Course Title: Research Methods and Statistics
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Research Methods and Statistics
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
MATH1192 |
Bundoora Campus |
Postgraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011 |
MATH1193 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016 |
Course Coordinator: Dr Russel Conduit
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6658
Course Coordinator Email: russell.conduit@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 201.03.007
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
This course is an Honours/4th year level course in quantitative research design and data analysis with a focus on the use of the SPSS data analysis package. It will be assumed that students enrolling in this course will (a) have completed a three-year undergraduate program in applied science, (b) have been exposed to quantitative research design and data analysis in their undergraduate program, and (c) have some familiarity with the SPSS data analysis package.
Course Description
This is an Honours-level course in quantitative research design and analysis. The aim of this course is to provide students with practical skills and theoretical material related to conducting research in applied human science. Students are exposed to a number of research designs, such as experimental, quasi-experimental, non-experimental (i.e., correlational), and so on. They are also presented with a range of analytic techniques for dealing with the data generated from their research. Emphasis is placed on the integration of research design with analysis. To reflect the nature of the research in applied human science at RMIT, there is a more in-depth consideration of the analysis of data obtained from field and clinical research than from laboratory-based experimental data. Students are taught how to carry out the statistical analyses discussed in class using SPSS for Windows.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to Program Learning Outcomes for a number of Honours level programs in the Health Sciences discipline.
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Critically review the major methodological and design issues related to carrying out research in quantitative applied human science.
- Describe the conceptual and practical features of several major techniques for analysing data obtained from quantitative applied human research.
- Enter, analyse, and describe data using SPSS.
Overview of Learning Activities
The unit provides a synthesis of didactic and experiential learning. The theoretical material underlying research design and analysis will be learnt using traditional lecture/seminar teacher-presented material, supplemented by guided reading. Learning will be reinforced and supplemented through practical data analysis exercises.
Teacher Guided Hours: 52 per semester
Learner Directed Hours: 68 per semester
Overview of Learning Resources
Supplementary material is provided via myRMIT Studies. All lectures will be recorded using Lectopia. Students will be expected to access a range of text and web-based materials.
A Library Subject Guide is available at http://rmit.libguides.com/psychology
Overview of Assessment
This course has no hurdle requirements.
Assessment Tasks
Early Assessment Task: 10 x Online Weekly Tests
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLO 1
Assessment Task 2: Research Methods Assignment
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3
Assessment Task 3: Exam
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLO 1