This MSc programme provides research training for students who intend to pursue a career as research psychologists, or who wish to take a research degree. Until recently, the usual route for such students was to register for a PhD after obtaining a good Honours Degree. Funding bodies may not insist on a research training qualification before starting a PhD, a research training Masters will greatly enhance your chances of obtaining funding for a PhD. In addition, if you subsequently register for a PhD at Essex or elsewhere, you will be exempt from the research training component and will be able to start your research programme straight away. Eventually, it is likely that all PhD candidates will be required to undertake a rigorous programme of research training before starting their independent research (see the section on Research Degrees for the current research training requirements at Essex). The MSc programme is intended to provide the appropriate qualification in research training.
Our MSc in Psychological Research Methods programme allows students to specialise in one of the Department’s four research areas: Cognitive Psychology; Neuropsychology and Development; Perception; and Social and Health Psychology.
The aims of the MSc in Psychological Research Methods are:
i) to provide an opportunity for advanced study in Neuropsychology that will extend theoretical knowledge in selected areas of specialisation;
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ii)to develop a critical awareness of psychological science in relation to its philosophical and biological contexts, and in relation to research in the natural and social sciences;
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iii)to provide knowledge and skills (critical evaluation and argument, quantitative and qualitative empirical methods, communication and presentation) that will prepare students for academic careers as well as a wide range of alternative careers, and will be widely sought by employers.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The entry criterion is a good first degree, 2.1 or above, in Psychology or a related discipline.
Students will take the following courses:
SC520-7-SP: Interviewing and Qualitative Data Analysis
PS931-7-SP: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Plus TWO option at Masters level taken from the list of available courses.
PS901-7-AU: Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Neuropsychology
PS903-7-SP: Neuropsychology of Perception and Attention
PS917-7-SP Advanced Cognitive Development
PS918-7-AU: Cognitive Neuropsychology of Language
PS926-7-SP: Advanced Reading Development and Dyslexia
PS929-7-AU: Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience
PS935-7-SP: Neurocognition of Language
Research Project (one third of total assessment)
The student will complete a supervised empirical research project in their chosen area, written up in the form of a dissertation.
10,000-word to be submitted by 6th September 2013.
If you are interested in a postgraduate taught degree, please telephone: 01206 874470
e-mail: psych-pgt@essex.ac.uk.
If you are interested in postgraduate research, please telephone: 01206 873822,
e-mail: psych-research@essex.ac.uk