| Assessment Brief Module name: Research Methods and Analysis Module code: 4PS512Trimester: T1 Autumn/2022-2023 |
Module learning outcomes
On successful completion of this assessment and this module, you will have demonstrated your ability to:
1. Identify the purpose and principles of psychological research.
2. Design simple psychological studies that are ethically sound.
3. Identify appropriate qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.
4. Analyse, report and interpret quantitative data using statistical software (e.g. SPSS)
Key dates and details
| Assessment: | Qualitative Research Proposal |
| Assessment component: | Assessment weighting: | Length: | Assessed module learning outcome(s): |
| 1 | 50% | 1,500 words (check the guidance for limit per question – there is no 10% allowance above the word limit) | 1, 2 & 3 |
| Submission date/time: | Provisional feedback released: | ||
| Completed final work: 6th December 2022 23:59 UK time | Completed final work feedback (provisional grade): 3 working weeks after deadline | ||
| Submission Method and Marking | |||
| Please submit your work via Turnitin Submissions in Turnitin and Blackboard You must submit your work using your student number to identify yourself, not your name. You must not use your name in the text of the work at any point. When you submit your work in Turnitin you must submit your student number within the assignment document and in the Submission title field in Turnitin. |
| Assessment: | Quantitative Research and Analyses Portfolio |
| Assessment component: | Assessment weighting: | Length: | Assessed module learning outcome(s): |
| 2 | 50% | Please check the portfolio materials for guidance on the word limit in each question | 1 & 4 |
| Submission date/time: | Provisional feedback released: | ||
| Completed final work: 8th December 2022 23:59 UK time | Completed final work feedback (provisional grade): 3 working weeks after deadline | ||
| Submission Method and Marking | |||
| Please submit your work via Turnitin Submissions in Turnitin and Blackboard You must submit your work using your student number to identify yourself, not your name. You must not use your name in the text of the work at any point. When you submit your work in Turnitin you must submit your student number within the assignment document and in the Submission title field in Turnitin. |
Description of Assessment
Coursework / Component 1: PRACTICAL
Qualitative research and analyses portfolio
Weighting: 50 %
Assesses Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify the purpose and principles of psychological research.
2. Design simple psychological studies that are ethically sound.
3. Identify appropriate qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.
Content and detailed guidance Coursework 1
This is an individual piece of work designed to assess your ability to design a qualitative psychological study. You will be assessed based on your ability to address the questions below:
A researcher would like to explore how people make sense of health/illness, exploring individuals’ experiences and perspectives. Please answer the questions below:
1) Write an appropriate research question to investigate the researcher’s interest. (Word limit: 20 words)
2) What method of data collection and analysis would you recommend to answer this question? Please justify your answer using appropriate references. (Word limit: 600 words)
3) What epistemological positions would be appropriate for this investigation? Please justify your answer using appropriate references. (Word limit: 600 words)
4) Discuss any relevant ethical issues. Consider the BPS ethical guidelines and the university’s ethical guidelines. (Word limit: 300 words)
Description of Assessment
Coursework/Component 2: PRACTICAL
Quantitative research and analyses portfolio
Weighting: 50%
Assesses Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify the purpose and principles of psychological research.
4. Analyse, report and interpret quantitative data using statistical software (e.g. SPSS)
Content and detailed guidance Coursework 2
For this portfolio you will be presented with three research scenarios and datasets which you need to conduct the relevant statistical test(s) for and write up the findings in an appropriate format. You can download the questions and the data files from the Assessment tab in the module page in Blackboard. The mark that you receive will reflect how well you have answered all research questions and therefore missing any questions out will adversely affect your mark.
You should screen the data prior to any analyses and routinely report appropriate estimates of effect size and other relevant statistical information where appropriate. You should include any calculations and all relevant SPSS outputs (e.g., data screening checks, analyses, etc) as appendices. You should separate appendices by question number.
Please note: Members of staff cannot help you to identify the statistical analyses that you need to conduct in order to address the exercise questions, conduct the analyses appropriately, and then write them up in the correct manner. Staff will happily help to clarify questions about analyses generally, but not specific questions about this assessment (e.g. “do I do a t-test for question two”, etc).
Assessment Rubric
Your work will be marked based on the rubric below.
