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Social Practical I

Module description

This module provides you with the opportunity to conduct your own social psychology-focused research project in groups and with the close support of academic staff. These projects will focus on intergroup relations, including when and why we hold more positive or negative views of other groups, and how attitudes and behaviour towards other groups might be improved. You will have the opportunity to collaboratively design your own research project to test hypotheses developed with staff and other students. You will then test these ideas by collecting and analysing data. This module allows you to develop a range of skills that will equip you for independent research (whether later in your degree or in employment) as well as providing a greater depth of knowledge about the topic of intergroup relations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The purpose of this module is to provide you with detailed knowledge of, and specific training in, contemporary social psychology research. The module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of the research process by giving you the opportunity to be involved in cutting edge research conducted with a leader in the field. Specifically, you will gain experience in research design, data collection, data analysis and written and verbal communication of findings. These skills are central to success in most contemporary workplaces.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Illustrate the principles of research and design and develop, conduct and analyse appropriately experimental research in social psychology
• 2. Translate these principles into practice by collecting and analysing data
• 3. Report on social psychological research, describing in detail one contemporary area of social psychological research

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Illustrate detailed factual and conceptual knowledge of the subject and identify a variety of ideas, contexts and frameworks
• 5. Review and critically evaluate published work and identify the strengths and weaknesses of this work, and at a well-developed level structure this literature to present logical and coherent arguments
• 6. Solve complex problems systematically, think critically and creatively and appreciate the complexities of the issues at a well-developed level
• 7. Apply essential principles in designing research and critically evaluate and analyse empirical evidence and assess the reliability of empirical evidence using a range of defined techniques
• 8. Discuss the wider ethical issues relating to the subject and its application at a well-developed level

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Interact effectively within a learning group, giving and receiving information and ideas and modifying responses where appropriate
• 10. Manage learning using resources for the discipline
• 11. Evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses, challenge received opinion and develop your own criteria and judgment, and seek and make use of feedback
• 12. Manage and select information and data from a range of sources and develop appropriate information finding strategies
• 13. Take responsibility for your own learning with minimum direction
• 14. Communicate effectively in the manner appropriate to the discipline and in a variety of formats
• 15. Identify key areas of problems and choose appropriate methods for their resolution in a considered manner
• 16. Act with increasing autonomy, with reduced need for supervision and direction, within defined guidelines
• 17. Manage time effectively to meet deadlines

Syllabus plan

• Overview of course and research area
• Overview of introductory study
• Small group session: designing your study
• Small group session: designing your materials
• Small group session: pitch presentations of study ideas
• Data collection strategies and creating a data entry spreadsheet
• Replication research in Psychology
• Laboratory session: data entry
• Laboratory session: data analysis
• Small group session: data interpretation
• Troubleshooting for report write-up

In total, there will be 11 week of classes during which you will design, analyse, write-up and present an empirical study associated with the module.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Re-assessment is only possible for the research proposal and practical report components. Where you have been referred/deferred in the research proposal you will be required to resubmit the proposal. Where you have been referred/deferred in the practical report you will be required to resubmit the report. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%; deferred marks are not capped.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Haslam, S.A., & McGarty, C. (2018). Research methods and statistics in psychology (3^rd edition). London: Sage.

OR

• Haslam, S.A., & McGarty, C. (2014). Research methods and statistics in psychology (2^nd edition). London: Sage.
• Reading on the research topics for this year’s module will be provided at the beginning of the term.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9368

Key words search

Social psychology, practical, communication, research experience