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Course Outline

PSY207 Research Methods and Analysis 2

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

2026Trimester 1

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 introduces you to research methodologies used in psychological research. You will be introduced to a range of experimental, quasi-experimental and naturalistic research methods, including their strengths and weaknesses. Implications for the selection of data analysis techniques will be explored. You will learn to perform statistical analysis of psychological data including the use of statistical software to conduct these analyses. You will gain an understanding of ethical standards and procedures that apply when conducting research with humans and animals.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning materials and activities 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face-to-face workshops, on campus, in computer lab 2hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

This course will cover the following topic areas:

  • ethics in research
  • research methods
  • descriptive statistics
  • inferential statistics

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 Explain and distinguish between a variety of research methods used in psychological research. Knowledgeable
Empowered 
1.1.12, 1.3, 1.6
2 Describe the ethical principles and practices employed in psychological research. Ethical 
1.1.12, 1.4
3 Explain the concepts of levels of measurement, sampling, and reliability and validity including how they apply to psychological research. Knowledgeable 
1.1.12
4 Explain and interpret the key features and concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics. Knowledgeable 
1.1.12, 1.3
5 Apply basic functions and applications using statistical software. Knowledgeable
Engaged 
1.1.12
6 Communicate information appropriately for the psychology discipline. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
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.
1.4 Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology.
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 PSY104) or (PSY100 and SCI110 and enrolled in an extended Psychology minor in AE304 or SE303) or (PSY100 and PSY101 if enrolled in AR374 or AR302 or AB314 or AR364 or SA301) or (PSY100 and PSY101 if enrolled in AR405 prior to 2023)

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 workshops.

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 40% 
1,500 words
 Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 40% 
1,000 words
 Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 20% 
1 hour
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Introduction of a Report and Ethics
Goal: 
To communicate your understanding of psychological research and write an Introduction of a Psychology Research Report, with consideration of ethics of the proposed study.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Individual, written report.

A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment will be provided online in Week 1.

This assessment task will be due between Weeks 5 - 7 of the teaching trimester. The final date of submission for this task will be determined once public holidays and the course timetable have been published prior to the commencement of trimester. Please refer to your course Canvas site at the commencement of the teaching trimester to confirm the due date for this assessment task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Appropriate psychology topic defined and situated within relevant context.
 1
2 
Description and application of relevant theory.
 1
3 
Summarise and critical review of appropriate and relevant literature.
 1 3
4 
Development of appropriate rationale, aim, and hypothesis for the proposed study.
 1 3
5 
Discussion of the proposed study in context of current ethics code.
 2
6 
Correct and appropriate writing and referencing for psychology.
 6
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:Results of a Report
Goal: 
To communicate your understanding of psychological research and to correctly conduct and interpret the inferential analyses and write the Results of a Psychology Research Report.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Individual, written report.

You will be required to write the Results and part of the Discussion of a Psychology Research Report.

A more detailed outline of the requirements of this assessment will be provided online in Week 1.

This assessment task will be due between Weeks 11 - 12 of the teaching trimester. The final date of submission for this task will be determined once public holidays and the course timetable have been published prior to the commencement of trimester. Please refer to your course Canvas site at the commencement of the teaching trimester to confirm the due date for this assessment task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrated explanation and execution of data analyses.
 1 4 5 6
2 
Appropriate interpretation of the results.
 1 4
3 
Correct and appropriate writing and referencing for psychology.
 6
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 3:End of Trimester Examination
Goal: 
To assess your knowledge of the course content.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
The final examination will contain multiple choice and short answer questions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Accuracy and correctness of responses.
 1 2 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving

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 Cote, L.R., Gordon, R., Randell, C.E., Schmitt, J., Marvin, H 2021 Introduction to Statistics in the Psychological Sciences n/a University of Missouri - St Louis

Specific requirements

Not applicable

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:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

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

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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