This document provides information about the 101689-Advanced Research Methods unit taught at the University of Western Sydney in 2011. The unit is a level 3 unit focusing on advanced research methods and statistics. It will be delivered fully online through video lectures and a discussion board. Assessment consists of a research report, portfolio of statistical exercises, and exam. The research report involves evaluating a psychological scale and is broken into two sections. The portfolio involves completing statistical exercises in SPSS. The exam will cover topics from the unit.

1. 101689-Advanced Research Methods
Unit Level: 3
Session: 2011-Autumn
Campus: Bankstown (Day), Penrith (Day)
Contents
Unit Information
Unit Handbook Description
Syllabus
Learning Outcomes
Where to go for Help and Information
Unit Teaching Staff
Student Feedback
Unit Structure and Requirements
Mode of Delivery
Attendance and Workload
Assessment Overview
Relation of Unit Activities and Assessment items to Learning Outcomes
Required Textbooks and Equipment
Recommended References, Resources and Links
Assessment 1: Research Report
Assessment 2: Portfolio
Assessment 3: Exam
Unit Schedule
Page 1 of 11

2. Unit Information
Unit Handbook Description
This unit advances upon the research methods and statistics taught in the prerequisite unit, Experimental Design and
Analysis. It introduces students to nonexperimental, correlational research design, and develops skills in survey
research, including questionnaire design and administration, and survey sampling. Knowledge and skills in the
construction and evaluation of psychological tests are also taught. Accompanying correlational statistical techniques are
taught, together with advanced analysis of variance, and instruction in the use of SPSS. The unit also develops skills in
conducting and reporting psychological research.
Syllabus
• Correlational (nonexperimental) research methodology;
• Survey research methodology;
• Questionnaire design;
• Scale construction;
• Reliability and validity of measuring instruments;
• Survey administration;
• Survey sampling;
• Statistical techniques appropriate to the analysis of nonexperimental research data: bivariate correlation and
regression, multiple regression, factor analysis, reliability analysis, chi-square;
• Advanced analysis techniques: One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric alternative, planned and post hoc
comparisons, factorial ANOVA.
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, Graduate Attributes are achieved through the following Learning Outcomes attained by students:
After successful completion of this Unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of nonexperimental correlational research methodology, advanced experimental
methodology and survey research techniques (APAC Graduate Attribute 2);
2. Demonstrate competence in writing survey questions, and designing survey questionnaires and understanding survey
ethics (APAC GA 4)
3. Articulate principles of scale construction (APAC GA 2)
4. Demonstrate competence in correlational statistical techniques (APAC GA 2)
5. Demonstrate competence in advanced analysis techniques applicable to both experimental and nonexperimental
research methods (APAC GA 2);
6. Plan, conduct, and report nonexperimental research (APAC GA 2 and GA 5).
Where to go for Help and Information
Where to go for Help and Information
Your first source of help and information should be this Learning Guide. The Learning Guide contains comprehensive
information about the unit, including attendance requirements, assessments and a detailed schedule of lectures and due
dates. Please refer to this Learning Guide for information about the unit rather than the official Unit Outline, as the outline
contains only a brief summary of the important aspects of the unit.
Combined with this Learning Guide you will find a Psychology Student Resources document, containing general
information on UWS support services, academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism), procedures for applying for assignment
extensions or special consideration, and much more. It is vital that you read through this material to be aware of your
rights and responsibilities as students. In particular, you must be aware of the key policies and information affecting
students found at the following link:
http://www.uws.edu.au/learning_teaching/learning_and_teaching/office_of_the_pro-vice-
chancellor/key_policies_and_information_affecting_students
We expect you to have searched for answers to your questions in the unit Learning Guide and Psychology Student
Resources documents BEFORE contacting any member of staff.
Unit eLearning site
Your second source of information should be the unit’s vUWS site. Students are expected to access their vUWS sites AT
LEAST once per week (and preferably every 2 or 3 days) to check for any mail or announcements (including any
variations to the unit outline). E-lectures will be made available through the unit’s vUWS site (see Unit Structure and
Requirements for more information).
Unit Teaching Staff
For all other unit enquiries, you should contact the appropriate member of the unit's teaching staff (see below for details).
Page 2 of 11

