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This course is an introduction to the theory and application of research design and statistics in psychology. For psychological science, understanding good research design and how to interpret statistical results are key for making rational decisions on the basis of research and data. The course will emphasise the concepts of valid and reliable research, research ethics, and the interpretation of statistical results using real-life examples from the psychological literature. An important theme is that anyone can learn statistics - no math beyond basic algebra is required and you are not required to hand-calculate the statistical outputs. Instead, the focus of the statistical content of the course will be on interpreting outputs from software such as MS Excel and jamovi. This course is a prerequisite to advancing in psychology beyond PSYC 200-level.
PSYC206 is an introduction to the theory and practice of statistics and research methods in psychology. For psychological science, statistics is a framework for making rational decisions on the basis of data. The course will emphasise the concepts and logic underlying statistics and research design, and provide worked-through examples that illustrate those concepts. An important theme is that anyone can learn statistics - no math beyond basic algebra is required! The focus in this course will be on interpreting statistical output rather than calculating statistics by hand. This is also the prerequisite course for advancing in psychology beyond the 200-level.
By the end of the semester, you should be able to: Understand the role of research design and statistics in forming scientific understanding and knowledge acquisition in psychology.Evaluate the validity of psychological research—distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative approaches and understanding the application of different research designs to research claims.Understand different perspectives and key decision-points that underlie robust research designs, including co-design with iwi and hapū.Explain the importance of professional standards for research integrity in Aotearoa New Zealand, including ethical treatment of participants, consideration of Mātauranga Māori in research, honest scholarshipAnalyse quantitative data using basic descriptive and inferential statistics.Apply the concepts of effect size, statistical power, and statistical significance testing to evaluate quantitative research findings.Use insights from your knowledge of a research study’s design and data to engage with the wider scientific literature. Communicate quantitative research methods and results accurately and clearly, adhering to APA Publication Manual standards.
At least 15 points in 100-level Psychology and at least 45 points overall
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Michael Philipp
Ailsa Humphries
Burton, L. J., Goodwin, C. J., Goodwin, K., Jose, P., Reece, J., Gullifer, J., Lambros, A., Mussa, M., & Lamony-Mills, A; Psychology Research Methods ; 1st Ed; Wiley, 2017.
Navarro DJ and Foxcroft DR; learning statistics with jamovi: a tutorial for psychology students and other beginners ; Version 0.70; 2019 (Open source textbook available from: https://www.learnstatswithjamovi.com).
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Coups, E. J; Statistics for psychology ; 6th Ed; Boston, MA: Pearson Education, 2013.
Occasionally additional readings will be assigned and provided digitally via LEARN.
Domestic fee $942.00
International fee $4,988.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .