ULO3: Effectively communicate the design and results of a research project via a research report
  • ULO4: Demonstrate an understanding of research ethics
  • ULO5: Critically evaluate and reflect on scientific practice

General Assessment Information

Note: Further information regarding assessment will be provided throughout the course. If you have questions about specific course components (e.g., specific lectures or workshops) then please contact the relevant teaching staff involved.

Weekly online quizzes: There will be 5 multiple choice questions available on iLearn each week. Questions will be based on the week's lecture and readings. 

Final Exam: Note: Given that this is a research methods course, ALL material covered in the course (week 1-13) that is relevant to critical scientific reasoning is potentially assessable.

The final exam for this unit is currently scheduled to occur on Macquarie University campus. Students are expected to make themselves available for the exam, at the date and time set by the University, in line with the Assessment Policy and Procedure. Given the current situation with COVID, please monitor your emails and iLearn for more details about the format and timing of the exam.

Requests for supplementary exams must be made via ask.mq.edu.au must be accompanied by appropriate documentation (such as a doctor's note or psychologist's report), and will be assessed according to the Special Consideration policy https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Students who are granted to sit for a supplementary exam must make themselves available to sit for the supplementary exam on the specified date. There will only be one time. It is the student’s responsibility to email Student Centre to confirm attendance at the supplementary exam. You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching session, which is the final day of the official examination period.

Sitting the final exam is compulsory in order to be eligible to pass the unit. Any student who does not attempt the final exam will be granted a Fail Absent grade.

Research report:

The assignment will be a report based on data collected by the students in PSYU3351. You will have responsibility for collecting, organising and analysing data. More details about the assignment will be given in the tutorials. • The report must be submitted to Turnitin (via iLearn). Your assignment will be automatically compared to work of other students in this unit, previous students in this unit and at other universities, and material available on the Internet in subscription-based journal format or otherwise freely accessible information. The results of the analysis will be sent only to the unit chair and tutoring staff, who will analyse the results in reference to the University’s standard policy on plagiarism https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/academic-integrity • Marked reports will be returned to students within three weeks of submission. A copy of the assignment must be kept as proof that the assignment was completed and submitted.

Penalties: • Written work that exceeds the word count will be penalised 5% for every 100 words over. For example, the report is worth 40% of the overall assessment for the Unit and if the word length is exceeded by 100 words, then 5% x 40 = 2. An additional 99 words beyond the limit can be written without penalty. • Work that is submitted late (and without extension) will receive a 5% penalty for every day late. For example, the report is worth 40% of the overall assessment for the Unit and if one day late, then 5% x 40 = 2. No further submissions will be accepted after the marked assignments are returned and feedback is released to students.

Extensions: Requests for extensions for assignments MUST be submitted via ask.mq.edu.au and are granted by the Student Centre. Neither individual tutors nor the course convenor will grant extensions. Ordinarily, no extensions of time for submission of written work will be granted since ample time for preparation will have been given. If an extension is required for medical or other extenuating circumstances, students may request this in writing through ask.mq.edu.au with supporting documentary evidence (such as medical certificate, counsellor note, or similar). All requests for extensions must be made prior to the due date for the assignment. If an extension is granted, the approval must be uploaded to Turnitin as the first page of the assignment. It is Psychology policy that letter grades, not numeric marks, are released for written assessment tasks.

Remarks: Any requests for remark need to follow the Psychology process and must be applied within 2 weeks of the assessment task being returned. Information will be provided on iLearn.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Final Examination 50% No S2 exam period
Research Report 40% No 5pm on Friday 1st Oct 2021
Weekly online quiz 10% No Weekly: Deadline Monday 1pm

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: S2 exam period
Weighting: 50%

 

Final examination held within the University’s formal exam period, in accordance with relevant requirements.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Appropriately design a research project, including identification of the research question and methodology, data analysis and interpretation of results.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research terminology, methodologies, sampling and measurement strategies
  • Demonstrate an understanding of research ethics
  • Critically evaluate and reflect on scientific practice

Research Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 5pm on Friday 1st Oct 2021
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will submit a 2000 word research report in APA format.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Appropriately design a research project, including identification of the research question and methodology, data analysis and interpretation of results.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research terminology, methodologies, sampling and measurement strategies
  • Effectively communicate the design and results of a research project via a research report
  • Demonstrate an understanding of research ethics
  • Critically evaluate and reflect on scientific practice

Weekly online quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Weekly: Deadline Monday 1pm
Weighting: 10%

 

Weekly online multiple choice quizzes

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research terminology, methodologies, sampling and measurement strategies
  • Demonstrate an understanding of research ethics

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

There are 10 compulsory workshops, with both on-campus and online class options. At the time of publishing this unit guide, most workshops are scheduled to be held on campus. Class availability can be seen via eStudent class enrolment: the location of the class indicates if it is an online class or an on-campus class. However, in line with Public Health guidelines, this approach will be revised if and when necessary due to the COVID pandemic, in alignment with University policy. Changes or updates will be communicated via iLearn and/or emails sent to student email accounts. Students should stay up to date with the latest University advice at the following website: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs/information-for-students

Lectures are currently scheduled to be delivered on campus, with recordings available via Echo360. However, given the COVID situation, they may be moved to Zoom.

Required textbook:

  • Gravetter, F.J., & Forzano, L-A. B. (2018). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences (6th ed.). Belmont, C.A: Wadsworth.

OR

  • Gravetter, F.J., & Forzano, L-A. B. (2015). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences (5th ed.). Belmont, C.A: Wadsworth.

There are copies of the textbook in the library. If you plan to buy the book, note that there is an ebook available that is cheaper than the hard copy (via cengage.com.au)

Assessable textbooks reading:

Most assessable reading will be from the main textbook. Assessable readings will be listed on Leganto (access via iLearn).

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Grading

Macquarie University, and Psychology undergraduate courses, follow standards-based assessment of student performance. All individual assessment tasks are subject to moderation, consistent with the Assessment Policy and Procedure. A student’s final mark for this unit, and associated grade, must reflect their attainment of the unit learning outcomes, and isn’t necessarily a simple summation of their individual assessment items.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook