Advanced Research Methods in Clinical and Health Psychology

Recommended Prerequisites

This course unit implies basic knowledge in the domain of research methods in social and human sciences, particularly in the area of Psychology.

Teaching Methods

In order to promote an active and critical posture of students, it will be favored a dynamic articulation between teaching methods focused on lectures (using audiovisual support) and training of skills in the classroom (critical analysis of articles; reading and guided discussion of scientific texts - by the teachers and the students, presentation of an idea of research ideas through pitches, communication of scientific research), with teaching methods focused on active and independent exploration, promotion of preceding study and self-learning of students.

Learning Outcomes

This course unit aims to provide in-depth knowledge about different methods and techniques of research in Clinical and Health Psychology (CHP). The course unit intends to promote a critical and integrative posture on research methods, informing about conceptual, procedural, analytical and ethical specificities of quantitative and qualitative research in applied CHP. Particular emphasis will be given to the learning and implementation of research in CHP, as well as to the promotion of knowledge about the stages of a research project and process of planning a project, research designs and sampling methods, critical literature review and ethical principles in applied CHP. This course unit also promotes the development of research skills, namely of conceptualization, preparation and writing of projects, as well as scientific writing and dissemination of results (communication formats; publication in scientific journals) in order to accomplish the course unit Dissertation.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Principles of quantitative and qualitative research methods in Clinical and Health Psychology (CHP)

1.1. Stages of the research process

1.2. Types of research designs

1.3. Sample planning, sampling methods and selection of measures

1.4. Ethical principles in CHP research

 

2. Key issues in recent research on CHP

2.1. The study of processes and the development of intervention programs

2.2. Monitoring and evaluation of outcomes of intervention programs

 

3. Planning and elaboration of a research project

3.1. Critical literature review: Reading strategies and techniques of systematization of information

3.2. Identification of research needs, development of research questions and hypothesis formulation

3.3. Writing a research project

 

4. Dissemination of results and publication in scientific journals

4.1. Means of dissemination of results

4.2. Types and structure of scientific articles

4.3. Preparation, submission and review of an article

 

5. APA style and reference management software

Head Lecturer(s)

Marco Daniel de Almeida Pereira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Pitch: Presentation of a research idea: 25.0%
Research project in a Poster format: 75.0%

Bibliography

American Psychological Association. (2019). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7.ª ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

 

Areán, P.A., & Kraemer, H.C. (2013). High-quality psychotherapy research: From conception to piloting to national trials. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Brough, P. (Ed.) (2019). Advanced research methods for applied Psychology: Design, analysis and reporting. New York, NY: Routledge.

 

Cargill, M., & O’Connor, P. (2009). Writing scientific research articles: Strategy and Steps. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

 

Cooper, H. (Ed.). (2012). Handbook of research methods in psychology. Washington, DC: APA.

 

Coutinho, C.P. (2011). Metodologia de investigação em ciências sociais e humanas: Teoria e prática. Coimbra: Almedina.

 

Creswell, J.W. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

 

Evans, J. (2007). Your psychology research project: The essential guide. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.