Course summary

Research drives progress, shapes policy and solves real-world problems. Psychological research methods help you study human behaviour and create evidence-based solutions. From business and law to education, these skills open doors across sectors. Psychological research skills are in demand with the total value of the UK research sector reaching £9 billion in 2022 (source: MRS, 2024). Our Masters in Psychological Research Methods takes a modern approach to studying mind and behaviour, preparing you for a future career in psychology and psychology research. It combines training in psychological theory with practical research skills. Gain an introduction to: quantitative and qualitative research; analysis and interpretation of data; critical approaches to psychological science; reporting of statistical analyses related to research. Learn to get the most out of R. This specialised research software will help you manipulate datasets. It is the industry-standard tool for statistical analysis and data visualisation. You'll learn through workshops and understanding participant experiences to produce meaningful research. Choose a degree pathway suited to your career goals The unique feature of the Psychological Research Methods MSc is flexibility. You can choose to investigate a wide range of psychology topics across the course. But you can also choose to specialise in a specific area of psychology for your coursework, placement and dissertation. Three taught specialist pathways are available: Child Development Cognition and Neuropsychology Perception and Action Get practical experience on a placement As part of the Masters in Psychological Research Methods you’ll undertake a work placement. This can be in a University lab or with an external company, charity or third sector organisation. Previous students have completed placements with the following companies: Artlink Aspire Housing and Personal Development Services Fourth Valley Inclusion Independent Custody Visiting NeuroKeep Paws for Progress Rowett Institute Royal Zoological Society of Scotland SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) SSPCA (Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Specialist psychology facilities Get hands-on experience designing and conducting psychology experiments in our high-end labs. Our on-site Psychology Kindergarten is unique in the UK. It provides an outstanding facility for child development research and teaching. We have a new Lifespan Lab that focuses on understanding cognition, health and wellbeing from infancy through to old age. Laboratory space is also available for you to do: human electrophysiology research (mobile and lab-based EEG), health research (including Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and heart rate monitoring), face research (including eye-tracking), vision research (including stereoscopic displays).