BSc Computer Science (Human Computer Interaction) / Course details

This course will introduce students to core principles and techniques in Research Methods and Statistics. 

You will be introduced to quantitative and qualitative research approaches used in psychological research. The course has three major components in which students will learn foundational principles of: i) Research methodology and design; ii) Statistical analyses; iii) Qualitative and Mixed methods.

This unit will outline and examine the components of research design and methodology and explore fundamental principles and techniques of statistical analysis. It will also incorporate an introduction to the principles of open science. You will gain experience in conducting statistical analyses using appropriate software and will have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge of research methodology in empirical work/ lab classes linked to other course units. More generally, the course aims to promote the development of critical thinking skills, enabling you to objectively evaluate psychological research.

Employ key terminology and outline concepts of research methods and statistics

Interpret the results of statistical analyses in the context of the research design

Discuss ethical considerations relating to research with human participants

Identify and evaluate the methodological elements of published research in psychological science

Explain the limitations imposed by particular design decisions

Design a methodology which is appropriate for a given research question

Choose appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics for different research hypotheses

Undertake basic statistical calculations using Excel

Analyse quantitative and qualitative data and present the results accurately, clearly, and concisely in tables, plots and text

Use Excel to organise, explore and conduct basic statistical tests on data

Demonstrate confidence in handling and analysis of research data

Open Book Blackboard Quizzes and final examinations in semesters 1 and 2.

You will be provided with the core text for this course:
Warren, P., Fisher, A. & Edge, D. (2013). Statistics and Research Methods (3rd ed.). Harlow: Pearson.
This custom text was developed specifically for this course and the 2nd year Statistics unit by the course leaders.  It combines selected, essential reading from:

1. Dancey, C. P., & Reidy, J. (2011). Statistics without maths for Psychology (5th ed.). Harlow: Pearson.   
2. Langdridge, D. & Hagger-Johnson, G. (2009). Introduction to research methods and data analysis in Psychology (2nd ed). Harlow: Prentice Hall.
3. Howitt, D. & Cramer, D. (2007). Introduction to research methods in psychology (3rd ed.). Harlow: Prentice Hall.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Howell, D. C. (2009) Statistical methods for Psychology, International edition (7th Edition). Wadsworth.
If you like mathematics then this is the statistics text of choice. Authoritative and interesting to read there is little if anything you will come across in Psychology that isn’t given a lucid treatment in this book. It may, however, be scary for those who don’t like maths. Note this book is recommended as an additional text, it is not essential and it is secondary to the essential reading text.