Foundations of Psychological Research

This unit introduces core principles of research methods in psychology, including study designs, sampling, measurement, reliability, validity, and ethical responsibilities. Students will compare quantitative and qualitative approaches, learn basic APA conventions, and prepare the foundational elements needed to plan and conduct a small-scale research project in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze common research designs (surveys, experiments, and qualitative studies) to identify threats to internal and external validity, reliability issues, and appropriate sampling strategies
• Evaluate ethical principles and APA guidelines to propose safeguards that minimize harm and protect participant rights in psychological research
• Apply measurement and sampling techniques (operational definitions, scales, randomisation vs. random sampling, and effect size estimation) to create valid and reliable data-collection plans
• Develop foundational research materials (concise title, decision about literature review, APA-style distinctions for posters vs. reports, and a preliminary study outline) to prepare for conducting a small-scale study in later units