BSc Psychology

The unit will focus on the process of scale development, starting with an overview of different types of scales and their applications. Students will deepen their understanding through hands-on experience, including using qualitative methods to develop scale items, working with advanced online survey software (Qualtrics), and learning how to assess the validity of scales and interpret their results.

Using the principles of Social-Determination Theory, students will work collaboratively to develop a new scale, which they will then validate through a piece of empirical research.  

As a result, students will further develop their skills in developing tools for research, operationalising hypotheses, recruiting participants, analysing the resulting data and interpreting the results in light of the hypotheses and previous literature in the area. 

This unit aims to provide scaffolded support to develop qualitative and quantitative research skills to develop a self-report scale. It aims to provide an understanding of historical context, contemporary perspectives, and inclusivity, in the development of psychological tools. The unit will prepare students for the Final Year Project and aims to equip students with enhanced skills through rigorous research training, developing confidence and competence in conducting psychological research. The unit aims to foster ethically minded, socially responsible graduates by scaffolding their understanding of the contribution of psychological measurement to understanding human behaviour. Students will be encouraged to become independent, active, and self-directed learners through a variety of delivery methods and technologies. 

Week 1: Understanding the development and application of scales workshop

Weeks 2-4: Each week, 120 minute sessions with mixture of tutor-led instruction and group working practical sessions on introducing the topic, qualitative methods used for item generation, and developing ethics applications for research

Weeks 5-8: Focus is on group work with recorded materials to support skills such as development of online surveys, collecting data, tidying survey data, conducting reliability analysis. There will also be drop-in sessions to support this and a tutor-led session on how to analyse and write up the methods.

Week 9: 120 minute session with mixture of tutor-led instruction and group working practical sessions on analysing the data and interpreting the findings for the discussion.

Week 10: Drop- In

Week 11: Assignment submission

Alongside this research skills lab, students will complete a workbook to support their learning.

• Apply multiple methodologies to the psychological measurement of human behaviour
• Demonstrate the use of self-report tools for psychological measurement and gain insight into how different psychological research methods can be triangulated.  
• Demonstrate the role of diversity and variability in the psychological measurement of human behaviour 

• Ethically apply psychological knowledge to the measurement of human behaviour
• Demonstrate theory development and generate testable hypotheses and research questions by constructing and operationalizing them based on relevant theory and research.
• Employ, and interrelate, different perspectives and methods, to address a theoretical and real-world question.
• Apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based analysis to critically evaluate theories, research, ethical issues, methodologies and arguments in psychology  
• Use psychological tools, including appropriate specialist software and digital platforms, and psychometric instruments to collect empirical data. 

• Plan and conduct empirical research to address a research question recognising ethical, theoretical, practical, and methodological considerations.  
• Identify, assess and evaluate patterns in behaviour, and experience, through practical activities
• Develop a new psychological instrument, informed by theory and good psychometric practice, to measure a target behaviour.   

• Employ deductive, inductive, and numerical reasoning and analytical skills to accurately analyse, interpret, and present qualitative and quantitative data.  
• Use a range of appropriate sources (library, internet, electronic databases) to gather relevant and robust information.  
• Communicate psychometrics results of a new psychological scale through the writing of an APA-formatted research report with written and visual elements 

Students will receive individual feedback 20 working days after final submission deadline.

Cohort-level feedback provided by email following release of final unit grades

References will be provided during the teaching sessions