Overview
Both qualitative and quantitative research skills are highly sought after in many career paths. This unit builds upon Research Methods 1 (PSYC11012) to provide you with the knowledge and skills to conduct and appraise both qualitative and quantitative research in your university and/or professional careers in psychology. The unit will continue to build your skills in critiquing, designing, and analysing qualitative research. It will also further advance your skills related to designing quantitative research, including how to perform basic statistical analyses by hand and using industry-standard computer software. Students who are not confident in their mathematical abilities are encouraged to contact the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) to discuss 'refresher' options.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-Requisite Completion of PSYC11012.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Students asked for detailed videos with step-by-step instructions for statistical calculations to aid their learning.
Continue to develop and provide pre-recorded videos on statistical calculations, supported with opportunities for practice during live tutorials.
Feedback from SUTE qualitative feedback
Some students wanted earlier access to unit content.
Load pre-recorded teaching materials as early as possible to the Moodle site.
Feedback from SUTE quantitative and qualitative feedback
Students appreciated the balance of quantitative and qualitative methods.
Maintain the balance between qualitative and quantitative teaching in the unit.
- Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
- Map a thematic analysis of qualitative research data.
- Calculate and report quantitative data in a professional format.
This unit addresses Foundational Competencies as specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The unit specifically aligns to the following APAC graduate competencies:
1.1 Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the following topics: i. the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology; and xii. research methods and statistics.
1.2 Apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
1.3 Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.4 Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology.
1.6 Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Project (applied) - 10% | |||
| 2 - Poster Sessions - 30% | |||
| 3 - Portfolio - 60% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners
Edition: First (2013)
Authors: Virginia Braun & Victoria Clarke
Sage Publishing
Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks , California , United States of America
ISBN: 9781847875815
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)
7th Edition (2020)
Authors: American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Washington Washington , Washington , United States of America
ISBN: 9781433832161
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Jamovi (free statistics analysis program) or other statistics software
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.lole@cqu.edu.au
c.dittman@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Qualitative Research A
Chapter
Braun & Clarke (2013)
- Chapter 8: Moving towards analysis
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to Qualitative Research B
Chapter
Braun & Clarke (2013)
- Chapter 12: Quality criteria and techniques for qualitative research
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Scale Development, Scales of Measurement, Central Tendency, Variance, & Reporting Results
Chapter
Burton et al. (2018)
- Chapter 3: Measurement and Validity
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 3: Measures of Central Tendency and Spread
APA Manual (2020)
- Chapter 6: The Mechanics of Style
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
z-Scores, Probability, Percentiles, & Hypothesis Testing
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 4: z-Scores and the Standard Normal Distribution
- Chapter 5: Probability
- Chapter 6: Sampling Distributions
- Chapter 7: Introduction to Hypothesis Testing
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chi-square
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 14: Chi-square
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Correlation
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 12: Correlations
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #1 Due Week 6 Thursday (24 August 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Survey Creation Due: Week 6 Thursday (24 Aug 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Calculation Portfolio Due: Week 6 Thursday (24 Aug 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Regression
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 13: Linear Regression
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #2 Due Week 7 Thursday (31 August 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Unrelated samples t-test
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 8: Introduction to t-tests
- Chapter 10: Independent Samples
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #3 Due Week 8 Thursday (7 September 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Related samples t-test
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 9: Repeated Measures
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #4 Due Week 9 Thursday (14 September 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Cote et al. (2021)
- Chapter 11: Analysis of Variance
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #5 Due Week 10 Thursday (21 September 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Braun & Clarke (2013)
- Chapter 4: Interactive data collection 1: interviews
- Chapter 5: Interactive data collection 2: focus groups
- Chapter 6: Textual data collection: surveys, stories, diaries and secondary sources
- Chapter 7: Preparing audio data for analysis: transcription
Events and Submissions/Topic
Calculation Portfolio #6 Due Week 11 Thursday (28 September 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Qualitative Project Design B
Chapter
Braun & Clarke (2013)
- Chapter 3: Planning and designing qualitative research
- Chapter 4: Interactive data collection 1: interviews
- Chapter 5: Interactive data collection 2: focus groups
- Chapter 6: Textual data collection: surveys, stories, diaries and secondary sources
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The Qualitative content (Weeks 1, 2, 11 and 12) will be taught by Dr Paul Duckett. Please post any questions relating to the qualitative content, including Assessment 1 in the Qualitative-specific Q&A forum on Moodle.
The Quantitative content (Weeks 3-10) will be taught by Sharleen Keleher (Unit Coordinator). All readings for Weeks 3-10 are available via the CQUniversity library PSYC12048 eReading list.
1 Poster Sessions
You will be given a transcript taken from an interview. The transcript has been analysed by psychology staff who have undertaken a thematic analysis of the conversation. You will see their notes, their coding, and the themes that they have developed from the transcript.
Your task it to present a poster that shows off those themes in a way that provides a useful and novel way of thinking about the topic that was discussed in the interview.