3. Where it becomes necessary to seek advice from lecturers or tutors, it is expected that students come adequately
prepared, having done as much background work as possible themselves, and with clear questions rather than vague
requests about what to do. Please note that staff will NOT reply to emails where answers are already available in the
Learning Guide or Psychology Student Support Resources, or that relate to trivial matters for which information is readily
available elsewhere. Note also that in email communication students are required to use their UWS email account. Email
communications will be attended to during consultation times.
Unit coordinator: Dr David Arness
Consultation times and Monday 10am - 11am, Kingswood, bldg V, room V.1.35
location: Friday 11am - 12pm, Bankstown, bldg 24, level 3, room 18
These consultation periods will be used primarily for responding to email
Consultation instructions: queries and vUWS discussion items. However, if necessary, please email to
arrange a face-to-face consultation during these times.
Student Feedback
Student feedback plays a vital role in improving the quality and educational effectiveness of UWS units, and in ensuring
academic staff keep in touch with student needs. At the end of the semester you will be given the opportunity to complete
a Student Feedback on Units (SFU) questionnaire to assess the unit. If requested by your lectures or tutors, you may
also have the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT) questionnaire to provide feedback for
individual teaching staff.
For further information on student feedback and to view examples of the questionnaires, go to:
http://www.uws.edu.au/opq/planning_and_quality/surveys.
Recent changes made to the unit in response to student feedback:
The University values student feedback in order to improve the quality of its educational programs. As a result of student
feedback, the following changes and improvements to this unit have recently been made:
 Increased flexibility and provision of content through the use of e-lectures, supported by vUWS interactive
discussion that also allows for greater interactivity among students and between students and lecturer.
 Increased opportunity for students to ask questions and enter into discussion in the online environment that can
be less threatening than a live context.
 Greater integration/explanation of the written assessment within lectures.
Page 3 of 11

4. Unit Structure and Requirements
Mode of Delivery
Lectures will be conducted online, with interactive exchange facilitated through the use of a vUWS Discussion Board to
enable communication among students throughout the week, and with the lecturer during the scheduled email
consultation time.
Physical attendance at lectures or tutorials is not compulsory, as all materials are available on vUWS. However, it is the
students responsibility to adopt an adult-learner approach to their education and schedule a regular time to study the
materials. This should be developed in consideration of the Unit Schedule contained in this learning guide.
Students who cannot access the materials online using their own equipment can do so in the university computer
laboratories (students will need to obtain their own headphones for use in computer laboratories).
Those students who like to work in the company of others are advised to arrange their own study groups so they can
view and discuss the e-lectures collectively.
The tutorials consist of computer laboratory exercises relating to the statistical analysis techniques presented in the
statistics e-lectures.
Students are required to complete these and compile them into a Laboratory Exercises Portfolio that will be assessable.
Students are also permitted to work together on the laboratory exercises, however, they must prepare their portfolios
individually, and must submit individual copies of all printouts from SPSS. ANY IDENTICAL COPIES WILL BE GIVEN
AN IMMEDIATE FAIL.
Attendance and Workload
Physical attendance at lectures and tutorials is not compulsory, however, students must complete all lecture and
tutorial/laboratory activities in the weeks in which they are scheduled. Students who choose not to attend lectures and/or
tutorials must assume full responsibility for satisfactory completion of the necessary activities.
Students who choose not to attend must also assume responsibility for completing work in the week it is scheduled, and
not leave everything until the end, for if you do so, you will almost certainly fail the unit. It is also the responsibility of
each student to begin working on the first exercise in week 1 to determine whether you will benefit from face-to-face
teaching.
Students are expected to spend a total of 10 hours per week working on this unit: approximately 3-hours per week on
each of the lectures (in attending or studying the lecture itself, and completing any associated quizzes, and textbook or
other readings), and approximately 3-hours per week in completing the laboratory exercise and compilation of the
Laboratory Exercise Portfolio. At least 1-hour per week should be allocated to the major written assignment.
(Note: These times can vary depending on individual differences in reading and working speed. It is the responsibility of
students to make their own realistic determinations in this regard. The specified time should normally be regarded as a
minimum).
Assessment Overview
The table below provides an overview of the assessment items for this unit. Detailed information on each assessment
task is provided in the following sections of the Learning Guide.
In order to pass this unit you must complete the assessments marked below as 'Compulsory' and obtain a minimum
combined overall mark of 50%. Final marks and grades are subject to confirmation by the School and College
Assessment Committee which may scale, modify or otherwise amend the marks and grades for the unit, as may be
required by University policies.
Number & Title Format Length/Duration Due day/time Weighting
Assessment 1: Research Report 2500 words Section 1: 5pm on 45%
Research Report Wednesday, April 6,
2011Section 2: 5pm on
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Page 4 of 11

