MCEP213
Research Methods II

MQF Level: 7

ECTS Value: 3 ECTS

Contact Hours: 15

Self Study Hours: 36

Assessment Hours: 24

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

This module builds on the Research Methods I module and aims to consolidate the course participants’ knowledge, skills and understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Course participants will acquire the knowledge of research designs and analysis strategies. Course participants will be encouraged to become creative, critical and reflexive practitioners through independent and collaborative work.

By the end of this module, the learner will be able to:

  • Design a research project from the design to data collection;
  • Critically assess the process of sampling for reliability;
  • Interpret results, describe trends, compare groups or report relationships among variables to sustain action research;
  • Develop a questionnaire for a research study following all questionnaire construction steps;
  • Adopt relevant techniques for the systematic analysis and interpretation of educational qualitative data.
  • Describe the difference between the research problem/question, hypothesis and null hypothesis;
  • Explain the difference between correlational and participatory research;
  • Explain the importance of piloting a study;
  • Discuss implications and study limitations.
  • Devise interviews and questrionnaires;
  • Systematically analyse qualitative and quantitative data, and interpret results;
  • Organise the research project with consideration given to managing time, resources, reading material, ideas and concepts for best results when conducting research;
  • Report main findings.

This module will be assessed through: Assignment.

Core Reading List

  1. Breakwell, G.M., Wright, D.B., and Barnett, J. (2021). Research Methods in Psychology. (5th Edition). UK: Sage Publications Ltd.
  2. Coolican, H. (2014). Research methods and statistics in psychology. Psychology Press.
  3. Corno, L. and Anderman, E.M. (2015). Handbook of Educational Psychology (3rd) : Routledge.
  4. Howitt, D. and Cramer, D. (2020). Research Methods in Psychology. UK: Pearson Education Ltd.
  5. Mertens, D. M. (2015). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (4th). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  6. Millsap, R. E., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2009). The SAGE handbook of quantitative methods in psychology. SAGE Publications Ltd, https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9780857020994
  7. Morling, B. (2014). Research Methods in Psychology: Evaluating a World of Information. (2nd Edition). US: WW Norton and Co.
  8. Rooney, B., & Evans, A. (2019). Methods in psychological research. SAGE Publications, Inc., https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/978150638495
  9. Sanders, L.D. (2010). Discovering Research Methods in Psychology.BPS Blackwell
  10. Schubotz, D. (2020). Participatory research. SAGE Publications Ltd, https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529799682
  11. Willig, C., & Stainton-Rogers, W. (2008). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research in psychology. SAGE Publications Ltd, https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781848607927

Supplementary Reading List

  1. Bogner, A., Littig, B. & Menz W., eds. (2009). Interviewing Experts. Palgrave Macmillan, UK
  2. Gavin, H. (2008). Understanding research methods and statistics in psychology. SAGE Publications Ltd, https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781446214565
  3. McQueen, R. and Knussen C. (2013). Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology: A Practical Guide for the Undergraduate Reseacher. UK: Person Education Ltd.
  4. Mills, A. J., Durepos, G., & Wiebe, E. (2010). Case study research in psychology. In Encyclopedia of case study research (pp. 115-117). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412957397.n40
  5. Sternberg, R. (Ed.) (2020). My biggest research mistake: Adventures and misadventures in psychological research. SAGE Publications, Inc., https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781071802601
  6. Tashakkori, A. & Teddie, C., (1998). Mixed Methodology – Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. SAGE, London
  7. Wiland, E. (2012); Reasons; Continuum International Publishing Group, London.
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