Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

This unit forms part of an articulated program of instruction in research design and data analysis for psychology students. Research design and data analysis skills are core skills in the discipline of psychology. They are not only essential tools for researchers in psychology: They are also integral to the scientist-practitioner model of professional psychological practice. In addition, a sound understanding of research design and statistical techniques will enable you to become critical consumers of psychological research. This unit will provide you with a thorough grounding in analysis of variance techniques and an introduction to multiple degression: data analysis tools used in a broad range of research designs in the social sciences.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with a firm conceptual understanding of analysis of variance and basic multiple regression techniques, and with the skills needed to apply these analytical tools to appropriate research questions.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the issues involved in the design, analysis, and interpretation of factorial ANOVA designs, the principles of multiple regressions, and an appreciation of the relationship between ANOVA and regression techniques.


2. Apply these techniques to appropriate data sets in order to answer specific research questions.


3. Critically evaluate the appropriateness of the research design, data analysis, and conclusions drawn from psychological research

Content

The unit extends the introduction to analysis of variance and regression provided in PYB210, considering more complex designs involving two or more independent variables. The approach is both theoretical (including the use of conceptual formulae to analyse simple data sets by hand) and practical (analysing data sets using the SPSS statistical package), with the aim of giving you a firm understanding of the principles underlying each analysis. The role of statistical analyses in the broader context of designing and interpreting valid research is emphasised.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is conducted by means of a 2.5 hour lecture each week, and a 1.5 hour tutorial in the computer laboratory. The aim of the lectures is to provide the theoretical foundation of the unit. Tutorials will explain detailed workings of each statistical technique and will provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills in critically evaluating research designs, as well as in data analysis and interpretation. There will also be an informal (and optional) tutorial for one hour each week, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions or go over difficult material.

Assessment

The summative assessment for this unit (assessment used to determine your final grade) involves four online quizzes, a written report and a final examination.

In this unit there are many opportunities for formative assessment - opportunities for you to check your understanding of the material and the effectiveness of your learning strategies.

• An extra tutorial time has been set aside each week for you to ask questions and clarify any concepts that are unclear.


• The online quizzes, due progressively throughout the semester, provide you with the incentive to work progressively towards mastering the concepts and analyses covered in the unit, and provide feedback on your mastery of the material.


• Practice exam questions will be provided for the final exam.

Assessment name: Online Quizzes (4)
Description: These four exercises will require you to evaluate research designs, conduct and interpret statistical analyses, and briefly report on the outcomes of these analyses.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 3.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Progressively

Assessment name: Written Assignment
Description: You will be provided with a research scenario and question and associated data, from which you must carry out appropriate statistical analyses and write a Results and preliminary Discussion section to address the research question.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 3.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Approx Week 9

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: The final exam will test all work covered in lectures and tutorials. Calculators without text capability (non-programmable calculators) may be used in the exams.
Relates to objectives: 1 & 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period

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

Recommended text:

Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS. (3rd ed.). London: Sage Publications.

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