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Course Outline

PSY201 Research Methods in Psychology B

Course Coordinator:Kay Pozzebon (kpozzebo@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2026Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course will introduce you to statistical analysis of psychological data including the use of SPSS to conduct these analyses.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning materials 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial - in computer lab 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

Descriptive statistics, Inferential statistics, SPSS

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 Analyse data obtained from psychological research and practice. Knowledgeable 
1.1.12, 1.3, 1.6
2 Understand the key features and concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics. Knowledgeable 
1.1.12, 1.3
3 Understand basic functions and applications of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Knowledgeable 
1.1.12
4 Report and interpret the results of statistical analyses. Empowered 
1.1.12, 1.3

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1.1.12 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including research methods and statistics
1.3 Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.6 Graduates will be able to demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

PSY100 and PSY101

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative feedback on academic progress is provided to students through monitoring performance on activities undertaken in workshop/tutorial classes.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 35% 
1000 words
 Week 10 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Written Piece Individual 40% 
1000 words
 Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 25% 
1 hour
 Exam Period Exam Venue
All - Assessment Task 1:Results of a Psychology Research Report
Goal: 
To communicate your understanding of psychological research and to correctly write the Results of a Psychology Research Report.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will be required to write and interpret the results of a study.
A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment will be provided online in Week 1.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrated understanding of data analyses.
 1 2 3
2 
Appropriate interpretation of the results.
 4
3 
Correct and appropriate writing and referencing for psychology.
 4
Generic Skills: 

                        

                    

                

                

                    

                        

                            
                                All - Assessment Task 2:Research Methods
                            
                        

                        

                            Goal:
                            
To demonstrate an understanding of research methods in psychology.

                        

                        

                            Product:
                            Written Piece
                        

                        

                            Authorship Statement:
                            
                        

                        

                            Format:
                            
You will be required to devise a research study and outline the appropriate research methods for the study.
A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment will be provided online in Week 1.

                        

                        

                            Criteria:
                            
                                

                                    
                                        

                                            No.
                                            
                                            Learning Outcome assessed
                                        

                                    
                                    
                                            

                                                1
                                                
Appropriate research question devised for the topic chosen.

                                                
                                                        2
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                2
                                                
Appropriate and logical hypothesis established.

                                                
                                                        2
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                3
                                                
Clear and appropriate study outlined to test the hypothesis.

                                                
                                                        1
                                                        2
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                4
                                                
Appropriate statistical analysis outlined to test the hypothesis.

                                                
                                                        1
                                                        2
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                5
                                                
Correct and appropriate writing and referencing for psychology.

                                                
                                                        4
                                                
                                            

                                    
                                

                            		
                        

                        

                            Generic Skills:
                            

                        

                    

                

                

                    

                        

                            
                                All - Assessment Task 3:End of Semester Examination
                            
                        

                        

                            Goal:
                            
Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of using statistics when analysing data obtained from psychological research and practice and being empowered to identify the statistical methodology and delivery of data analysis.

                        

                        

                            Product:
                            Examination - Centrally Scheduled
                        

                        

                            Authorship Statement:
                            
                        

                        

                            Format:
                            
The final examination will contain multiple choice and short answer questions that cover material selected from all 13 weeks of the curriculum.

                        

                        

                            Criteria:
                            
                                

                                    
                                        

                                            No.
                                            
                                            Learning Outcome assessed
                                        

                                    
                                    
                                            

                                                1
                                                
Accuracy of test answers.

                                                
                                                        1
                                                        2
                                                        4
                                                
                                            

                                    
                                

                            		
                        

                        

                            Generic Skills:
                            

                        

                    

                

        

    

    

        

            

                
Directed study hours

                
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

            

        

    


    

        

            

                
What resources do I need to undertake this course?

                

                    Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
                

            


            

                
Prescribed text(s) or course reader

                    

                        You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
                    

                    

                        
                            

                                Required?
                                Author
                                Year
                                Title
                                Edition
                                Publisher
                            

                        
                        
                                

                                    Required
                                    Aron, A., Aron, E., and Coups, E
                                    2014
                                    Statistics for Psychology - International Edition
                                    6th
                                    Pearson
                                

                        
                    

            

        


        

            

                
Specific requirements

                    
N/A

            

        

    


    

        

            
How are risks managed in this course?

            
Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

        

    


    

        
What administrative information is relevant to this course?


        

            

                
Assessment: Academic Integrity

                
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Additional Requirements

                Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.
            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Submission penalties

                Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
            

        


        

            

                
Links to relevant University policy and procedures

                
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

            

        


        

            

                
Student Charter

                
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful.  The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

            

        


        

            

                
General Enquiries

                
  • In person: 
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au

            

        

    







    

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