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Overview

PPC4005 Research Methods and Statistics builds on the PPC4001 Research Skills module to further develop your understanding of research methods and skills. The module aims to provide you with the research skills necessary to conduct your own research; considering ethics, performing analysis, interpretation of findings, and production of a research report. You will also be able to explore the risks and limitations of research and critically evaluate how this can impact on your practice as a counsellor. You will be assessed via supported classroom exercises and completion of a research proposal that addresses an original therapeutic question.

PPC4005 Research Methods and Statistics will provide you with an opportunity to further develop your research skills to gather and analyse quantitative and qualitative data in a therapeutic context. Evidence-based practitioners are not only able to read research and incorporate the latest developments into their practice, but they also contribute to the evidence base by conducting their own research studies. This module will train you to be a researcher in counselling by guiding you on how to ethically design a research study and analyse quantitative and qualitative data in a way that enables you to draw conclusions for future counselling practice. You will gain a practical and applied understanding of how to manage a research project from initial proposal through to producing a research report. You will also consider the risks and limitations of research and critically evaluate how this can impact on your practice as a counsellor. This training alongside supported classroom exercises will provide you with the knowledge and understanding to propose your own research project addressing an original therapeutic question at the end of the semester. This proposal will form the basis of your Masters dissertation to be completed in the second stage of the Counselling course.

Topics covered in this module include: •Quantitative: Designing Research (Research Design) •Quantitative: Descriptive Analysis (Mean, Mode, Median) •Quantitative: Inferential Analysis for Relationships (Correlation) •Quantitative: Inferential Analysis for Difference (T-TEST, ANOVA) •Quantitative: Answering Research Questions (Quantitative Classroom Exercise) •Qualitative: Designing Research (Research Design) •Qualitative: Data Analysis (Thematic Analysis) •Qualitative: Answering Research Questions (Qualitative Classroom Exercise) •Self in the Research (Researcher as Participant) •Research Dissertation (Research Ethics) Please note that these topics are subject to change dependent on staff availability, unexpected circumstances, and the assessed needs of the students.

Assessment Strategy

Assessment criteria for this module are as follows:

Excellent (A*, A+, A, A-) •Excellent use of research with appropriate application of methods and statistics •Comprehensive knowledge of Research Methods and Statistics •Detailed understanding with no factual errors •Critical analysis showing evaluation and synthesis of ideas •Novel and innovative originality in approach, interpretation, and voice •Extensive and comprehensive independent research •Logically defended arguments with evidence for all claims •Highly focused and well structured •Excellent presentation with accurate and appropriate expression •Correct format in appropriate referencing style

Good (B+, B, B-) •Good use of research with appropriate application of methods and statistics •Strong knowledge of research methods and statistics •Clear understanding and mostly free of factual errors •Some analysis showing critical evaluation and links between ideas •Novel originality in approach, interpretation, and voice •Considerable independent research from appropriate sources •Coherent arguments with evidence for most claims •Focused and well structured •Clear presentation with accurate and appropriate expression •Mostly correct format in appropriate referencing style

Threshold (C+, C, C-) •Limited use of research with appropriate application of methods and statistics •Some knowledge of research methods and statistics •Understanding of the main concepts with no major factual errors •Basic analysis showing obvious points of evaluation and links between ideas •Some originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice for part of the work •Some independent research from appropriate sources •Arguments presented with evidence for the most important claims •Readable structure showing focus at times •Acceptable presentation with appropriate expression •Attempt at correct format in appropriate referencing style with no major errors

If you do not meet the threshold then your work will be graded as a Fail. Fail grades vary from Poor (D+, D, D-, E+, E, E-) to Very Poor (F).

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse quantitative and qualitative research data

• Critically appraise research risks within the bounds of appropriate ethical guidelines.

• Critically understand and apply different approaches to research study

• Generate an original research proposal with a critical understanding of how data can be gathered and analysed