Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology

1. Provide the knowledge required to analyse experimental and questionnaire data with one continuous dependent variable;

2. Develop the ability to select appropriate analysis techniques for univariate data;

3. Develop skills in the use of a statistical analysis package to understand and present research findings;

4. Develop skills in designing a research project with consideration for practical, methodological and ethical constraints;

5. Develop skills in analysing and interpreting data in accordance with research aims;

6. Develop skills necessary for 4th year Independent Research in Psychology and for employment in all fields of Behavioural Science Research;

7. Build experience in the ethical and practical aspects of research in psychology using human participants.

PSYC3000 extends coverage of design and analysis principles and skills introduced in STAT2000.

Students will cover methodologies such as repeated measures and correlational designs.

Analyses covered include between subject, repeated measures and mixed ANOVA with more than one factor and multiple linear regression.

At this level, students are encouraged to focus on real experimental and correlational designs that produce data that are less than ideal. Students will be introduced to more general models of statistical analysis in order to equip them with the skills to deal with the problems that might be encountered in their own research work.

Throughout the semester, students will be encouraged to apply the principles they are learning to the development of their own research project, and consider specific problems related to methodology and ethics.

Lab sessions will provide training in the use of a statistical software package to manipulate and perform statistical analyses on both real and simulated data.

Topics include:

• descriptive and graphical methods for understanding patterns in data,
• analysis of repeated measures and mixed experiments with more than one factor, and
• analysis using multiple linear regression.

Lab sessions will also provide training in understanding, interpreting and reporting statistical results.

Related Courses: PSYC3001, PSYC3500

Students considering enrolling in this 3000 level course should have successfully completed all the first year units and at least half the second year units of the degree program in which they are enrolled, including STAT2000, in order to have sufficient requisite knowledge, understanding and generic skills.

Proposal / Plan: research proposal

In Term Test: statistical package class test

Formal Examination: final examination

Tutorial / Laboratory Exercises: Research Awareness: Participation in SONA experiments

Ourimbah and Callaghan