Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:21.00

Study Course Accepted:05.07.2024 11:24:57

Study Course Information
Course Code:		VPUPK_271		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Psychology; General Psychology		Target Audience:		Psychology
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Kristīne Mārtinsone
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppkrsu[pnkts]lv, +37167061587
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		8	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		16
Classes (count)		4	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		8
Total Contact Hours								24
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Knowledge in research methodology gained during Bachelor’s studies.
Objective:
To advance postgraduates' understanding of research methodology and to improve their ability to conduct independent research projects in accordance with contemporary research principles, demonstrating the ability to identify research problem or topic in accordance with socially relevant problems in a particular sub-branch of psychology, to identify relevant research issues, to design a study, sampling and research methods, to formulate research questions or hypotheses based on relevant literature, and design and present the research project.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction to the research methodology. Selection of research topic and research process			Lectures		2.00	other
2	Systematic reviews and metaanalysis			Lectures		1.00	E-Studies platform
3	Quantitative research designs and scientific rigour. Reflection on systematic reviews and metaanalysis.			Classes		2.00	auditorium
4	Introduction to qualitative research. Research designs and scientific rigour. Methods of data collection			Lectures		2.00	other
5	Data analysis in qualitative research.			Lectures		2.00	other
6	Test on the quantitative and qualitative research methodology			Classes		1.00	other
7	Presentation of research project and discussion			Lectures		1.00	other
				Classes		1.00	other
Assessment
Unaided Work:
1) Through the independent and systematic reading of indicated scientific literature, strengthen the material acquired in lectures to prepare for the test on research methodology; 2) Prepare the task related to the utilization of AI (artificial intelligence); 3) Prepare the group task of qualitative data analysis; 3) Create a presentation for a research project. To evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
1) General questions about research methodology, quantitative and qualitative research – a mid-semester test (20%). 2) Practical task on the utilization of AI – a mid-semester test (10%). 3) Practical task on qualitative research methodology (data analysis) - a mid-semester test (10%). 4) After three passed tests: development and presentation of own research project (60%). More detailed sub-criteria for each of the four assessment elements (three mid-semester tests and exam) are seen in the e-studies under the description of requirements for each mid-semester test and exam.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students describe, analyse, compare and explain quantitative and qualitative research designs according to the criteria of scientific rigour; use the research terminology; describe the content and structure of the research project – an identified research problem or the general theme of the research, the research question or hypothesis, the planned research procedure, the defined research sample and methods used in the research; as well as analyze information based on the principles of qualitative research.
Skills:		Students apply knowledge to identify socially topical and relevant problems for psychological research and choose the research problem or topic, formulate hypotheses or research questions, select and critically evaluate information sources for theoretical and methodological substantiation; explain the differences between quantitative and qualitative research and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses; develop own research project; apply ethical requirements for the scientific research; present and defend the research project. Skills to present the results of synthesis and analysis of the theoretical material and skills of qualitative data collection and analysis.
Competencies:		Students develop their own potential research project by demonstrating the ability to identify the research problem or the overall theme of the research, using knowledge and skills related to the basic principles of psychology research and relevant to societal concerns in a particular branch of psychology, demonstrating skills to create a literature review, to formulate research problem, justify topicality of the research, to formulate the research goal and question/hypothesis, choose appropriate research methods, evaluate the limitations of the research project and apply ethical principles.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. London: SAGE Publications, Inc.
2	Denzin, N.K., Linkoln, Y. S. (ed.). (2011). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (4th ed.). London: SAGE Publications, Inc.
3	Goodwin, C. J. (2016). Research in psychology: Methods and design (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
4	Mārtinsone, K. un Šneidere, K. (red.). (2020). Metodiskie norādījumi maģistra darbu izstrādei RSU psiholoģijas, mākslu terapijas un supervīzijas studiju programmās. Rīga: RSU.
5	Mārtinsone, K., Pipere, A. (zin. red.). (2021). Zinātniskā darba metodoloģija: Starpdisciplināra perspektīva. Rīga: RSU.
6	Robson, C. (2017). Real world research: A resource for users of social research methods in applied settings. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Additional Reading
1	Appelbaum, M., Cooper, H., Kline, R. B., Mayo-Wilson, E., et.al. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for quantitative research in psychology: The APA publications and communications board task force report.
2	Becker, L. (2015). Writing successful reports and dissertations. London: SAGE Publications, Inc.
3	Creswell, J. W. (2018). Qualitative inquiry & research design choosing among 5 approaches (4th ed.). London: SAGE Publications, Inc.
4	Lawrence, W. N. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative Approaches, 7th edition. London: Pearson.
5	Leavy, P. (ed.). (2014). The Oxford handbook of qualitative research. Oxford University Press, NY.
6	Leavy, P (2017). Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. The Guilford Press.
7	Levitt, H.M., Bamberg, M., Creswell, J.W., et.al. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for qualitative primary, qualitative meta-analytic, and mixed methods research in psychology: The APA publications..
8	Mārtinsone, K. un Pipere, A. (red.). (2019). Zinātniskā rakstīšana un pētījumu rezultātu izplatīšana. Rīga: RSU izdevniecība.
9	Millsap, R. E. & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (2011). The SAGE handbook of quantitative methods in psychology. Sage Ltd.
10	Vogt, W. P., Gardner. D. C., & Haeffele, L. M. (2012). When to use what research design. The Guilford Press.
11	Willig, C., Stainton-Rogers, W. (ed.). (2017). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research in psychology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Other Information Sources
1	Charmaz, H. (2014). Constructing grounded theory (Introducing qualitative methods series) (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.
2	Clandinin, D.J. (2013). Engaging in narrative inquiry. London: Routledge.
3	Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage.
4	Fetterman, D. (2019). Ethnography: Step-by-step (Applied social research methods) (4th ed.). Sage.
5	MacLin, K. (2020). Experimental design in psychology: A case approach (9th ed.). Routledge.
6	McNiff, J. (2017). Action research: All you need to know. SAGE Publications Ltd.
7	Menard, S. (2002). Longitudinal research (Quantitative applications in the social sciences) (2nd ed.). Sage.
8	Pētniecības terminu skaidrojošā vārdnīca (zin. red. Mārtinsone, K., Pipere A.)
9	Reichard, C. S. (2019). Quasi-experimentation: A guide to design and analysis (methodology in the social sciences). The Guilford Press.
10	Tashakkori, A. M., Burke Johnson, R., & Teddlie, C. B. (2020). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences (Applied social research methods) (2nd ed.). Sage.
11	Turner, D. W. (2010). Qualitative interview design: A practical guide for novice investigators. The Qualitative Report, 15(3), 754-760.
12	Vagle, M. D. (2018). Crafting phenomenological research (2nd ed.). Routledge.
13	Pētījumi datu bāzēs, atbilstoši izvēlētajai projekta tēmai psiholoģijā.