Course

Unit 1

Introduction to the Research Process

Overview of empirical research in psychology. Role of ethics in psychological research. Selection of research topics and problem formulation. Collaborative group-based research planning. Understanding the contribution to basic and applied psychological science. Use digital collaborative tools (Google Docs, Miro, Jamboard) for team planning and protocol drafting.

Unit 2

Literature Review and Hypothesis Development

Conducting literature reviews using databases (e.g., PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINHL, Google Scholar). Identifying research gaps and formulating testable hypotheses. Operational definitions of constructs. Conceptual vs. empirical research articles. Introduction to pre-registration platforms and procedures. Reference management software (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) and pre-registration platforms (OSF, AsPredicted) for beginner-level practice.

Unit 3

Research Design and Sample Size Estimation

Selecting appropriate research designs: experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational. Sampling methods and inclusion/exclusion criteria. A priori power analysis using software like G*Power. Designing research instruments and procedures. Planning and conducting pilot studies. G*Power beginner tutorials for sample size estimation. Online survey platforms (Google Forms, Qualtrics) for pilot testing.

Unit 4

Data Collection, Analysis, and Open Science Practices

Ethical data collection procedures. Managing and anonymising datasets. Use of statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Jamovi, R). Descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Creating and maintaining a data repository for transparency and replicability. Hands-on practice with beginner modules of SPSS, SAS, Jamovi, or R. Cloud-based repositories (OSF, Zenodo) for sharing anonymised datasets.

Unit 5

Scientific Writing and Reporting

Structure of a scientific research paper (APA format). Writing the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Interpreting findings and discussing implications. Limitations, future directions, and ethical reporting. Peer review, presentation, and feedback integration. Writing support tools (Grammarly, Zotero Word plugin) and collaborative writing platforms for APA-compliant reporting.

Text Books / References

Textbooks

1. Morling, B. (2020). Research methods in psychology: Evaluating a world of information (4th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
2. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
3. Field, A. (2017). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
4. American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Author.
5. Lakens, D. (2021). The value of preregistration for psychological science: A conceptual analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(1), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620952412

Suggested Readings

1. Nosek, B. A., Ebersole, C. R., DeHaven, A. C., & Mellor, D. T. (2018). The preregistration revolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(11), 2600–2606. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1708274114 
2. Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S. (2015). Research methods in psychology (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Pearson.

This practicum-based course offers students an opportunity to experience the research process hands-on by participating in faculty-led empirical research projects. Working in small collaborative groups, students actively apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world research activities. The course guides them through the entire research cyclefrom conducting literature reviews, formulating hypotheses, designing studies, and collecting and analysing data using descriptive and inferential statistics, to preparing a scientific report in APA format. Emphasis is placed on rigorous research practices such as a priori sample size calculation, pre-registration of hypotheses, anonymized data sharing, and transparent reporting. This course bridges the gap between theory and practice and contributes to basic or applied psychological science.

Course Objectives

• To train students in conducting empirical research in a systematic and ethical manner.
• To enable students to critically review existing literature and develop testable hypotheses.
• To provide hands-on experience in research planning, data collection, and statistical analysis.
• To encourage the use of open science practices such as pre-registration and data sharing.
• To develop students’ skills in scientific writing and transparent reporting of research findings.
• To apply beginner-level digital tools for literature management, data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Course Outcomes

• CO1: Conduct a systematic literature review and develop research questions and hypotheses.
• CO2: Design a research study with appropriate operational definitions and methodology.
• CO3: Perform data collection and apply relevant statistical techniques to analyse results.
• CO4: Demonstrate good research practices, including a priori sample size estimation, pre-registration, and anonymised data sharing.
• CO5: Prepare a detailed, replicable scientific report adhering to APA style and ethical standards.

CO-PO Mapping