Research Methods | bps-mapping

BPS examples

Research methods are integral to Psychology and students obtain a sound knowledge of, and a proven ability to use, a range of methods appropriately¹. Knowledge and understanding of how to obtain and analyse evidence is best acquired and demonstrated through extensive and progressive empirical work in laboratory² and naturalistic settings³ through all stages of a degree. Psychology students learn the basic principles of sound data collection⁴. Given the broad theoretical scope of Psychology, rigorous specialist training is required to engender a critical understanding of the role of experimental design⁵, the choice of research methods employed⁶, and the analytic approach taken⁷, for testing psychological theories.

As they progress through the programme, students should be able to:

apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues⁸, recognising that psychology involves a range of research methods, theories, evidence and applications;

integrate ideas and findings across the multiple perspectives in psychology⁹ and recognise distinctive psychological approaches to relevant issues¹⁰;

identify and evaluate patterns in behaviour¹¹, psychological functioning¹² and experience¹³;

generate and explore hypotheses and research questions drawing on relevant theory and research¹⁴;

carry out empirical studies involving a variety of methods of data collection, including experiments, observation, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups¹⁵

analyse, present and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data¹⁶ and evaluate research findings¹⁷;

employ evidence-based reasoning¹⁸ and examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with the range of methodologies¹⁹;

use a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software²⁰, laboratory equipment and psychometric instruments²¹;

apply psychological knowledge ethically and safely to real world problems²²; and

critically evaluate psychological theory and research²³

Breadth & Depth

	Taught	Assessed
Depth
Breadth

Content examples

Integrate findings across perspectives

Identify and evaluate patterns
Generate and explore hypotheses
- PY2CBP (Cognitive and Biological Psychology) - Spring
Carry out empirical studies
- PY1IPR (Introduction to Psychological Research) - Spring
- PY2CBP (Cognitive and Biological Psychology) - Spring
Analyse, present, and evaluate quantitative and qual data
Employ evidence-based reasoning
- PY1DMH (Debates in Mental Health) - Spring
Use variety of psychological tools & specialist software
Apply psychological knowledge to real-world problems
Critically evaluate psychological theory and research

Modules where range of research methods is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where understanding of how to obtain and analyse evidence in the laboratory is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where understanding how to obtain and analyse evidence in naturalistic settings is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where basic principles of sound data collection is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where role of experimental design is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where choice of research methods is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where analytic approaches are taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where applying multiple perspectives to psychological issues is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where integrating ideas and findings is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where recognising distinctive psychological approaches to relevant issues is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where identifying and evaluating patterns in behaviour is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where identifying and evaluating patterns in psychological functioning is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where identifying and evaluating psychological experience is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where generating and exploring hypotheses and research questions drawing on relevant theory and research is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where carrying out empirical studies using a variety of data collection methods is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where analysing, presenting, and/or evaluating quantitative and/or qualitative data is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where evaluating research findings is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where employing evidence-based reasoning is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where psychological tools, including specialist software is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where laboratory equipment and psychometric instrument use is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where psychological knowledge ethically and safely applied to real world problems is taught/assessed: ↩
Modules where critically evaluating psychological theory and research is taught/assessed: ↩

Breadth & Depth

Content examples

Footnotes

Links to this page: