Course Content (Syllabus)
The course is a sequel to the course Research Methodology I and focuses on quantitative and qualitative research methods in psychology in greater depth. The course consists of two cycles, one concerning quantitative and one qualitative methods, which run in parallel, on a weekly basis. Both cycles combine lectures with workshops, in which students are trained in specific methods of data collection and analysis.
Quantitative cycle: This cycle examines in more depth issues of quantitative research methodology, specifically the role of variables in examining a research hypothesis, the hypotheses of moderation and mediation, issues of measurement, issues regarding reliability and validity, alternative methodological designs (e.g. longitudinal studies, quantitative diary studies), sampling and the importance of sample representativeness.
Qualitative cycle: This cycle focuses both on the philosophy and principles of qualitative research and on specific methodologies. It covers data collection methods, such as observational interviews, focus groups, archive analysis, as well as data analysis approaches, such as thematic analysis, grounded theory, phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches, narrative analysis and discourse analysis.