Methodology of Research into Interpersonal Relationships (with workshop)
PROF. MARGHERITA LANZ
COURSE AIMS
The course will present methodological problem areas connected to research on
interpersonal relationships.
Through the processes of planning research, will be particularly highlighted the
different choices that the researcher must operate at every stage of planning
starting from the definition of interpersonal relationships. Specifically, the various
stages linked to the putting into operation of the theoretical constructs.
(Individual, dyadic and group) will be analyzed and some techniques for statistical
analysis of quantitative data will be shown. The techniques of data analysis will be
introduced in theory at lectures and will then be implemented during the
workshops, through software for data analysis and by using the database suggested
by the lecturer and by the workshop tutor. The aim of the course is to learn skills
(theoretical and practical) for planning and implementing relational research.
The methodology of basic research and psychometric statistics are considered to be
the basic knowledge to be learnt.
COURSE CONTENT
The following topics will be covered during the course:
– The meaning of research into interpersonal relationships.
– Problem areas linked to the measurement of relational constructs.
– The construction of measurement tools.
– How to analyse the structure of the measurement tools: factorial analysis.
– How to process relational data: building a second order points system and
analysis techniques.
– The statistical significance and the practical and clinical significance.
– Interpretation of dyadic points and shared variance.
– Analysis of the cause and effect link: from correlation to regression.
– How to assess the differences among groups: the models of variance analysis.
READING LIST
Information on the reading list related to the course topics will be published on the lecturer’s
webpage.
For the workshop:
C. BARBARANELLI, Analisi dei dati con SPSS: le analisi multivariate. LED, 2006.
Further information on the reading list will be given during the course.
Lecture notes and slides.
TEACHING METHOD
The teaching will be organised into three different modules:
40 hours of lectures in the lecture room;
10 hours of practical exercises during the lecture hours on the output of statistical
analysis;
20 workshop hours, divided into 5 meetings. The workshops will be held on Friday
mornings on dates that will be given at the beginning of the course. It is essential that
attendance at the workshop is backed up by attendance at lectures during which the subjects
to be studied will be covered from a theoretical perspective.
The practical exercises and the teaching in the workshop will allow students to have
practical experience of the contents presented during the lectures in the lecture room.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
The examination will consist of three tests:
1. A written test
2. A workshop test
3. An oral test
The three tests will all be held on the same day. It will not be possible to subdivide the
examination.
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG or on the Faculty notice
board.