"I think Dundee was a good place to study. I found the staff at the University of Dundee were extremely helpful and available, which made the process that bit easier. I definitely think that the course will help me in my career. Research plays a major role in Psychology and many other fields and this course gave me a deeper insight into some of the methods used in research"
This course focuses upon both infant and child development, addressing a broad range of topics concerning typical and atypical development. Consideration is given to diverse aspects of cognitive and social development, issues of theory in developmental psychology, and psychopathology. The course is research-led and all staff are research-active, regularly publishing in the discipline's leading journals.
The module provides a firm foundation of scientific method and experimental design, and applies this in practice by critical evaluation of published papers. The module covers a broad range of topics including the basis of the scientific method, and the foundations of statistical inference and Bayesian inference. This forms the basis for looking at theoretical and practical issues of experimental and quasi-experimental design, questionnaires, and the validity and reliability of metrics. We also cover practical aspects such as how to complete systematic literature reviews, the paper publishing process, and ethical issues in human experiments. Sample references:
This module will introduce approaches to collecting and analysing qualitative data, including: interviewing (open, semi-structured or structured), ethnographic methods, single and multiple case studies, action research, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, textual analysis, content analysis, focus groups, and analysis of audio and video recordings. The class will involve student presentations and much classroom discussion. Formal assessment for this module takes the form of an exercise that requires students to demonstrate knowledge about a broad range of methodological perspectives and debates. Sample references:
This module will provide an understanding of statistical analyses used in psychological research. Throughout this module we will consider when it is appropriate to run particular analyses, how to run each type of analysis in SPSS and how to interpret the output, and how to clearly present the results of analyses. Analyses covered will include: simple regression, multiple regression (standard and hierarchical regressions), ANOVA, ANCOVA, MANOVA, mediation and moderation analysis, power analysis, and factor analysis. Classes will last ninety minutes combining both lecture and computer workshop methods of teaching. Assessment will be based on three short assignments where you will be asked to analyse a dataset and write up the results, and a longer assignment in which you will be asked to write a chapter for a statistics textbook aimed at an undergraduate audience. Sample references:
The module aims to introduce students to a broad range of theoretical perspectives within developmental psychology. Throughout the history of developmental psychology, many theoretical themes have recurred and been contested - for example, continuity vs. discontinuity in development, domain specificity vs. generality, plasticity vs. stability, and the role of social context in development. Each of the sessions aims to elucidate the way in which a particular theoretical perspective has approached such themes.
The research practicum will be carried out in one of the research laboratories in the School of Psychology. The practical will take place between the start of semester 1 and the end of the Easter break. The practical is supervised by a member of staff on a one-to-one basis, and would usually take the form of the student operating as a research assistant, assisting with design, running and analysis of an experiment. It is expected that the research practical is carried out in a laboratory different from that of the dissertation supervisor, and the student will spend approximately 90 hours in the laboratory. The module is assessed in the form of a 2500-word research report and a detailed laboratory log book.
Students will undertake a substantial individually supervised research project. The project will involve conception and design of an appropriate experiment, data collection and data analysis. As part of this module students are required to submit a 5000-word literature review at the beginning of Semester 2, as well as an 8000-word project write-up in the form of a scientific article at the end of the academic year. In addition, a poster presentation on the progression of the research will occur after the easter break and an oral presentation will be given one month before the submission of the final report. The latter will be videotaped for review by the external. This module carries a double weighting. Readings for this part of the course will be provided by supervisors in the specialist research area
1(1) All awards are made on the basis of the accumulation of SCOTCAT (Level M) points. The Masters degree requires 180 points, which must include a dissertation worth 60 points. Th e Certificate exit point requires 60 points and the Diploma requires 120 points. 1(2) All levels of award must include successful completion of the core module(s) 1(3) A candidate must undertake a course of work approved by the Faculty Board and comprised of subjects listed in the Schedule to these Regulations. 1(4) SCOTCAT (Level M) points cannot be used as 'duplicate' points; that is, they can be used towards the accreditation of either the Certificate, the Diploma or the Masters degree but not towards more than one of these awards.
(2) To qualify for admission to the programme a candidate should: 2(1) normally have obtained an Honours Degree of the first or second class in the University or in another University or equivalent institution recognised for this purpose by the School Board. 2(2) have satisfied the Course Director of his or her fitness to undertake the academic and practical requirements of the course. 2(3) A candidate shall be required to matriculate in each year of study and to pay the required fees.
The minimum period of study for the Degree shall be one academic year.
4(1) The curriculum for the awards shall include the following:
Certificate
Diploma (including certificate modules)
Degree (including certificate and diploma modules)
4(2) Each candidate will be required to undertake a programme of practical work as prescribed by the Course Director.
4(3) Each candidate for the Degree must prepare a dissertation of 8000 words embodying the results of a research project.
5 If a candidate shall, from any cause, be absent for a continuous period of six weeks or more, excluding vacations, he or she shall not be deemed to have performed the work of the course, except with the consent of the School Board. Such consent shall be given only in special cases of hardship.
6(1) Candidates shall be required to satisfy the examiners for the Degree through the following: (i) completion to a satisfactory standard of critical short assignments for the foundations module(ii) completion to a satisfactory standard of analysis of a qualitative data set; (iii) completion to a satisfactory standard written assignments of 5,000 words for an Advanced module in semester 1 (iv) completion to a satisfactory standard of a written report of at least 5,000 words on the content of the research practicum (v) completion to a satisfactory standard written assignments of 5,000 words for an Advanced module in semester 2 (vi) completion to a satisfactory standard of prescribed practical problems in statistical analysis (vii) submission of a critical literature review of at least 5,000 words on a specialist topic agreed with the supervisor; the reports shall be presented on dates and in a form specified by the Course Director (viii) completion to a satisfactory standard of a substantive research dissertation, of at least 8000 words. The candidate will also be required to produce a poster summarising progress on the dissertation at the end of April and make a public presentation based upon the dissertation at the end of July. 6(2) A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in respect of written work submitted for assessment shall be permitted to resubmit such work once only and within one months of the date of notification of fail. 6(3) If a candidate is prevented by illness or other sufficient cause from submitting the assessed work prescribed in these Regulations on the dates prescribed, he or she may be permitted to present that work at a later date to be agreed by the Course Director. 6(4) At the discretion of the examiners, a candidate whose performance in the MSc is outstanding may be awarded the degree 'with distinction'
7 A candidate whose performance of the work of the course is deemed by the Course Director, in consultation with the external examiners, to be unsatisfactory may be required to discontinue his or her studies at any time during the course. Appeals against termination of studies will be considered by the school terminations committee.
9(1) Candidates completing assessed requirement 6(1)(i), 6(1)(ii) and 6(1)(iii) may be eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education as an exit point.
9(2) Candidates completing assessed requirements 6(1)(i), 6(1)(ii), 6(1)(iii) 6(1)(iv), 6(1)(v) and 6(1) (vi) may be eligible for the award of Diploma in Psychological Research Methods as an exit point.
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