Research Methodology

PSY3000 is a required beginning course for a Master’s degree in Psychology. The course is an introduction to scientific research methods and in which emphasis will be placed on both quantitative and qualitative methods. The course expands on and develops information about methodology which students acquired in the process of taking the examination in PSY2000 or PSY2002 and PSY2003. The course lays out the basic rationalizations that underlie quantitative research methods but also consider different types of designs and analytical methods. Student will be given a broad introduction to multivariate design and will receive exercises in the use of actual statistical analytical methods, e.g. variance, regression and factor analysis. Major emphasis will be placed on interpretation and production of results from use of these designs and also from analyses of practical exercises using SPSS.

The course will also take up the scientific theory and rationale for qualitative research in general and will give a fundamental review of the most used of these methods. Different techniques for collection, structuring and analysis of qualitative material will be discussed. Students will be given additional practice carrying out qualitative research.

The course will give the Philosophy of Science rationales for one’s choice of research methods. It will also give a basis for independence in order to be able to develop and complete structured research interviews, written question forms, and experimental research designs as well as qualitative research designs.
The course also provides knowledge concerning the breadth of scientific designs, so that the appropriate research methods can be chosen, to the end that they are practical and capable of being completed.

Teaching method and activities: Lectures, seminars, field work, exercises. Semesterplan: Usual semesterplan, master level. Form of assessment: One six hour examination using quantitative analysis(A through F). Research report using qualitative techniques (A through F). A separate grade is given for each of these two examination. These two grades are then given equal weight in determining the final grade. Teaching exercices are reserved for students registered in the Master in Psychology program. Other students can participate if space allows.