Overview
Qualification Grading Type
Graded
Aim
To enable students to explore the research methods used in psychology and provide an insight into ethical issues faced by psychologists when carrying out research on human participants.
Unit Learning Outcomes
1.
Understand key terms relating to research methods.
Provide brief definitions of key terms as outlined in LO1.
Assessment Criteria
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1.1
Define key terms relating to research e.g.
- Primary data
- Secondary data
- Quantitative data
- Qualitative data.
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1.2
Explain the difference between nomothetic and idiographic approaches to research.
2.
Understand research methods used in psychology.
Case studies, meta-analysis, laboratory experiments, field experiments, observations, experimental designs, triangulation.
Reliability, face validity, external validity, ecological validity, population validity, sampling bias, response bias, researcher bias.
Assessment Criteria
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2.1
Explain methods of research used in Psychology.
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2.2
Explain the following concepts within research:
(a) reliability
(b) validity
(c) bias.
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2.3
Evaluate research in relation reliability, validity and bias.
3.
Understand ethical issues encountered in the investigation of behaviour.
British Psychological Society Code of Human Research Ethics (2014).
Ethical issues – risk, valid consent, confidentiality, giving advice, deception, debriefing, Investigations – Milgram’s Obedience Study (1963), Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment (1971), Hofling’s Hospital Experiment of Obedience (1966), Little Albert (1920).
Assessment Criteria
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3.1
Explain the importance of the BPS Code of Ethics.
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3.2
Summarise the main ethical issues generated by psychological research.
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3.3
Evaluate two psychological investigations in relation to the ethical issues they generate.