Course

This advanced research course builds on foundational research skills and prepares undergraduate psychology students to independently conceptualise, design, conduct, and report a full-scale empirical research project. The course emphasises rigorous scientific inquiry, methodological competence, ethical professionalism, and evidence-based psychological practice. Students will engage in all stages of the research cycleproposal development, ethical review processes, data collection, data analysis using appropriate statistical or qualitative techniques, interpretation, and dissemination. By the end of this course, students will produce a complete research report aligned with undergraduate research standards and develop competencies essential for future academic, clinical, or applied psychology roles.

Course Objectives

• To strengthen advanced knowledge of research paradigms, designs, and methodologies relevant to psychological science.
• To develop mastery in conducting systematic literature reviews, synthesising existing evidence, and identifying research gaps.
• To equip students with skills for developing a research proposal, including formulating research questions, hypotheses, operational definitions, and selecting suitable methods.
• To familiarise students with ethical protocols, including informed consent, confidentiality, risk assessment, and institutional review processes.
• To provide extensive hands-on experience in designing, executing, and managing a full-scale empirical research study in psychology.

Course Outcomes

• CO1: Demonstrate advanced understanding of research paradigms, ethical principles, and methodological standards in psychological research.
• CO2: Conduct a systematic literature review, critically evaluate existing empirical studies, and identify gaps that justify a research project.
• CO3: Design a complete research proposal that includes well-framed research questions/hypotheses, methodological design, sampling strategies, tools, and ethical considerations.
• CO4: Implement an empirical research project, including participant recruitment, data collection, and ethical documentation.
• CO5: Interpret and discuss findings in relation to existing psychological theories, literature, and practical implications, adhering to APA regulations.

Skills Developed

• Advanced critical thinking and scientific reasoning
• Systematic literature review skills
• Research design and project management
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Ethical decision-making in research
• Scientific writing and APA formatting
• Use of research and analysis software
• Presentation and dissemination skills