MSc Psychological Research
The University of Edinburgh - School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 2 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 26,300 *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full-time International/EU | £12,500: full-time Scotland/Rest of UK
Introduction
This programme provides an opportunity for intensive advanced training in psychological research while giving you the flexibility to select courses in the areas of psychology and cognitive neuroscience of most interest to you. In addition to advanced training in general academic skills and statistical modelling, you will gain training in a variety of specific methodologies including, but not limited to brain imaging, neurodisruption, eye-tracking, clinical case analysis, psychometric modelling, and discourse analysis.
Building on the research methods training, you will take topical courses in one of the core research areas of our department: social psychology, cognitive neuropsychology, individual differences, psychology of language, and human development.
Your MSc culminates in a research dissertation in a core research area: an original, publication-quality piece of research, undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in the relevant group.
You will take courses on the theoretical and methodological aspects of psychological science, and conduct an original research dissertation in your area of interest. You will also receive thorough training in advanced academic skills and research methods within psychology, including comprehensive coverage of statistical modelling and research design using the R statistical language.
Curriculum
Programme structure
The programme comprises two semesters of taught core courses, one specialist core course (to be selected from courses offered by the other MSc programmes in the department) and one optional course, followed by a research dissertation conducted in close collaboration with a staff member over the spring and summer months. In addition to topics specific to your area of interest, the core courses cover advanced academic skills and research methodology, including research design and statistical modelling. The optional course can be selected to tailor the programme to your interests. If you wish, you may choose the optional course from an associated area, such as individual differences, informatics, psycholinguistics, and developmental or social psychology.
Core courses
- Psychological Research Skills - General advanced research methodology; semester 1
- Univariate Statistics and Methodology using R - Introduction to R and statistical models; semester 1
- Multivariate Statistics and Methodology using R - Advanced statistical modelling; semester 2
- Qualitative Research Methods - Advanced methods for qualitative research; semester 2
Option courses include:
- Seminar in Personality
- Current Approaches in Social Psychology
- Psychology of Language
- Specialist Techniques in Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cognitive Developmental Science
- Brain Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience
- Clinical Neuropsychology
- Neuroscience of Language
- Atypical Development
- Applied Psychological Testing
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Or any other course available to MSc students
Dissertation
The dissertation involves conducting an empirical research project in close collaboration with an expert supervisor, sometimes also working with fellow MSc students. You will produce a written report, similar to an academic journal article; indeed, some dissertations are published as journal articles. The empirical work and writing take place between April and August. The dissertation can be based on data collected by the student or existing datasets (e.g., from large cohort studies, biobanks or other projects). The dissertation is due in August.
Program Outcome
On successful completion of this programme, you will gain:
- an understanding of advanced topics, methodologies and issues in the areas of psychological science that are of most interest to you.
- an understanding of the basic and advanced principles of research design and application.
- competency in applying a range of methods and research tools, including statistical models and programming.
- skills in research management, including managing data and conducting and disseminating research in ways consistent with both professional practice and the normal principles of research ethics.
Career Opportunities
The programme is primarily designed for students who aspire to pursue a research-oriented career in psychological science. However, the course also teaches a broad range of transferable skills applicable to a wide range of modern jobs, such as research design, data management and processing, statistical modelling and interpretation, as well as the synthesis and communication of complex literature.