Syllabus Information

1. General information

1.1. Aims of the course

The aim of this subject is to introduce the student to the scientific research process. The following will be addressed:
- The cientific method
- The different designs 
- The scientific report (APA format)

1.2. Context and importance of this course in the degree

Research Methods is the first of four subjects in the Methodology of the Behavioral Research area of the Psychology degree at the University of Zaragoza. It is an important subject for:
- Correctly acquire scientific knowledge in other subjects of the degree
- Learn to be autonomous in the search for scientific information
- Communicate with other professionals through scientific reports

1.3. Recommendations to take this course

No prior knowledge is required

2. Learning goals

2.1. Competences

- To know different research designs in Psychology
- To know procedures for formulating and testing hypotheses
- To understand and prepare scientific reports
- To search for and value the contributions that scientific research provides to professional knowledge and practice
- To collect and interpret relevant data to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature
- To know how to use relevant scientific documentary sources with the capacity for critical analysis and synthesis
- To acquire the necessary skills to define problems, design, and execute elementary investigations

2.2. Learning goals

- To know the characteristics of science and the scientific method
- To formulate research questions
- To discriminate between different types of variables
- To identify the characteristics of different research methods and designs
- To assess the quality of methods used in research
- To search and select specialized information from different documentary sources
- To properly interpret and prepare a scientific reports

2.3. Importance of learning goals

Statistics is a mathematical discipline that is used in Psychology and other Social Sciences. Due to it and Research Methods, Psychology is a scientific discipline. A good training in statistics makes possible to understand a scientific publication, as well as to determine its degree of validity, in order to decide whether to apply it in the professional practice. The professional work of a psychologist requires knowledge of scientific publications in the specialty in which they work (although they do not intend to dedicate themselves to research). This allows the psychologist to apply the best possible interventions

3. Assessment (1st and 2nd call)

3.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)

- Final exam: 7 points
- Partial exam: 1 point. It will only be taken into account if the score is higher than the score of the final exam (no penalty)
- Practices: 3 points
- The different practices require work in the classroom and work outside it
- Practices both individual and group work (1-4 people)

4. Methodology, learning tasks, syllabus and resources

4.1. Methodological overview

The subject includes theoretical classes and practical classes.
Theoretical classes are aimed at explaining technical knowledge of Research Methods.
The practical classes aim to work on the theoretical contents learned in order to strengthen them, as well as to work at a group level on aspects related to research work and the interpretation and development of scientific reports.

4.2. Learning tasks

The activities will be varied, and will include both exercises that will be carried out individually to strengthen the most relevant theoretical concepts of the subject, as well as another set of practices that, from teamwork, will give the opportunity to participate in the different phases of the research process and preparation and interpretation of scientific reports

4.3. Syllabus

TOPIC 1. SCIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE. REPLICABILITY

TOPIC 2. THE RESEARCH PROCESS I. DOCUMENTATION. DATABASES

TOPIC 3. THE RESEARCH PROCESS II. PROPERTIES OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS

ITEM 4. THE SCIENTIFIC REPORT

TOPIC 5. DESCRIPTIVE METHODOLOGIES I. OBSERVATION

TOPIC 6. DESCRIPTIVE METHODOLOGIES II. QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGIES

TOPIC 7. EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGIES I. THE LOGIC OF EXPERIMENTATION. DESIGNS WITH DIFFERENT SUBJECTS

TOPIC 8. EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGIES II. DESIGNS WITH THE SAME SUBJECTS AND FACTORIAL DESIGNS

SUBJECT 9. APPLIED RESEARCH. QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGIES AND EX POST FACT METHODOLOGIES

4.4. Course planning and calendar

At the beginning of the course, the students are provided with the calendar with all the activities.
Exam times and dates can be found on the faculty website: http://fcsh.unizar.es/.
Moodle will be used to communicate the other relevant dates.

4.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

http://psfunizar10.unizar.es/br13/egAsignaturas.php?codigo=31204