5. Assessment 2: Portfolio 3 exercises Due at beginning of tutorial 10%
Portfolio class, week starting
30/05/11.
Assessment 3: Exam 3 hours The 3-hour examination will 45%
Exam be held during the formal
examination period.
Relation of Unit Activities and Assessment items to Learning Outcomes
This unit continues the teaching of research methods and statistics began in the prerequisite unit, Experimental Design
and Analysis. Firstly, it introduces students to nonexperimental, correlational research design, and develops skills in
survey research, including questionnaire design and administration, and survey sampling (outcomes 1 - 4). Secondly,
accompanying correlational statistical techniques are taught, together with advanced analysis of variance, and
instruction in the use of SPSS (outcomes 4 & 5). The unit also develops skills in conducting and reporting psychological
research, specifically through the scale evaluation project which involves gathering and analysing questionnaire data
(outcomes 1, 3, 4, & 6). Finally, the exam assesses understanding of principles involved in survey construction and
analysis, and practical familiarity with nonexperimental research design and analysis, as well as advanced ANOVA
procedures (outcomes 1 - 5).
Required Textbooks and Equipment
de Vaus, D. A. (2002). Surveys in social research (5th ed.). Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Hills, A. M. (2011). Foolproof guide to statistics using IBM SPSS (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, Sydney: Pearson Education
Australia.
Recommended References, Resources and Links
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).
Washington, DC: Author.
Czaja, R., & Blair, J. (2005). Designing surveys: a guide to decisions and procedures (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA:
Pine Forge Press.
Foddy, W. H. (1993). Constructing questions for interviews and questionnaires: theory and practice in social research.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Howell, D. C. (2002). Statistical methods for psychology (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. [This text is particularly
recommended for anyone wanting to go on to fourth year, especially Honours, as it is a very comprehensive
reference text].
Neuman, W. L. (2006). Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches (6th ed.). Boston:
Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Schuman, H., & Presser, S. (1996). Questions and answers in attitude surveys: experiments on question form, wording,
and context. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Suzuki, L. A., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2008). Handbook of multicultural assessment: clinical, psychological, and educational
applications. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Wiley.
Tourangeau, R., Rips, L. J., & Rasinski, K. A. (2000). The psychology of survey response. New York: Cambridge
University Press.
Page 5 of 11

6. Assessment 1: Research Report
Assessment Format: Research Report
Weighting: 45%
Length/Duration: 2500 words
Assessment Date and Time: Section 1: 5pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Section 2: 5pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Assessment Location: Hand in to appropriate school of psychology assignment box (Bankstown:
Building 24, Level 2. Penrith: Building V, Level 1)
Is the Assessment Compulsory? You must complete this assessment to be eligible to pass the unit overall.
Cover-Sheet Required? Yes
Description and Instructions
Scale Evaluation Project and Report
Detailed guides to the conduct of the project and content of the sections of the report will be provided in vUWS.
The aim is to evaluate a psychological scale. Students can begin immediately to research the content area when
details are provided on vUWS at the beginning of the semester.
Objectives: To develop skills in:
1. Evaluating a psychological scale: Students will complete a psychological scale in vUWS. The collated dataset
will be provided to students, who will be required to carry out appropriate analyses to evaluate the structure and
psychometric properties of the scale.
2. Writing a research report according to APA format, adapted to the specific research purpose of scale evaluation.
Due Date for Written Report: In response to student feedback, the report is to be submitted in two sections, so as to
allow more timely feedback on assessment.
The first section: consists of the Title Page, Introduction, Method, and Reference List. It will be worth 20% of the 45%
total allocated for this assessment item.
The word length for the Introduction and Method is 1,200 words (Title Page and References are not counted).
It is to be submitted in the designated School of Psychology assignment box AND uploaded through the "turn-it-in" link
in vUWS, no later than 5pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011.
The second section: consists of the Abstract, Results and Discussion sections. It will be worth the remaining 25% of
the 45% total allocated for this assessment item. The word length for this second section is 1,300 words.
It is to be submitted in the designated School of Psychology assignment box AND uploaded through the "turn-it-in" link
in vUWS, no later than 5pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
Assessment Criteria and Standards
The project report is the major written component of the unit and is expected to demonstrate a high degree of effort and
effective application of knowledge and skills taught in the unit. In order to obtain a pass mark of at least 50% of the
available marks there must be an adequate standard of presentation, literacy, and academic writing skills; close
adherence to APA report writing conventions; adequate competence demonstrated in the use, interpretation, and
reporting of relevant statistical techniques; and adequate understanding demonstrated of scale evaluation principles.
More advanced standards and skills will be required in order to attain higher marks.
A more detailed outline of the standards and criteria for each section will be posted on the unit vUWS site.
Page 6 of 11

