Psy pr1: psychological research methods coursework 2: predicting cognitive failures using hierarchical multiple regression

PSY_7_PR1: PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS 1


Coursework 2: PREDICTING COGNITIVE FAILURES USING HIERARCHICAL MULTIPLE REGRESSION
35% of total module mark
2500 word report (±10%)
Deadline: Submission via Moodle – deadlines available on Moodle


Submitting late: if you are likely to submit late please notify the university via MyAccount before the deadline. There is a 5 working day grace period where you can submit work late after the deadline. Your work will be marked and feedback provided but your grade may be capped at 50%, a pass. Those individuals with DDS arrangements, or those who have applied for and been awarded Extenuating Circumstances (ECs) can use this grace period, and their grade will not be capped. For more details about deadlines, submitting late and the conditions under which you get capped or not, there is more relevant information on your MyAccount page online.


Coursework Requirements:

Design, execute, analyse and report an investigation into individual differences using a correlational design and hierarchical multiple regression.

By the completion of CW2, you should have:

1. 
   become familiar with using questionnaires and correlational designs in research
   
2. 
   become familiar with using a hierarchical multiple regression to analyse correlational designs.
   
3. 
   become familiar with the Qualtrics software for running questionnaire-based research online
   
4. 
   know the format for reporting psychological research
   

This coursework, along with CW1 and the exam are designed to assess the module learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding: Have an understanding of a variety of research methods and analysis techniques in order to carry out, interpret and report independent research.  Intellectual skills: Critically evaluate competing perspectives to provide explanations for data evidence. Generate appropriate research questions to investigate topics from a variety of psychological perspectives. Practical skills: Develop the practical skills required to carry out, analyse, and report quantitative and qualitative research using a variety of psychological and computerised tools (e.g. SPSS, researching journals, etc.). Transferable skills: Take a professional approach to organising learning/work and career Develop IT literacy in the use of statistical software. Work as an effective team member. Develop the ability to generate research questions which will address real world issues.

Coursework requirements

• 
  You will use the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ - Broadbent, Cooper, FitzGerald & Parkes, 1982) as a measure of your criterion variable (everyday cognitive failures – e.g. forgetting where your car keys are).
  
• 
  Working in groups of approximately four-six students (you set up your own groups) you will choose two predictor variables that you will use to attempt to predict an individual’s level of everyday cognitive failures.
  
  • 
    What variables might impact an individual’s level of everyday cognitive failures?
    
  • 
    How can you measure this variable with an established questionnaire?
    
• 
  One of your predictor variables will act as a ‘control’ variable in a hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
  
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  Your aim is to see whether variation (individual differences) in your ‘main’ predictor variable can account for variation (individual differences) in your criterion variable after accounting for variation (individual differences) in the ‘control’ predictor variable.
  
• 
  Your group will need to gain ethical approval for your study
  
  • 
    One application per group
    
• 
  Data will be collected via Qualtrics (online software to support online questionnaire data collection).
  
  • 
    Your group will create your study on Qualtrics
    
  • 
    One Qualtrics setup per group
    
  • 
    Your group will need your Qualtrics setup approved by the module leader
    
    • 
      Your Qualtrics will not be approved until your ethics has been approved.