Delivered at:: School of Psychology

Course type:: Elective course

When:: 2 year, 1-3 module

Instructors

Boehnke, Klaus

Galyapina, Victoria N.

Lebedeva, Nadezhda

Lepshokova, Zarina

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The research seminar is aimed to introduce to students the international standards of good quality research in the field of economic psychology and organizational psychology, to help them to develop appropriate study design, use appropriate measurement instruments and methodological tools on chosen topic of their own study and to facilitate their work during main and final stages of planning and conducting the research. During the second year, students consistently prepare their master's theses and discuss with teacher and group parts of their work: plan of empirical research, research tools, results of preliminary mathematical processing, final results of mathematical processing, text of the dissertation. There is no special literature for each of the topics proposed due to students work on and discuss their thesis at seminars for the second year

Learning Objectives

The 2nd year research seminar is aimed to introduce the international standards of good quality research in the field of social and cross-cultural psychology to students. During the seminar students will learn how to develop their own research projects, how to plan and organize their own research in the area of social and cross-cultural psychology. They also will obtain the skills of participation in scientific discussions. Specific topics addressed are: (1) Relevance of methods and data processing to hypotheses of the study; (2) Development a questionnaire or design of experiment for main study; (3) Development of the project proposal: revised structure and content; (4) Development of a timetable with the description on stages and timing of main research; (5) Data collection and analysis; (6) Finalizing of master theses; (7) Development of the skills of presentation of master theses.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students are able to describe of methods, sample and time frames of the empirical study
Students are able to understand whether the selected design is adequate to test the proposed hypotheses. Students are able to prepare questionnaires.
Students are able to critically analyze and discuss empirical methods of each student’ thesis
Students are able to understand whether the selected design is adequate to test the proposed hypotheses
Students are able to use in their research the latest methods of mathematical- statistical data (SEM, multilevel analysis).
Students are able to collect empirical data after approval of the study plan at the workshop
Students possess techniques of group discussions, brainstorming to discuss novelty of master dissertation, formulation of research problem, and research hypotheses.
Students possess techniques of group discussions, brainstorming to discuss novelty of master dissertation, formulation of research problem, and research hypotheses
Students are able to assess the correctness of applying the selected processing methods to the data, which were obtained

Course Contents

Second year, topic 1. Writing and discussing the project proposal of the research in the master thesis.
Students develop, revise and present the Research proposal. Research proposal should include description of methods, sample and time frames of the empirical study.
Second year, topic 2. Developing a design of empirical study, questionnaire’s preparation.
The class focuses on the methodological part of planned research and prepare questionnaires and/or design of experiment.
Second year, topic 3. Critical analysis of planned master study methodology.
During seminar teacher and group critically analyze and discuss empirical methods of each student’ thesis.
Second year, topic 4. Discussing research design of the master thesis.
Discussion on the design of the whole study. During the discussion, it is important for students to understand whether the selected design is adequate to test the proposed hypotheses.
Second year, topic 5. Analysis and discussion of sampling plan of the master study.
Discussion on the ways of collecting data, sample characteristics, required sample size, socio-demographic composition of the sample. Discussion on possible ways of recruiting respondents.
Second year, topic 6. Discussing final plan of empirical study of master thesis.
Discussion of the final and complete version of the study plan: tools, sample, time frame. Students begin to collect empirical data after approval of the study plan at the workshop.
Second year, topic 7. Presentation of first results of mathematical-statistical analysis of empirical study.
Students present preliminary results of mathematical and statistical processing of collected data. The results are put under critical analysis and discussion at the class. Further ways of data processing are outlined.
Second year, topic 8. Presentation of final results of mathematical-statistical analysis from empirical study.
Discussion of the final results of mathematical and statistical processing. Assessed the correctness of applying the selected processing methods to the data, which were obtained by the student.
Second year, topic 9. Preliminary defense of the master thesis.
Students pass the standard procedure of preliminary defense of their theses, including report on the main results of student research work, questions, and free discussion.

Assessment Elements

presentation, proposal, questionnaire (or interview guide)
revised theory, report on the collected data, sample description
results, empirical part, preliminary defense
Final grade for the 1st year research seminar

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (3 module)
0.5 * Final grade for the 1st year research seminar + 0.1 * presentation, proposal, questionnaire (or interview guide) + 0.3 * results, empirical part, preliminary defense + 0.1 * revised theory, report on the collected data, sample description

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Beins, B. (2012). APA Style Simplified : Writing in Psychology, Education, Nursing, and Sociology (Vol. 1st ed). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=443323
Benefits and challenges of qualitative methodologies in cross-cultural psychology studies. (2016). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsnar&AN=edsnar.oai.dspace.library.uu.nl.1874.350860
Cross-cultural methods of research. (2016). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483346274
Davidson, L. (2007). Qualitative research methods in psychology: Introduction through empirical studies. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 38(1), 151–154. https://doi.org/10.1163/156916207X190292
Improving the conduct and reporting of statistical analysis in psychology. (2016). Psychometrika, 81(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-015-9444-2
Making methods meet: Mixed designs in cross-cultural research. (2010). Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsnar&AN=edsnar.oai.tilburguniversity.edu.publications.161d7038.6df1.45ee.8728.12d0d1571ba9
Sullivan, G. B. (2008). Dennis Howitt & Duncan Cramer (2005). Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 9(1), 1–6. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=sih&AN=29973411
Susan B. Smith. (2012). A Guide for Writing APA Style Research Papers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.BCE37201
Twenge, J. (2014). PSY 610 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.75746F4E
Use APA style, 6th edition. (2015). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.523B4292

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Advanced research methods in psychology, Giles, D. C., 2004
Aneas, M. A., & Sandín, M. P. (2012). Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication Research: Some Reflections about Culture and Qualitative Methods. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.F35BECF0
Cross-cultural research methods in sociology. (2015) (Vol. 5). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-097086-8.44014-6
Howitt, D. (2016). Research Methods in Psychology. [N.p.]: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1419871
Javalgi, R. (Raj) G., Granot, E., & Brashear Alejandro, T. G. (2011). Qualitative Methods in International Sales Research: Cross-Cultural Considerations. Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, 31(2), 157–170. https://doi.org/10.2753/PSS0885-3134310204
Langdridge, D., & Hagger-Johnson, G. (2013). Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology 3rd Edn : UEL (Vol. Third edition). Harlow: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1417938
Monica W. Tracey, & Kelly L. Unger. (2010). Cross Cultural Instruction: An Instructional Design Case. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.23B5A631
Read, K. (2015). Formatting a Paper in APA Style. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.D9B32F60
Wagner, W., Hansen, K., & Kronberger, N. (2014). Quantitative and qualitative research across cultures and languages: cultural metrics and their application. Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 48(4), 418–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-014-9269-z

Master’s Programme 'Applied Social Psychology'

Research Seminar "Social and Cross-cultural Psychology"