Survey research and design in psychology/Overview

This page describes the "Survey research and design in psychology" unit of study for participants.

General overview

Survey research and design in psychology is a 3rd year undergraduate university-level unit of study. The unit focuses on designing survey research and social science surveys and the use of correlational statistics including exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression.

There are 5 modules which consist in total of 10 lectures and 5 tutorials. Associated learning materials are available on English Wikiversity, along with guidelines for the assessment exercises. Additional unit materials are provided on Moodle, Slideshare, Youtube and Echo360.

The learning materials have primarily been developed by James Neill, University of Canberra, Australia. There are approximately 160 formally enrolled students from University of Canberra in the unit each year (Feb-May).

Unit outline

The unit outline contains specific details for formally enrolled students.

Syllabus

This is a third-year tertiary-level, 3 credit point (150 hour), semester-long unit of study in applied psychological research methods. Learning content and activities focus on:

1. Developing knowledge and skills involved in conducting well-designed, ethical, survey-based research in psychology and the social sciences;
2. Theory and practice of survey-based research, including how to ask a research question, survey design, sampling, multivariate data analysis (descriptives and graphing, linear correlation, exploratory factor analysis, multiple linear regression, ANOVA), basic qualitative analysis, and interpreting and communicating results in APA style.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the unit, participants should be able to:

1. Design and conduct ethically- and scientifically-sound survey-based research in the social sciences;
2. Use statistical software (SPSS and Excel) to manage data and to conduct descriptive statistics, graphing, exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis, multiple linear regression, and ANOVA models;
3. Communicate the results of survey-based research in APA style.

Prerequisites

Since the unit is targeted at third-year tertiary (university) level, it is assumed that participants have already completed the equivalent of:

1. A first year tertiary education introductory research and statistics unit (preferably in the social sciences)
2. A second year tertiary education research and statistics unit (preferably in the social sciences)

As a result of successfully completing such a three-year sequence of units, a student should be equipped for supervised post-graduate and professional research work.

Educational approach

Three educational themes guide the andragogical design and facilitation of this unit:

1. Collegiality: Emerging academics participate in facilitated learning events
   1. Emerging academics ("students") and more experienced academics ("teachers") participate in a collegial academic culture which is designed to develop participants' skills and knowledge through facilitated learning events (lectures, tutorials, readings, assessment, and discussion).
2. Learning attitude: engage + work hard = learn + succeed
   1. Engagement and active participation in the learning events develop the skills and knowledge needed to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. Basically, this means adopting a "learning attitude".
3. Open education
   1. The unit materials and learning resources are freely available as open educational resources on Wikiversity and Moodle so as to maximise their utility. This is an aspirational goal - the materials are under continual development. These materials supplement face-to-face (f2f), campus-based teaching at the University of Canberra (UC) by James Neill (2005-2013).
   2. Participants are welcome to contribute by editing and/or commenting on unit materials.
   3. The open educational resources include:
      1. Lecture slides
      2. Lecture recordings
      3. Readings
      4. Tutorial notes

Timetable

Principal dates (University of Canberra)

There are 10 lectures on Tuesdays 12.30-14.30, in 2B7, starting Week 1.

There are 5 tutorials on Wednesdays 12.30-14.30, 14.30-16.30, 17:30-19:30 and 18.30-20.30 in 10A23a, starting Week 1 or 2 depending on which tutorial you enrolled in. Check your timetable. The online tutorial will be conducted via Blackboard Collaborate (access via Moodle).

Wednesday tutorials

Workload

The amount of study needed for this unit will depend on your prior knowledge and pace of learning. The unit is designed to involve approximately 150 hours of study (including contact time and personal study time) - or an average of 11 hours per week. The following table provides a break-down of the main learning activities and the estimated time involved:

Special needs

People who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or other circumstances should inform the Unit Convener as soon as possible so that necessary arrangements can be made.

Participation requirements

Attendance at tutorials is strongly recommended but it is not compulsory.

Tutorials develop hands-on data analysis skills through direct contact with teaching staff.

Tutorial learning activities are closely related to the assessment tasks, particularly the lab report.

Required IT skills

A moderate level of expertise in using word-processing and spreadsheet software is required.

Previous introductory experience using SPSS software is expected.

Software

To complete the tutorials and survey research project for Survey research and design in psychology access will be needed to statistical software, including SPSS and Excel (part of Microsoft Office). This software can be accessed on University of Canberra campus computers at no additional cost by those enrolled.

You can also use versions of the software on other computers. Options for accessing SPSS include:

1. Download and install a 14-day trial version.
2. Purchase an SPSS Standard Grad Pack 6 or 12 month license via:
   1. Co-op bookshop: IBM SPSS Statistics Standard Grad Pack V 21, 1 yr Lic. WIN/MAC | RR AU$176 Co-op members AU$108
   2. Online: SPSS buy now - see bottom right hand corner for links to student version resellers

Calculator

A non-programmable calculator (~$10) is recommended for tutorials and quizzes.

USB flash drive

A 2GB or larger USB flash drive (~AU$10) is recommended for file storage whilst working on tutorial exercises and the survey research project. Backups should also be made.

See also

• Evaluation
• Feedback
• Navigation
• Options
• Topics

External links

• 7126 - Survey Research and Design in Psychology - UC Courses and Units Database
• 6667 - Survey Research and Design in Psychology - UC Courses and Units Database