National research university “Higher School of Economics”
Department of Psychology
Course syllabus for the discipline
“Theory and Methodology of Modern Psychology”
For the students of the MSc program “Applied social psychology”
(specialization 37.04.01 “Psychology”)
Author:
Tatjana Kanonire, Dr. psych., postdoc researcher, tkanonir@hse.ru
1. Course Description
a. Title of a Course: “Theory and Methodology of Modern Psychology”
b. Prerequisites: undergraduate background of theory and methodology.
c. Course Type: compulsory
d. Abstract
The purpose of the course is to extend students’ knowledge about research in Psychology.
During the course we will go through all steps of research process, i.e. from scientific problem
to research questions and designs, samples and instruments choice. The reliability and validity
of the studies as well as a principle of falsifiability will be discussed. Particular attention will be
paid to ethics in psychological research. As a result of the course students will acquire
theoretical knowledge and practical skills that will permit them to develop their own research
project, and acquire qualitative and quantitative methods in Psychology. The course provides a
basis for critical analysis of other scholars’ studies.
2. Learning Objectives
The main objectives of the course:
- learn fundamental aspects of scientific research;
- learn the principal steps of a research project in Psychology and be able to apply them;
- learn about different research designs, their possibilities and limitations;
- learn how to apply the ethics principles in psychological research;
- learn how research is reported in different types of articles.
3. Learning Outcomes
The main outcomes of the course:
- student has knowledge in the field of theory and methodology of modern Psychology and can
define fundamental aspects of research;
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- students has knowledge about main concepts of the research, can operate with them;
- student has knowledge about principal steps of a research project, able to apply it developing
a research project (e.g. master thesis) and to analyze studies of other scholars;
- student has knowledge about different research designs and can apply it in the research;
- student is familiar with different types of articles and can analyze them from the methodology
view;
- student has knowledge about international ethics principles in psychological research and can
apply them in the research project.
4. Course Plan
Class hours
№
Theme
Hours in
total
SelfLectures
Seminars
Practical
studying
classes
1
Research in modern psychology.
Scientific method. Falsifiability.
20
2
2
2
14
2
Scientific problem. Research questions
and hypotheses. Variables.
20
2
2
2
14
3
Experiments and experimental and
quasi-experimental designs.
30
4
4
4
18
4
Non-experimental designs.
20
2
4
4
10
5
Samples and sampling.
20
2
2
2
14
6
Measurements.
20
2
2
2
14
7
Research validity and reliability.
20
2
2
2
14
8
Ethics in psychological research.
20
3
4
4
9
9
Reporting research in scientific articles.
Literature reviews, theoretical articles,
empirical articles, meta-analysis
articles.
20
1
2
2
15
TOTAL
190
20
24
24
122
2
5. Reading List
a. Required
Coolican, H. (2013). Research methods and statistics in psychology, 5th edition. London,
Routledge.
European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (2005). Meta-code of ethics.
Frost, N. (2011). Qualitative research methods in psychology. Berkshire, GBR: McGraw-Hill
Education.
International Test Commission (2014, April 10). ITC statement on the use of tests and other
assessment instruments for research purposes.
Jha, N. (2008). Research methodology. Chandigarh, IND: Abhisek Publications.
Reis, H. T., & Judd, C. M. (Eds.) (2000). Handbook of research methods in social and personality
psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
b. Optional
Stanovich, K.E. (1992). How to think straight about psychology, Third edition. NY: Harper Collins.
Silverman, D. (2006). Qualitative research: Theory, method and practise. London: SAGE.
6. Grading System: 10-point scale.
7. Guidelines for Knowledge Assessment
Grades on the following forms of knowledge assessment constitute the final grade:
a) S: activity at the seminars and practical classes (rated by lecturer);
b) E: final exam: test with multiple-choice questions and additional case questions.
The formula for evaluation: Score = 0.2 * S + 0.8 * E.
8. Methods of Instruction:
a) lectures: include brief discussions and active student feedback;
b) seminars and practical classes: the work is organized mostly in groups, rarely individual;
seminars include the following forms of work: discussions based on the recommended literature,
case analysis (include analysis of published studies and discussion of best practices), practical
exercises.
9. Special Equipment and Software Support (if required): only computer and projector.
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