Psychology (PSYC) 304

Research Methods in Psychology (Revision 5)

Status:

Open

Delivery mode:

Individualized study online with eText. Delivered via Brightspace.

Credits:

Areas of study:

Arts, Science, or Social Science

Prerequisites:

It is recommended that students have received credit for Athabasca University's PSYC 289 and PSYC 290 (or an equivalent) before taking this course. A course in research methods is required for all undergraduate psychology majors in Canadian universities. To ensure transferability of credits, the content of Psychology 304 is very similar to that of other university courses in research methods in psychology.

Course start date:

If you are a:

Self-funded student: register by the 10th of the month, start on the 1st of the next.
Funded student: please check the next enrolment deadline and course start date.

Precluded:

Credit cannot be granted for Psychology 304 if credit has already been granted for Athabasca University’s Psychology 404 or Social Science 366. Considerable overlap exists between this course and Social Science 366: Research Methods in the Social Sciences. The emphasis of Psychology 304, however, is on discussing research methods in the context of psychology. Program students are advised to take MATH 215 concurrently with, before, or soon after taking this course.

Challenge:

PSYC 304 has a challenge for credit option.

Faculty:

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Overview

Psychology 304: Research Methods in Psychology is to introduce you to the principles of the scientific method and the research designs and techniques used in psychology. The course should help you become a more critical research consumer, increase the knowledge of those of you working in research-related occupations, and provide you with the background necessary for further undergraduate and graduate studies in psychology.

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction: Psychology and Science
Unit 2: Principles of the Scientific Method: Theory and Measurement
Unit 3: Principles of the Scientific Method: Validity and Control
Unit 4: Ethical Issues in Psychological Research
Unit 5: Non-Experimental Research: Observational, Archival, and Case-Study Research
Unit 6: Non-Experimental Research: Survey Research
Unit 7: Single-Subject Experimental Research
Unit 8: Group Experimental Research: Single-Factor Designs
Unit 9: Group Experimental Research: Factorial Designs
Unit 10: Quasi Experimentation
Unit 11: Reporting Research Results
Unit 12: Conclusions: Bias and Limitations of Experimental Psychology (Epilogue)

Evaluation

To receive credit for PSYC 304, you must pass the final exam and achieve an overall course grade of D (50 percent) or better. If you receive less than D (50 percent) on your exam, your exam mark will become your overall course grade. The course assignments and their weightings are as follows:

Activity	Weight
Quizzes (three quizzes)	15%
Assignment 1	8%
Assignment 2	7%
Assignment 3	10%
Assignment 4	10%
Assignment 5	15%
Final Exam	35%
Total	100%

The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.

Materials

White, T. L. & McBurney, D. H. (2013). Research methods (9^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. (eText)

eText

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

Other Resources

The course is delivered entirely online using a Student Manual, Course Information, Assignment Manual, and Study Guide.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the PSYC 304 challenge registration, you must score at least 50 percent on the exam and obtain a composite mark of at least D (50 percent) to pass. If you fail the exam, your exam mark will become the final grade for the challenge.

Activity	Weight
Questionnaire items development	20%
Media report critique	15%
Research Report	25%
Exam	40%
Total	100%

Challenge for credit course registration form

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 5, June 8, 2023

Updated August 14, 2023

View previous revision

Psychology (PSYC) 304

Overview

Outline

Evaluation

Materials

Challenge for credit

Important links