7. Assessment 2: Portfolio
Assessment Format: Portfolio
Weighting: 10%
Length/Duration: 3 exercises
Assessment Date and Time: Due at beginning of tutorial class, week starting 30/05/11.
Assessment Location: Hand in at start of tutorial class
Is the Assessment Compulsory? You must complete this assessment to be eligible to pass the unit overall.
Cover-Sheet Required? Yes
Description and Instructions
All students must attend the tutorial in Week 14 (starting May 30), bringing their portfolios with them so they can be
physically sighted by the tutor. The portfolio needs to contain completed exercises 1 through to 11. Any students
without a portfolio in the required format will be penalised up to 5 of the allocated 10 marks.
After initial sighting, each student will be asked to submit three exercises (a different set selected at random for each
tutorial group). Because marking of portfolio exercises will occur during STUVAC, if students wish to receive their
exercises back after marking, they must also provide a stamped, self-addressed A4-sized envelope to the tutor for
postal return.
Assessment Criteria and Standards
Students are to compile their completed laboratory exercises into a Portfolio. As a minimum this should consist of a
hard file with dividers for each of the 11 laboratory exercises. Each section should contain the completed laboratory
exercise sheet and self-assessment score, corrections made once answers have been checked, and computer
printouts cross-referenced to the exercise questions.
For a minimum standard with this content and basic presentation students can expect to receive around 5 to 6 marks;
evidence of more careful presentation and more detailed content (e.g., relevant notes made on the printouts) will attract
around 7 to 8 marks; evidence of exceptional conscientiousness in presentation together with some additional content
(e.g., exercise answers supplemented with content from lectures or texts) will be needed to attract 9 to 10 marks.
A more detailed overview of the criteria and standards for this assessment item will be provided on the unit vUWS site.
Page 7 of 11

8. Assessment 3: Exam
Assessment Format: Exam
Weighting: 45%
Length/Duration: 3 hours
Assessment Date and Time: The 3-hour examination will be held during the formal examination period.
Assessment Location: University examination location
Is the Assessment Compulsory? You must complete this assessment to be eligible to pass the unit overall.
Cover-Sheet Required? No
Description and Instructions
The examination is based on lecture and laboratory content, and will consist of 110 multiple choice questions. A
proportion of examination questions will be based on content from the lecture quizzes. However, please note that the
quizzes are learning exercises, not assessment items. They are not compulsory. They are mastery items intended to
assist in the acquisition of unit content knowledge and skills; encourage independent learning skills; and provide
students with practice in answering questions representative of those found in the exam.
There will be 6 quizzes, each consisting of approximately 10 to 15 questions. Because they are intended as a learning
experience students may have unlimited attempts at each quiz. The quizzes will remain open until the end of the
formal examinations period, but conscientious students will attempt each one as it becomes available.
Assessment Criteria and Standards
The objective of the examination is to assess conceptual understanding of the lecture and laboratory content. It will not
involve calculations or memorising of formulae, but it will involve interpretation of computer outputs from statistical
analyses.
Page 8 of 11

