Research Methods for Human Inquiry

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Estimated total time commitment for this subject is 120 hours

No prerequisites are required for this subject

No corequisites are required for this subject

Prior coursework in at least two Level 2 psychology subjects is recommended. Level 2 psychology subjects includes Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Personality & Social Psychology. Students are recommended to have previous experience with statistical analysis software, preferably SPSS.

512320 Research Methods 3

512302 Research Methods for Human Inquiry

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards of Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit Website: http://www.services.unimelb.eu.au/disability/

In this subject, students will aquire research skills and methods to critically investigate, measure and assess research topics involving human behaviour, interactions, and thought in a variety of contexts. In addition, students will aquire an understanding of fundamental principles in psychological assessment of individual traits and dispositions, in particular, how to evaluate the reliability and validity of psychological assessments. Emphasis will be placed on how the skills and techniques being taught are tools for gathering evidence relating to real-world problems typically encountered in the behavioural sciences, but not limited to this area, for which meaningful inferences can be generalised beyond the particular sample data available. Topics to be covered may include research design, implementation, and evaluation; techniques for measuring human behaviour, emotions, and interactions; the application of relatively simple quantitative models to data in order to identify differences and associations, make predictions, and possibly assert causation. Particular focus will be given to applying and evaluating the research skills being covered rather than taking a perspective being built strictly from first principles.

The subject aims to:

• develop skills in the design and assessment of methods to investigate complex problems
• learn how to apply quantitative models to data concerning real-world problems
• develop student understanding of, and capacity to, translate research questions into meaningful and appropriate methods of investigation
• understand fundamental principles for the evaluation of individual and group based psychological assessments

Two written assignments of 1000 words each (50%) to be submitted during semester. An examination of no more than two hours (50%) to be completed at the end of semester during the specified University examination period.

Each piece of assessment must be completed (hurdle requirement).

Attendance of at least 80% of laboratory classes is a hurdle requirement. In case of failure to meet the hurdle requirement, additional work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.

No prescribed texts.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills to:

• think critically and coherently about how to identify and investigate complex problems
• translate aims and objectives for investigating complex problems into measureable questions, hypotheses, finding, and answers
• evaluate various forms of evidence to support answers to, and inferences about, complex problems
• synthesise and present evidence in meaningful and interpretable ways for others to comprehenc
• critically recognize and articulate specific kinds of limitations when investigating complex problems
• evaluate the reliability and validity of common psychological tests and other approaches to psychological assessment