Description

Research Methods and Analytical Procedures

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

Studying at Master's level provides opportunities to take part in and design exciting and innovative research. This module aims to provide you with the skills you need in order to make your research the best it can be. You will gain a better understanding of research methods, design and ethics, and learn how to use advanced-level statistics in research, including techniques that most of you will use to analyse your dissertation data.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will provide you with the tools to prepare for a Master’s level dissertation using quantitative research methods. The module will involve the development of an understanding of the use of advanced-level statistics in research, and will introduce you to some of the statistical data analysis techniques that might be used for their dissertation. It will also create an appreciation of what is involved in setting up a research study in terms design and ethics.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Analyse and evaluate experimental and non-experimental quantitative research design methods
• 2. Select and employ analyses using SPSS (statistical software) and evaluate and explain the SPSS outputs

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Describe the advanced statistics used in research in exercise and sports science
• 4. Critically appraise and evaluate different aspects of a research proposal and an ethics application

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Develop effective use of computer programs and online resources to solve problems and enhance research
• 6. Competently input, analyse and interpret various forms of quantitative data
• 7. Summarise the ethical implications of research

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH DESIGN, ETHICS & EVIDENCE
• Understanding the nature and strength of evidence
• Understanding systematic reviews
• Understanding a research proposal
• Understanding ethical issues and applications in research

PERFORMING & UNDERSTANDING STATISTICAL/DATA ANALYSIS:
• Introduction to SPSS software and using online resources
• Dependent and independent t-tests, single-factor ANOVA
• Factorial ANOVA I (independent samples and fully-repeated measures ANOVA)
• Factorial ANOVA II (mixed design ANOVA)
• Meta-analysis (performing a quantitative analysis for a systematic review)
• Calculating sample sizes that can provide sufficient statistical power.
• Correlations and simple linear regression
• Multiple linear regression (forced entry, stepwise, hierarchical)
• Logistic regression using questionnaire data
• Assessing agreement between two measurement methods (Bland-Altman plot)
• Exam revision and formative assessment

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to sit a further examination. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

RESEARCH DESIGN, ETHICS & EVIDENCE:
• Trisha Greenhalgh. How to read a paper: getting your bearings (deciding what the paper is about). BMJ 1997; 315 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7102.243 (Published 26 July 1997)
• Trisha Greenhalgh. How to read a paper: Assessing the methodological quality of published papers. BMJ 1997; 315 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7103.305 (Published 02 August 1997)
….both these are provided on the module ELE page

STATISTICAL/DATA ANALYSIS:
• Field, A. (2013 or 2017). Discovering statistics using SPSS. 4th or 5th edition. Sage: London (See also: Andy Field’s complementary website: https://www.discoveringstatistics.com
• Salkind, N (2016 or 2019) Statistics for People Who (think they) Hate Statistics 6th or 7th edition.
….both of these are available as ebooks from the university library

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9406

Module has an active ELE page

Key words search

Research methods, Quantitative research, experimental study design, SPSS, statistics, data analysis, hypothesis testing, assumptions, dissertation preparation, ethics