Unit information: Research Project Major in 2027/28

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Research Project Major
Unit code PSYC31013
Credit points 40
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Dr. Benton
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department School of Psychological Science
Faculty Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

This unit comprises carrying out and writing up an original research project based on empirical investigations carried out by the student, with guidance from the project supervisor.

The aims of this unit are to build on the Year 1 and Year 2 research methods units, and for students to carry out their own research study in psychology.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit, a student will be able to:

  1. Choose an appropriate research question that requires the application of quantitative or qualitative techniques in psychological science.
  2. Demonstrate initiative in the design, development or enquiry required to address an original research question.
  3. Select accurate techniques and demonstrate personal responsibility for conducting an empirical investigation in psychology.
  4. Summarise solutions to a research problem and interpret research findings.
  5. Write up a research report appropriate to psychological science.

How you will learn

Independent and group work with supervisor. Teaching consists of meetings with the project supervisor to determine the nature of the theoretical question to be addressed, the appropriate empirical approach to the question, steering the proposal through the Ethics Committee, setting up and conducting the empirical work, analysing the data and discussion of the implications of the findings for the theoretical question posed.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which do not count towards your mark but are required for credit (zero-weighted):

  • Research Proposal (Pass/Fail) 0%
  • Poster Presentation (Pass/Fail) 0%

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

  • Supervisor's report (5%)
  • Dissertation (95%). The main body of the dissertation must not exceed 6000 words for quantitative studies, 7000 words for mixed methods studies and 7000 words for qualitative studies.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PSYC31013).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.