07103 - Methodology of Psychological Research

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student a) has sufficient knowledge of the methodology and scientific research procedures; b) is able to project and realize a scientific research; c) knows and can critically use the psychological measure instruments.

Course contents

The course will take place during the second semester (from February to May) at the Cesena Campus of the School of Psychology and Education (address: piazza A. Moro, 90).

The contents will be:

1. Scientific methods and False Hypothesis Significance Testing

• Science: between demonstrative and descriptive concept
• The Popper’s critical rationalism

2. Measure in Psychology

• From the constructs to the variables
• Quantitative and qualitative measures
• Scales of measurement

3. Measure evaluation

• Validity of psychological measure
• Reliability of psychological measure

4. Experimental, non experimental and quasi-experimental research design

• Correlational relationship and a causal relationship
• Experimental methods and descriptive methods

5. Research methods

• Hypothesis of research
• Experimental design
• Data collection
• Statistical analysis and results interpretation
• Communication of results

6. Ethic in research

• Ethic code and research implications

7. Sampling methods

• Probability and nonprobability sampling
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Systematic sampling

8. Validity in research

• Internal validity
• External validity
• Content validity
• Construct validity
• Statistical validity
• Ecological validity

7. How to control the bias in psychological research

• Bias in psychological research
• Bias control strategies

8. Research designs

• Independent sample design
• Repeated measure design
• Factorial design

9. Advanced statistical techniques

• Factorial Analysis
• Meta-analysis
• Discriminant Analysis and ROC curve

Readings/Bibliography

Howitt D. Cramer D. (2016) Research Methods in Psychology, 5/E. Pearson Education INc.

(Optional) Howitt D and Cramer D (2014) Introduction to Statistics in Psychology Pearson Education INc.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures

Assessment methods

The test exam is aimed to verify the achievement of the following learning objectives:

-Knowledge of the methodologies and the procedures of scientific research;

- Knowledge of the concepts of validity and reliability of measure and of research;

-The ability to design and to implement a scientific research;

-Critical knowledge and ability to use the psychological measured instruments.

The exam consists of a written test and the realization of a research paper that will be discussed with the teacher.

The written exam consists of 16 multiple choice questions, the maximum mark is 16 points: range 0 to 16 (correct answer: 1 point; wrong answer: -0.5 points; no answer given: 0 points). Time: 40 minutes.

The research paper: the student has to realize a scientific research under the teacher supervision. The different steps of the research will be described in the paper, that it has to follow the scientific article standards. The materials necessary for the preparation of the research paper (scientific articles, database, results and other materials) will be given by the teacher. The research paper will be delivered and discussed with the teacher during an oral examination. Maximum length 6 word pages. The maximum mark is 15 points (range 0 to 15).

The sum of the two marks will be the student final mark (eg. 15/15 + 16/16 = 30/30 cum laude).

The student is required to complete the online registration within the terms in order to be admitted to the exam. In the case of technical problems the student is required to contact the docent by e-mail. The docent will consider the request and decide about the admission.

Teaching tools

Scientific articles

E-learning materials

Office hours

See the website of Sara Giovagnoli