"G. d'Annunzio"
A basic knowledge of research methods and design in psychology is recommended.
The course aims to improve students’ knowledge of useful and practical tools and techniques in order to manage and conduct research in clinical and health psychology. The course will enable the following skills to be acquired: - Knowledge and understanding: knowing and describing the use of research methods and statistical software for social sciences (SPSS). - Making judgments: ability to choose research methods and statistical techniques based on the needs of the research application. - Communication skills: the student will be able to report the results deriving from executed analysis.
- Assumptions and introduction to clinical psychology research. - Review of research key phases; from the research idea to the project. - Main research designs. - Observational research. - Data analysis and description of results. - Ethical issues.
Assumptions and introduction to clinical psychology research: - Scientific method in clinical psychology and psychology - An overview of research methods in clinical psychology - The relationship between clinical practice and psychological research - Complexity in clinical psychology research Review of research key phases; from the research idea to the project: - The ideation process - Bibliographic research - How to read and understand a scientific paper - Reasoned bibliography - Operationalization and development of a research idea - Methodological choices and experimental method Main research designs: - Experimental and quasi-experimental design - Comparisons between groups Observational research: - Control case design - Cohort design Data analysis and description of results: - The SPSS statistical software for social sciences - Study results presentation: Tables and graphs Ethical issues
A final part of the course will be dedicated to the practical application of knowledge and skills acquired by the students.
Kazdin A. E. (2018). Metodologia della ricerca in Psicologia Clinica. Pearson Italia, Milano (Capitoli 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 18).
Additional texts and articles will be provided during the course.
The course is structured in 48 hours of frontal teaching and guided practical exercises. This amount is divided into 3-4 hours lessons according to the academic calendar.
The exam will be constituted by written and/or oral examination aimed to assess the knowledge, the conceptual mastery, the linguistic skills, the ability of interpretation and analysis of research data. The exam will be evaluated on a score range from 18 to 30. A score 18-23 indicates a sufficient knowledge, 23-28 a good level of knowledge, 28-30 an excellent knowledge, "cum laude" particular abilities of analysis and critical reasoning.
For explanations and clarifications, the teacher is available after email scheduling.
