Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PSY5700

 
TITLE Research Methods

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Psychology

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit will examine the three main approaches to doing research – quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. This will be done by engaging with several research designs. These approaches will be discussed and compared on various aspects such as the philosophical assumptions of each approach and their epistemological bases. Other issues i will be discussed including ethics and the importance of writing and argumentation in academic research.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to consolidate the students’ understanding of the ways the researcher can address key elements of the research process: identifying research questions and hypotheses, writing a good introduction and stating the purpose of the study, identifying the right data collecting tool for the research question and being able to identify when it is essential to use qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. The study-unit aims also to foster a critical and analytic approach to research.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- identify the philosophical and epistemological assumptions underpinning qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research;
- obtain informed consent;
- carry out debriefing;
- identify issues of validity and reliability in research;
- become aware of the vulnerability of participants, informed consent, debriefing and issues related to them;
- make us of the process of Reflexivity;
- address ethical issues related to social research.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- demonstrate a critical attitude to research;
- demonstrate the ability to write and argue in a scholarly manner;
- identify research questions, operationalise them and identify the best way to investigate them;
- conduct a thorough literature review;
- collect data;
- analyse data to arrive at evidence-based conclusions;
- write up research findings in the form of research papers.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Creswell, J.W. et al. (2018). Research Design. Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. (4th Ed). London: Sage.

Readings:

- Becker,L. (2015). Writing successful Reports and dissertations. London: Sage.
- Sieber,J.E. and Tolich, M.B. (2013). Planning Ethically Responsible Research. (2nd Ed.) London: Sage.
- Hesse-Biber, S. N. (2012). Handbook of Feminist Research: Theory and Praxis. (2nd Ed). London: Sage.
- May, T. and Perry, B. (2011) Social Research and Reflexivity: Content, Consequences and Context. London: Sage.
- Matsumolo, D. (2010). Cross-Cultural Methods In Psychology (4th Ed). London: Sage.
- Van Manen, M. (1994). Researching lived experience. Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. Canada: Althouse Press.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 40%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Amy Joan Camilleri Zahra
Gottfried Catania
Marilyn Clark
Katya De Giovanni
Lorleen Farrugia
Mary Anne Lauri
Carmen Mangion
Christine Spiteri
Kristina Vella

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit