Current Topics in Quantitative Methods

Subject PSYC40012 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 36 hours per semester
Total Time Commitment: Estimated total time commitment 108 hours per semester.
Prerequisites: There are no pre-requisites for this subject.
Corequisites: There are no co-requisites for this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge:

A psychology accredited major sequence.
Non Allowed Subjects: There are no non-allowed subjects.
Core Participation Requirements: There are no pre-requisites for this subject.

Contact

Psychological Sciences Phone 8344 6377
Subject Overview:

This subject is designed to introduce student to the development and testing of quantitative models for psychological data. Quantitative data is a feature of all areas of psychology. Such data can only be interpreted by use of an appropriate model. Modelling in psychology has two main aims. The first is to find a quantitative description that accurately captures and expresses the underlying regularities of the data. The second is to test competing hypotheses about the psychological processes that generated the data. The methods of psychological modelling will be introduced and illustrated in selected areas of psychology. These may include process models in cognition, the modelling of social networks and social systems, psychometric models, and Bayesian models. Issues of psychological measurement will also be considered.

Objectives:
  • To introduce students to the concepts and methods involved in the development and testing models for psychological data.
  • To illustrate the relationship between psychological theories and quantitative modelling using selected examples from the psychological literature.
  • To provide students with experience in fitting quantitative models to psychological data using appropriate modelling software.
Assessment: 1,500 word in-class modeling exercise completed during the semester and a 1,500 word essay due at the end of the semester.
Prescribed Texts: A reading pack and lecture notes will be provided.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • Thinking critically and analytically about quantitatively expressed theories and models.
  • Drawing inferences about the relationship between unobserved structures and processes and their observed manifestations or expressions.
  • Quantitative, evidence-based evaluation of scientific theories.
  • Use of modelling software for quantitative data.
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology
Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Psychology

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