| CW1 Rubric | Excellent (70-100) | Very Good (60-69) | Good (50-59) | Satisfactory (40-49) | Unsatisfactory (35-39) | Poor (21-34) | Very Poor (1-20) |
| Knowledge and Understanding/ Design and Methodology (Learning outcomes and assessment description or components) (30%) | Demonstrates excellent understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic Trivial or very minor errors | Demonstrates very good understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic Minor errors only | Demonstrates good understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic Some evidence of misunderstandings | Demonstrates some understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic Some significant misunderstandings and errors | Demonstrates limited understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic Some lack of knowledge and understanding | Lack of knowledge and understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic | Significant lack of knowledge and understanding of principles of psychological research and relevant literature in the chosen research topic |
| Research Informed (Evidence) (15%) | Exceptionally well researched | Well researched | Quite well researched | Adequately researched | Some lack of research evidence | Lack of research evidence | Significant lack of research evidence |
| Ethics (15%) | Exceptional consideration of ethical standards. | Some very detailed consideration given to ethical standards. | A good level of thought given to ethical standards. | The project complies with ethical standards. | The project may not comply with ethical standards. | The project does not comply with ethical standards. | Exceptional consideration of ethical standards. |
| Critical Analysis and Evaluation (10%) | A high level of critical analysis and evaluation | A very good level of critical analysis and evaluation | A fairly good level of critical analysis and evaluation | A fair level of critical analysis and evaluation | Lack of critical analysis and evaluation | Significant lack of critical analysis and evaluation | Very significant lack of critical analysis and evaluation |
| Originality of Ideas (10%) | Commendable originality of ideas | Significant originality of ideas | Some originality of ideas | Little originality of ideas | Lack of originality of ideas | Lack of evidence of originality of ideas | Significant lack of evidence of originality of ideas |
| Clarity and Coherence (Logical flow, introduction, conclusion) (10%) | Excellent clarity of ideas, coherence and logic | Commendable clarity of ideas; very good sense of coherence and logic | Ideas generally clear and coherent | Ideas fairly clear and coherent | Ideas lack some clarity and coherence | Ideas lack clarity and coherence | Ideas significantly lack clarity and coherence |
| Presentation (Structure, grammar, spelling, referencing) (10%) | High quality presentation | A very good standard of presentation | A good standard of presentation | A sound standard of presentation | Presentation needs improvement | Presentation significantly needs improvement | Presentation very significantly needs improvement |
| CW2 Rubric | Excellent (70-100) | Very Good (60-69) | Good (50-59) | Satisfactory (40-49) | Unsatisfactory (35-39) | Poor (21-34) | Very Poor (1-20) |
| Knowledge and Understanding (Learning outcomes and assessment description or components) (30%) | The answers demonstrate an excellent understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used All relevant information is presented Trivial or very minor errors | The answers demonstrate a very good understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used Virtually all relevant information is presented Minor errors only | The answers demonstrate a good understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used Some relevant information may be missing Some evidence of misunderstandings | The answers demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used Some relevant information is missing Some significant misunderstandings and errors | The answers demonstrate weaknesses in understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used Some relevant information is missing Lack of knowledge and understanding | The answers demonstrate weaknesses in understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used Most relevant information might be missing Lack of knowledge and understanding | The answers demonstrate poor or no understanding of quantitative research and the statistical tests used Most relevant information is missing Significant lack of knowledge and understanding |
| Statistical test (Learning outcomes and assessment description or components) (30%) | The correct tests for all three of the exercises are identified and justified. | The correct tests for all three of the exercises are identified and justified. | The majority of the correct tests for the exercises are identified. | The majority of the correct tests for the exercises are identified. | The correct tests for some of the exercises are identified | The correct tests for most or all of the exercises are not identified. | The correct tests for most or all of the exercises are not identified. |
| Hypotheses (15%) | Written appropriately and has theoretical relevance | Written appropriately and has theoretical relevance | There may be some errors in the format of writing, and has some theoretical relevance | There may be some errors in the format of writing, and has some theoretical relevance | Inadequate format, might not have theoretical relevance. | Missing, inadequately written, and/or no theoretical relevance | Missing, inadequately written, and/or no theoretical relevance |
| Discussion (15%) | The discussion is relevant to the research question for each exercise, and demonstrates a thorough understanding of what the results can tell us. There is evidence of appropriate reading around of research methods and/or statistical methods material. | The discussion is relevant to the research question for each exercise, and demonstrates a very good understanding of what the results can tell us. There may be some evidence of appropriate reading around of research methods and/or statistical methods material. | The discussion is relevant to the research question for each exercise, and demonstrates a good understanding of what the results can tell us. | There is some discussion of the findings for the exercises but this might be limited or only summarise the results | The discussion of the findings for the exercises may be missing. | The discussion of the findings for each exercise may be missing. | The discussion of the findings for each exercise is missing. |
| Clarity and Coherence (Logical flow, quality and clarity of presentation) (10%) | Excellent clarity of ideas, coherence and logic | Commendable clarity of ideas; very good sense of coherence and logic | Ideas generally clear and coherent | Ideas fairly clear and coherent | Ideas lack some clarity and coherence | Ideas lack clarity and coherence | Ideas significantly lack clarity and coherence |
| Appendix (Please note that not including the SPSS outputs leads to automatically failing the coursework) | All relevant calculations and SPSS outputs are included as appendices. | All relevant calculations and SPSS outputs are included as appendices. | Most relevant calculations and SPSS outputs are included as appendices. | Most of the relevant calculations and SPSS outputs are included as appendices, but there may be some material missing. | The relevant calculations and SPSS outputs may also be missing from the appendices. | The relevant calculations and SPSS outputs may also be missing from the appendices | All relevant calculations and SPSS outputs are included as appendices. |
Assessment Regulations
The University’s regulations, policies and procedures for students define the framework within which teaching and assessment are conducted. Please make sure you are familiar with these regulations, policies and procedures.
Assessment presentation
Presentation is an important part of your academic work. Please follow the presentation guidelines below.
Title page
Your title page must include: 1) the name of the university, 2) the course title, 3) the module code and title, 4) the name of the module tutor, 5) the word count, and 6) declarations (see below).
Originality statement
‘I declare that this assessment is my own work and that I have correctly acknowledged the work of others using APA referencing. This assessment is in accordance with University guidance on good academic conduct.’
Confidentiality statement (if applicable)
‘I declare that confidentiality of people discussed in this work is maintained; there is no identifiable information of these individuals.’
Manuscript
Your manuscript needs to;
• Include page numbers (pages should be numbered at the top right).
• Be double-spaced
• Have a 1-inch (2.54 cm) margin, Times New Roman or Arial, 12 font.
• Maintain the confidentiality of service users/patients/clients and persons associated with them, service colleagues and organisations.
• Include a reference list (APA referencing), headed with ‘References’ centred, do not make it bold. Please refer to Cite Them Right.
• Use ‘the author’ to describe yourself (however you can use ‘I’ or ‘my’ etc. in self-reflection e.g., this phenomenon was often present in my practice).
