General methodology

elementary

PS_W01

PS_W06

PS_U06

The General methodology is a one-semester course of 30h of the lecture and 30h of classes.

The main goal of the course is to familiarize students with methods of scientific investigation in empirical sciences, including elements of scientific language such as definitions of concepts (classification, usefulness in science and correctness assessment), and creating empirical sentences (and their system).

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to: understand the process of research and to design own research. Therefore they are expected to master basic as well as advanced knowledge on planning empirical research, to correct formulation of research problems and hypotheses, and identification of dependent and independent variables and recognition of their measurement level.

Ajdukiewicz, K. (1990). Logika pragmatyczna. Warszawa: PWN (wybrane fragmenty).

Babbie, E. (2021). Badania społeczne w praktyce. Warszawa: PWN (rozdział 5).

Brzeziński, J. (2019). Metodologia badań psychologicznych, Warszawa: PWN (wybrane fragmenty).

Brzeziński, J., Zakrzewska, M. (2020). Metodologia. Podstawy metodologiczne i statystyczne prowadzenia badań naukowych w psychologii. W: J. Strelau, D. Doliński (red.), Psychologia. Podręcznik akademicki, t.1 (s. 176-207), Gdańsk: GWP.

Frankfurt-Nachmias, Ch., Nachmias, D. (2001). Metody badawcze w naukach społecznych. Poznań: ZYSK i S-ka (wybrane fragmenty).

Francuz P., Mackiewicz R. (2005). Liczby nie wiedzą, skąd pochodzą. Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.

Hempel, C. G. (2001). Filozofia nauk przyrodniczych. Warszawa: Fundacja Aletheia.

Nowak, S. (2021). Metodologia badań społecznych. Warszawa: PWN.

Popper, K. R. (1934/2006). Logika odkrycia naukowego. Warszawa, PWN (rozdział 1).

Price, P. (2020). Research Methods: Core Concepts and Skills for Psychology (v. 2.1). Boston: FlatWorld.

Shaughnessy, J., Zechmeister, E., Zechmeister, J. (2010). Metody badawcze w psychologii. Gdańsk: GWP (wybrane fragmenty).

The course aims to broaden the student's knowledge, skills and competences, which corresponds with the following general learning outcomes, specified in the learning outcomes for the training program for the faculty of Psychology for master's studies. According to them, the graduate:

- knows what psychology is, how it differs from other sciences, what are its disciplines, what they do in detail (PS_W01)

- understands modern research methodology based on advanced statistics and current psychometry (PS_W06)

- knows how to apply appropriate statistical analysis methods to interpret empirical data and to assess the value of research techniques used (PS_U06)

For the General methodology course, this corresponds with the following specific learning outcomes:

KNOWLEDGE

The student:

1. Knows the differences between scientific knowledge and pseudoscientific knowledge..

2. Knows the models of scientific methods, as well as the characteristics of psychological research.

3. Characterizes research according to the hypothetico-deductive model.

4. Understands the importance of both weak and strong rationality principles.

5. Knows the basics of cognition theory about the understanding of scientific truth and possible limits of cognition.

6. Knows the peculiarities of scientific research: intersubjective verifiability and intersubjective communicability, replicability, idealizing nature of science.

SKILLS

The student:

1. Can assess the formal correctness of scientific definitions and theories.

2. Can distinguish between scientific and unscientific texts.

3. Can correctly fit indicators of latent variables.

4. Can create precise and correct definitions of psychological terms.

COMPETENCES

The student:

1. Can participate in a critical discussion on the scientific aspects of empirical work.

2. Is critical towards his or her own research work and should be open to constructive criticism, not withdrawing from a substantive discussion.

Lecture - 30 hours

Practical classes - 30 hours

Students’ preparations for lecture / reading texts - 25 hours

Students’ preparations for the practical classes / reading texts / homeworks - 25 hours

Students’ preparation for the assessment test - 40 hours.

(150 hours / 25 = 6 ECTS)

final grade is based on a written exam. A positive grade (at least “sufficient”) in the practical classes is a prerequisite to take the final, written exam.

Criteria of the exams assessment:

Insufficient (2): A student has mastered less than 60% of knowledge and skills, covered in the teaching program. He or she gives definitions which are incomplete or incorrect. He or she is not able to apply knowledge in practical tasks/ questions.

Sufficient (3): A student has mastered at least 60% of knowledge and skills, covered in the teaching program. He or she is able to demonstrate the knowledge with understanding and is able to apply it in practical tasks / questions.

Good (4): A student has mastered at least 80% of knowledge and skills, covered in the teaching program. He or she is able to demonstrate the knowledge with understanding and is able to apply it in practical tasks / questions.

Very good (5): A student has mastered a virtually whole scope of material, covered in course. He or she can fully and competently present methodological expertise, and is able to apply it in practical tasks / questions. A student is also able to approach methodological issues critically.