9. Unit Schedule
Session Week Week Starts Lectures Tutorials Assessments
Methods lecture 1 (online) Exercise 1
• Introduction An SPSS Refresher
• The role of questionnaires
in behavioural research No live tutorials, but
Week 1 DeVaus, Chs. 1-3 must complete this
28/02/2011
Teaching exercise during week 1
Statistics lecture 1 (online)
Correlational research
design
Hills (2010), Ch. 18
Methods lecture 2 (online) Exercise 2
The process of scale Bivariate correlation and
construction regression
DeVaus, Chs. 4, 11
Week 2
Teaching
7/03/2011 Live tutorials begin
Statistics lecture 2 (online)
Bivariate correlation and
regression
Hills (2010), Chs. 18, 19
Methods lecture 3 (online) Exercise 3
Psychometric properties of Reliability analysis
scales: Reliability and
validity
Week 3
Teaching
14/03/2011 DeVaus, Ch. 4, 11
Statistics lecture 3 (online)
Reliability analysis
Hills (2010), Ch. 21
Methods lecture 4 (online) Exercise 4
Questionnaire design: Factor analysis (Part 1:
• Questionnaire layout Assumption checking and
• Question wording factor extraction)
DeVaus, Ch. 7
Week 4
21/03/2011
Teaching Statistics lecture 4 (online)
Factor Analysis
• Purpose, types,
assumptions
• Factor extraction
Hills (2010), Ch. 22
Methods lecture 5 (online) Exercise 5 Week 5
Questionnaire design: Factor analysis (Part 2:
• Response formats Rotation and Complete online
DeVaus, Ch. 7 interpretation) questionnaire by 5pm
Week 5
Teaching
28/03/2011 Friday April 1, 2011
Statistics lecture 5 (online)
Factor Analysis
• Factor rotation
• Interpretation
Methods lecture 6 (online) Exercise 6 Scale Evaluation Project
Survey research One-way chi-square Section 1 (Title page,
• Introduction Introduction, Method, and
• Sampling Reference list) due in
DeVaus, Chs. 1, 2 , 5, 6 assignment box by 5pm
Wednesday April 6, 2011
Week 6
Teaching
4/04/2011 Statistics lecture 6 (online) Must also submit through
One-way chi-square the "turn-it-in" link in the
Hills (2010), Ch. 23 unit vUWS site by due
date
Early data release to
students who answered
the questionnaire
Page 9 of 11

10. Methods lecture 7 (online) Exercise 7
Survey research Two-way chi-square
• Types of probability and
nonprobability sample
Week 7
Teaching
11/04/2011 DeVaus, Ch. 6
Statistics lecture 7 (online)
Two-way chi-square
Hills (2010), Ch. 23
Mid-semester break Mid-semester break Data released to
Week 8
Intra-Session Break
18/04/2011 students who did not
answer questionnaire
Methods lecture 8 (online) Exercise 8
Survey administration Standard multiple
issues regression
DeVaus, Ch. 8
Week 9
25/04/2011
Teaching Statistics lecture 8 (online)
Multiple regression (MR)
• Purpose
• Standard MR
Hills (2010), Ch. 20
Methods lecture 9 (online) Exercise 9
Survey administration Factorial ANOVA
methods concepts
DeVaus, Ch. 8
Week 10
Teaching
2/05/2011 Statistics lecture 9 (online)
Factorial ANOVA
• Concepts
• Purposes
• Assumptions
Hills (2010), Ch. 12
Methods lecture 10 (online) Exercise 10 Scale Evaluation Project
Interviewing Factorial between- Section 2 (Abstract,
• Interview types subjects ANOVA: Main Results, and Discussion)
• Interview skills effects due in assignment box by
DeVaus, Ch. 8 5pm Wednesday May
11, 2011
Week 11 Statistics lecture 10 (online)
9/05/2011
Teaching Factorial between-subjects Must also submit through
ANOVA the "turn-it-in" link in the
• In experimental research unit vUWS site by due
• Analysis of group date
differences in survey
research
Hills (2010), Ch. 12
Methods lecture 11 (online) Exercise 11
Survey research analysis Factorial between-
DeVaus, Ch. 9-10, 12-18 subjects ANOVA:
Chapters 12-17 of de Vaus Analysing interactions
deal with statistical
analysis, and should be
read in conjunction with the
relevant statistical lecture
topics. You are not
Week 12
Teaching
16/05/2011 expected to have extensive
knowledge of this content
over and above that
covered in the statistics
lectures.
Statistics lecture 11 (online)
Factorial between-subjects
ANOVA: Analysing
interactions
Hills (2010), Ch. 12
Page 10 of 11

11. No more methods lectures Exercise 12
Factorial and mixed
Week 13 Statistics lecture 12 (online) repeated measures
23/05/2011
Teaching Factorial and mixed ANOVA
repeated measures ANOVA
Hills (2010), Ch. 14
Statistics lecture 13 (online) Exercise 13 Laboratory Exercises
Factorial and mixed Factorial and mixed Portfolio due at beginning
Week 14 repeated measures repeated measures of registered tutorial
30/05/2011
Teaching ANOVA: analysing and ANOVA: analysing and classes, week starting
interpreting interactions interpreting interactions Monday May 30, 2011
Hills (2010), Ch. 14
Stuvac and university
Week 15 examination period
Study Vacation
6/06/2011
Week 16-18
Examination Period
13/06/2011
Notes
Given the significant online presence, it is essential that students study the timetable and plan their approach
to learning and assessment items carefully!
Page 11 of 11