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PSY-20050 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 21 December 2024

PSY-20050 - Qualitative Research Methods
Coordinator: Katie Wright Bevans Room: 1.81 Tel: +44 1782 7 32947
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module aims to advance your understanding and practical experience of qualitative research methods in psychology. It builds on the content of the first year research methods modules. Teaching is delivered through a combination of guided weekly individual study resources and weekly practical lab classes. The teaching resources have been designed to replace traditional lectures and instead allow you to engage with the material in small chunks at your own pace. However, there are lectures for the first couple of weeks to help ease you into the module's format. During the lab classes there will be extensive opportunities to discuss your learning with peers and tutors and to apply your learning to practical activities and exercises designed to support you completing your assessed Lab Report.

Aims
This module aims to advance student understanding of qualitative research methods used in psychology, and builds on the introductory content from PSY-10044. Throughout this module, students will examine the philosophical underpinnings of qualitative research and develop knowledge and skills in various qualitative data collection techniques and analysis methods.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Describe and evaluate the main philosophical and conceptual issues underpinning qualitative research: 1,2
Design appropriate data collection and analysis strategies to answer research questions using qualitative methods: 1,2
Conduct, analyse, and evaluate qualitative research projects: 2
take part in and experience (or write about) the practice of research design, data collection, and data analysis: 3

Study hours

Lectures - 2 hours
Lab Classes - 22 hours
Guided Asynchronous learning (inc: lab prep, assigned readings, guided learning activities) - 28 hours
Research Proposal - 10 hours
Lab Report - 80 hours
RPT - 8 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 15%
Research Proposal
Students will prepare a 500 word research proposal for work to be conducted for their Lab Report Assessment. Feedback from the Research Proposal is designed to enable students to improve their research design before completing the Lab Report.

2: Research Report weighted 75%
Qualitative Lab Report
Students will complete a 2,200 word individual qualitative lab report based on the qualitative theory and practical qualitative methods approaches covered within the module. Students work on a research subject selected at the beginning of the module. The individual qualitative report will include most elements of an empirical paper ¿ method, results, an executive summary/conclusion.

3: Assignment weighted 10%
Research Participation
Students will complete approximately 6-8 hours of research participation time OR they will write a 2,000 word essay on research methods or ethics

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 21 December 2024