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Research Methods in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 2025
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This programme trains you in the fundamental aspects of quantitative and qualitative research, including research design, data collection and data analysis, and provides practical, ‘hands-on’ experience. The programme will appeal to you if you would like to develop your career in experimental research, or to enhance your ability to apply research skills in either the public or the private sector. The programme will enable you to:

  • gain a thorough knowledge of a range of behavioural and social science methodologies
  • understand the principles of quantitative and qualitative research
  • correctly apply advanced statistical and computing techniques
  • enhance your skills in critical analysis and evaluation of research findings
  • consider philosophical and ethical issues in relation to science in general and to psychological research in particular
  • develop expertise in data collection, handling large data sets and data analysis
  • appropriately plan and design, present and evaluate, effective psychological research studies
You also complete a research project leading to a dissertation, and you participate in general research skills training modules with students from other departments at Goldsmiths. The programme was amongst the first to be recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as providing the generic and specific research training required by Psychology students in receipt of ESRC studentship awards. Between 2011 and 2015, the programme was the research methods training masters for the psychology pathway within the Goldsmiths and Queen Mary ESRC-funded Doctoral Training Centre (2011-2015). Since 2017, the programme provides its Psychology research training under the umbrella of the South-East Network for Social Sciences, an ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) between 10 prestigious universities, including Goldsmiths. Students in receipt of an ESRC 1+3 PhD studentship in the psychology pathway have to take this course as the first year of a 4-year PhD programme; students who have completed the MRes self-funded, are eligible to bid for an ESRC funded +3 PhD studentships.

Modules

The MRes runs for one academic year full-time or two years part-time. Most of the lectures, seminars and workshops on the programme run in the first two terms, but you are expected to pursue your studies beyond formal term times, particularly in respect of your research project. Lectures, seminars and workshops for the programme are timetabled mainly for Mondays and Tuesdays, but you may occasionally be required to attend other seminars and workshops held by the Department and College. You must take all the modules listed in the syllabus. The list below provides an overview of the topics covered in each module. All modules include a strong practical component: Compulsory modules Statistical Methods 15 credits Research Design and Analysis 15 credits Advanced Quantitative Methods 15 credits Statistical Data Analysis Project 15 credits In addition to these modules, you will also complete: Research Project (60 credits) You will produce an empirical piece of research leading to a research project, supervised by at least one member of the lecturing staff in the Department. The project provides invaluable, practical ‘hands on’ experience of evaluating a particular research question. You have the opportunity to set your research question, determine and apply the methods to obtain the answers, and present, discuss and interpret the results. You normally start your project in the second term, together with necessary literature reviews and research design. Work on your project will continue full-time following the formal examinations in May up until project submission in mid-September. Additional workshops and seminars You are also required to attend some of the Department’s programme of Invited Speakers’ talks given by distinguished academics in psychology, and to produce a written critique on one of these. You are welcome to attend the Department’s other seminar series, which are hosted by eminent academics and practitioners. Option modules As well as the above compulsory modules, you will also take 60 credits of option module from a list offered by the department. Please note that the optional modules available will change from year to year and not all optional modules listed below will be available in any one year. Research Placement 15 credits Advanced Methods and Techniques 30 credits Foundations of Neuroscience 15 credits Critical Analysis 15 credits Behavioural Genetics 15 credits Cross-cultural and Individual Differences in Attention and Awareness 15 credits Psychology of the Arts, Aesthetics and Attraction 15 credits Introduction to coding with MATLAB 15 credits Core Qualitative Research Methods 30 credits

Assessment method

Written examinations; coursework; dissertation.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard or equivalent, in a relevant subject area. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Additional fee information

Unless otherwise stated the annual fee for part-time students is half the full time fee quoted.

Sponsorship information

ESRC;

Research Methods in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London - UCAS