You will then write a short commentary on how your representation of the data (the themes) differs from the most common ways of representing quantitative data in a figure.
Week 5 Thursday (10 Aug 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Thursday (7 Sept 2023)
You will be assessed against a marking rubric that will focus on two key areas of your learning:
- Your ability to compare and contrast a qualitative and a quantitative way of presenting research data
- Your ability to map the results of a piece of thematic analysis through creating a non-linear figure/diagram
WORD LIMIT: Your submission should be no more than 300 words (exclusive of any words contained in your illustration/graphic/figure but inclusive of any text used in your headings). Any words over that limit will not be read or assessed by your marker. See the Psychology Word Count Information on Moodle for a rationale for this type of word limit restriction.
- Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
- Map a thematic analysis of qualitative research data.
2 Project (applied)
Qualitative data is often used to guide the development of quantitative research questionnaires. For instance, the generalisability of key themes identified from qualitative interviews of a few individuals can be tested using quantitative tools that survey a larger proportion of the population.
For this assessment, you are required to read the qualitative interview transcript provided and the themes that have been extracted from this. Your task is to create five (5) survey scale items informed by these themes, including response options, a justification and a reflection for each survey item.
Your submission will include three (3) components:
- Five (5) questions to be asked, including Likert-scale response options that could be used to quantitatively measure the experiences reflected in these themes;
- A justification for each survey item explaining why the item is likely to be effective in measuring the experience reflected in the themes;
- A reflection on each survey item, explaining how the item might not be effective and/or misinterpreted.
Week 6 Thursday (24 Aug 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Thursday (7 Sept 2023)
30 marks are available for this assessment task:
– 10 marks for well-constructed survey items.
– 10 marks for justification for each survey item. Your justifications should explain why each of the questions could work well (vs other options), and be supported by relevant survey design literature.
– 10 marks for reflection on possible limitations of each question and its associated response items, including descriptions of scenarios where someone might misinterpret each survey item.
A more detailed marking rubric is available on Moodle.
- Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
3 Portfolio
You will be required to complete 6 Calculation Portfolio tasks, each worth 10% of your final grade. Four of these tasks will require you to perform statistical hand calculations by hand and the other 2 tasks will require you to perform statistical calculations using computer software.
Calculation Portfolio Tasks #1, #2, #4, and #5 are the tasks that require you to perform statistical calculations by hand. You will have TWO attempts at each of these tasks and the attempt with the highest score will be awarded as your final mark. You will have 2 hours to complete each attempt.
Calculation Portfolio Tasks #3 and #6 will require you to perform statistical calculations using computer software. You have ONE attempt for each of these tasks.
The due dates, type of calculation (hand, computer), and content assessed in each of these are as follows:
- Portfolio #1 (due Week 6) will be a hand calculation based on material from Week 5
- Portfolio #2 (due Week 7) will be a hand calculation based on material from Week 6
- Portfolio #3 (due Week 8) will be a computer calculation based on material from Week 7
- Portfolio #4 (due Week 9) will be a hand calculation based on material from Week 8
- Portfolio #5 (due Week 10) will be a hand calculation based on material from Week 9
- Portfolio #6 (due Week 11) will be a computer calculation based on material from Week 10
Week 6 Thursday (24 Aug 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Calculation task #1 is due 11:59 pm (AEST) on 24/08/2023; Calculation task #2 is due 11:59 pm (AEST) on 31/08/2023; Calculation task #3 is due 11:59 pm (AEST) on 07/09/2023; Calculation task #4 is due 11:59 pm (AEST) on 14/09/2023; Calculation task #5 is due 11:59 pm (AEST) on 21/09/2023; Calculation task #6 is due 11:59 pm (AEST) on 28/09/2023.
Week 7 Thursday (31 Aug 2023)
For the hand calculation tasks (i.e., #1, #2, #4, and #5), grades will be made available in Moodle immediately after completion of each task. Detailed feedback will be given when each assessment closes (see DUE DESCRIPTION dates above). Feedback on the computer calculation tasks (i.e., #3 and #6) will be returned approximately 2 weeks from the due date.
There are 2 different types of calculations that you will be required to complete as part of this assessment portfolio: 4 where you perform the calculation by hand and 2 where you perform statistical calculations using computer software.
Calculation Portfolio Tasks 1, 2, 4, and 5 are based on hand calculations. Each of these tasks will each be graded out of 10. You will receive 1 mark for each correct answer. Please see practice tasks and feedback on Moodle for further details on what kind of answers are expected on these assessments.
Calculation Portfolio Tasks #3 and #6 are based on statistical calculations using computer software. Each of these tasks will each be graded out of 10. Marks will be allocated, according to the following criteria:
- Selection of an appropriate statistical analysis for the given data using a statistical software program (2 marks)
- Justification for the choice of statistical test (2 marks)
- Results reported and interpreted correctly (4 marks)
- Results written according to American Psychological Association (APA) standards (2 marks)
- Calculate and report quantitative data in a professional format.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
