Units

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Sample subject outline - Summer 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and cognition. This unit is designed to introduce students to the scientific method of research in psychology, research design, and data analysis.

Aims

PYB110 is designed to provide a basic introduction to research design and analysis in psychology.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the unit, you should have an understanding of and be able to use:

1. Concepts and issues in social science research methodology
2. Techniques of descriptive statistics
3. Basic parametric statistics and hypothesis testing procedures
4. Bivariate correlation and prediction
5. t-tests
6. Chi square tests

Content

• Introduction to unit and Displaying Data
  
• The mean, variance and standard deviation
  
• Standardised scores: Z scores
  
• Correlation and Prediction
  
• Inferential statistics
  
• Hypothesis testing
  
• Mid-term test
  
• Distribution of sample means
  
• T-test for dependent means
  
• T-test for independent means
  
• Chi-square tests
  
• Overview

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

It is expected that upon successful completion of the unit, students will meet the 6 unit objectives described above. It is expected that an in-depth knowledge of the concepts and issues in social science research methodology, techniques of descriptive statistics, basic parametric statistics and hypothesis testing procedures, bivariate correlation and prediction, t-tests and chi square tests (Objectives 1-6) will be attained through understanding the lecture content and textbook. At least a satisfactory performance in the 2 assessment pieces will require an ability to understand and utilise the various statistical techniques covered in the unit.

The unit is intended to promote student learning by encouraging active participation of students in lecture and tutorial session settings. Students should gain a sound theoretical understanding of basic statistical techniques and research processes by revising the lecture content and textbook. Students will gain practical experience by practising the techniques in tutorials. Students will be guided in how to engage in critical enquiry when reviewing the research design and techniques in psychology.

Assessment

General Assessment Information
The assessment used in this unit aims to help you develop a basic understanding of research design and the statistical techniques covered. You will complete two different types of assessment activities: a report and an examination.Feedback to Students
You will receive feedback in this unit through formative and summative feedback. Formative feedback will be given during tutorials and PASS sessions in response to your performance on practice assessment tasks and review activities in tutorials and PASS sessions. General formative feedback will also be provided in the lectures. Summative feedback will be provided through the two assessment tasks detailed below.

Assessment name: Report
Description: You will be given a set of four research design and statistical tasks to complete.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: A 2 hour examination assessing the material covered in topics 1-10. This examination will consist of 65 multiple-choice questions and will assess material covered in lectures and from the assigned chapters in the textbook.
Relates to objectives: 1-6
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Coups, E. J. (2008). Statistics for psychology (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Risk assessment statement

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

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 13-Sep-2012