Assignment Paper

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this assessment and this module, you will have demonstrated your ability to:
1. Design, analyse and report a qualitative research project and illustrate its relevance to an area of individual differences.

2. Outline a future career plan and evaluate the skills developed during their psychological studies in relation to this plan.

Summative Assessment(s) [Graded Assessment(s)] Assessment: Reflective Essay

Assessment Component: Assessment weighting: Length: Assessed module learning outcome(s):
1 20% 1000 words 2
Submission date/time: Provisional feedback released:
15 working days
Your work may be marked anonymously: Markers may be aware of which student has written the work that is being marked due to the personal nature of the assessment. Provisional grades will be reviewed by an Internal Moderator and the External Examiner. You will be notified of the ratified grade one week after the Assessment Board

Detailed Guidance
Your reflective essay is designed to address your personal development across your degree programme. Within this summary you will explore the requirements of your planned career route or how you will make use of your degree in your current role. You will also reflect on the skills you have developed during your time on the programme and evaluate what skills you may need to develop to progress in your degree or career route.

For this essay, you may find it useful to identify a job/further education, that you would be interested in progressing to within psychology; or you could also focus on your current role and how your degree impacts this, to guide your reflection. We recommend that you consider your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to analyse your academic skills in psychology and how they apply to your progression or current role. It is recommended that you include the following in your reflective essay:

– up to two strengths
– up to two weaknesses
– up to two opportunities
Unlike your other assessments, you can write in first person in your essay where appropriate. You should also aim to use wider literature to support your reflection, for example, this may include referring to relevant professional body documents or skill based literature.

To help you with this assessment, you are encouraged to speak to your personal tutor about your skill development and career plans. You may also speak with your module tutor about your skill development. We would recommend speaking to other students about their plans and reflecting on these in light of your own goals.

Assessment: Qualitative Report

Assessment Component: Assessment weighting: Length: Assessed module learning outcome(s):
2 80% 4000 words 1
Submission date/time: Provisional feedback released:
15 working days
Your work may be marked anonymously: Markers may be aware of which student has written the work that is being marked due to the individual nature of the assessment. Provisional grades will be reviewed by an Internal Moderator and the External Examiner. You will be notified of the ratified grade one week after the Assessment Board

Detailed Guidance
For this assessment you are asked to write a 4000 word structured qualitative report. To complete the report you will need to design, collect and analyse data then write this up in a standard psychological report format.

First, you will need to use the module materials and wider literature to identify a research question in one of the following areas of individual differences:

– Health
– Identity
– Gender

You will have the opportunity to speak to your tutor to see if the area you have selected is appropriate. You will then need to detail a method of data collection (we recommend Thematic Analysis for those less experienced in qualitative research) that has been discussed in the module which fits both your research question and your epistemological position. You will need to produce an ethics form (also known as a research proposal or ethics proposal) and gain ethical approval from your tutor in writing. Further details on the Ethics process are available within the module under the ‘Ethics’ menu option. Please read this carefully.
Please Note: Data collection without ethical approval from your tutor is an academic offense.

Once you have received ethical approval you can begin to recruit participants and collect data. For this module we recommend collecting data from 3-5 participants (for interviews) to up to 15 participants (for online surveys) but be sure to speak to your tutor throughout the module for appropriate guidance and advice. We would also recommend that you help each other by taking part in each other’s studies where possible.

When you have collected all your data and, if necessary, transcribed the data, you will want to start your analysis. For this module, you are advised to use a thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2013). However, exceptions may be made on an individual basis after discussion and approval from the module tutor.

Finally, when you have analysed your data you will want to write your structured qualitative report. You only need to analyse and discuss one full theme, including any sub-themes in your report. Again, your tutor can provide guidance on this during the module.

Your qualitative report should include the following:

Abstract
• Structured using subtitles
• Detail method of analysis and participant information
• Clearly outline key findings
• Discuss the impact/conclusions of the research

Introduction
• Clear introduction to the chosen psychology issue or topic
• Review of relevant research that drives the research aim
• Rationale for the research aim
• Brief Rationale for using qualitative methods
• Clear identification of the research aim
• Logical structure

Methods
• Structured methods section including relevant sub-sections [design, participants, materials, procedure, ethical considerations and analytical strategy].
• Brief explanation of epistemological position
• Concise description of method of data analysis
• Justification for theoretical and design choices
Results
• Summary of all themes/findings and introduction of theme(s) to be discussed
• Clearly set out with any participant quotes distinguishable from surrounding text
• Structured analysis e.g. with quotations illustrating analytic or interpretative points
• Analysis that links to the wider literature and research questions
• Presents themes that are grounded in the data
• Should be analytic and/or interpretative rather than purely descriptive
• Show an understanding of the chosen method of analysis and engagement with the wider literature

Discussion
• Summarises the aim and main findings/themes of the report
• Evaluation of findings in terms of previous literature and wider context
• Recognition of limitations of the study
• Proposals for future research building on the current study

General
• Clear and informative title that indicates an appropriate topic or area of study.
• Structured abstract that outlines the: background, aims, methods, main findings and conclusions of the study.
• Structured using a standard psychological report structure
• Meets the word limit
• Well written with good academic writing and APA referencing style
• Evidence of wider reading