Overview

This unit provides students with an understanding of different research designs and research methods for psychology and health sciences. Students will gain familiarity with the scientific method, ethical issues in research, measurement, experimental research, survey research, qualitative research and mixed methods research. Students will be given the opportunity to develop professionally relevant knowledge in the selection and evaluation of research designs and methods and how to collect data that will address specific research questions.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-2026
07-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-March-2026
Census date
07-April-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
28-April-2026
Results released date
30-June-2026
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
06-July-2026
04-October-2026
Last self-enrolment date
19-July-2026
Census date
04-August-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
25-August-2026
Results released date
27-October-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Define the scientific method and scientific thinking principles
  • Apply knowledge of ethical issues in research
  • Describe the main concepts of measurement and various sampling methods
  • Explain the general concept of an experiment and a quasi-experiment and outline uses of these designs in research
  • Contrast a range of research designs and methods and be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each method
  • Select appropriate research designs and research methods to address hypothetical and real world problems

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Lecture 24 12 weeks 2
On-campus Class 12 12 weeks 1
Specified Activities Various 48 12 weeks 4
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 66 12 weeks 5.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Swinburne Online

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 6 6 weeks 1
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 144 12 weeks 12
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 13

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  30-40% 3,4,5 
Assignment 2 Individual  40-50% 2,3,4,5,6 
Online Quizzes Individual 20-30% 1,2,3,4,5,6

Content

  • Scientific method
  • Research approaches and data collection methods
  • Measurement and sampling
  • Ethical issues in research
  • Experiments and experimental designs
  • Quasi-experiments and non-experiments
  • Survey research
  • Qualitative and mixed methods research
  • Analysing and interpreting data
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 3 (Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation)
  • Graduate Attribute 4 (Teamwork 2 - Teamwork roles and processes)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.