Develop an ethically and methodologically sound empirical research study exploring a pertinent psychological theory by using qualitative and quantitative research.

Summary of Assessment Method: Empirical Research Report

Assesses Learning Outcomes:

1. Develop an ethically and methodologically sound empirical research study exploring a pertinent psychological theory by using qualitative and quantitative research.

2. Analyse, interpret, and critically evaluate the findings of the study to form coherent conclusions about the research question(s).

For the purposes of this practical assessment component, you will be provided with a selection of questionnaires and interview transcriipts relating to core areas of psychology as well as topics that may be familiar or of interest to you. The empirical report will require you to conduct a study that uses Multiple Regression and Thematic analysis to analyse data.

Multiple regression
The general purpose of multiple regression is to learn more about the relationship between several independent or predictor variables (PV) and a dependent or outcome variable (OV). For this report, you will have two predictor/independent variables and one outcome variable.

Thematic analysis
You should provide a summary of all themes/findings and an introduction of the theme(s) to be discussed. You should include structured analysis e.g., with quotations illustrating analytic and interpretative points. Present no more than one theme with two subthemes that are grounded in the data.
Individually, you should select an area of interest from the table below:

The predictive value of basic needs and relationship flourishing on relationship quality
PV1 – Basic needs
PV2 – Relationship flourishing
OV – Relationship quality

The questionnaires will be provided for you and the links to these are available in the Assessment folder, along with some brief suggestions of prior research and psychological theories that you may choose to base your research on.
you’ll receive a dataset (quantitative analysis) and interview transcriipt (qualitative analysis) that you should use for your analyses.
The Introduction should present a rationale and hypotheses that are suitable for your methodological design.

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*You should use appropriate sub-headings to structure your Methods [e.g., Design, Participants, Materials, Procedure, Ethical Considerations (just a couple of lines that your study is ethically approved), Analytical Strategy (just a couple of lines about the data screening procedures and your inferential test)] and Results sections.

Content and detailed guidance

Coursework 2: Empirical Report
Here are the assessment criteria that will be used for your practical report:
Title
• Is it clear what the investigation was about?
• Are the IVs and DVs mentioned?
• Is the length reasonable?
Abstract
• Is the background briefly reviewed?
• Are the methods summarised?
• Are results stated in words?
• Are conclusions briefly stated?
• Can the abstract be clearly understood?
• Is the abstract succinct?
Introduction
• Is there a logical structure, outlining a broad area then focusing on a precise topic?
• Is there a clear argument for why the topic has been studied and why it is interesting?
• Is there sufficient relevant background material?
• Are relevant contemporary and classic sources discussed?
• Is there critical analysis and evaluation of previous research in the area (i.e., theories, models or theoretical frameworks; empirical evidence; methods used in previous research)?
• Is there a clear rationale for the study and methods?
• Is there a sound justification of the factors chosen for the design of the study, and of the measure/s (DV/s)?
• Are the hypotheses well justified by the background material?
• Are the hypotheses specific and testable, and clearly stated?

Methods
Design
• Is the design appropriate to investigate the hypotheses?
• You should follow a mixed-methods design
• Is the type of design described completely and accurately?
• Are any independent variables described clearly?
• Are measured (dependent) variables and their measurement described clearly?
• Were potential confounding variables considered?

Participants
• Are participants described sufficiently?
• Are inclusion and exclusion criteria clear and appropriate?
• Are participant recruitment/sampling methods explained?
• How many participants took part?
• Are relevant attributes of this sample described?
• Are methods of selection appropriate?
Procedure
• Does the descriiption of how the study was planned to be conducted allow replication?
• Are participant instructions and debriefing fully described?
• Are ethical aspects of the procedure described and appropriate?
Materials and/or Apparatus
• Has enough detail been given to allow replication?
• Has the source or development of instruments and stimuli (items) been detailed?
• Have example items been given in this section and has the reader been directed to the full set of items/materials in the appendices?
Analytic strategy
• Is a clear strategy set out for the data analysis?
• Is there an explanation of how the data analysis strategy relates to the hypotheses?
• Does the data analysis strategy fit with the hypotheses/research questions/study aims?
Results
• Are appropriate descriiptive/summary statistics given?
• Were tables/graphs used effectively to summarise results?
• Does the table/graph provide an appropriate indication of the mean results and a measure of variance (where relevant)? Is the table/graph referred to appropriately in the text?
• Are results clearly and completely summarised in words?
• If graphs and tables are used, are they appropriate and informative?
• Themes included and explained?
• Are analytical (inferential) statistics appropriate to the design, hypotheses, and scales of measurement?
• Are the results of analytical statistics fully and correctly reported?
• Are the findings clearly described, but not interpreted?

Discussion
• Does this section begin by summarising what the study did and what it found (without including numerical values)?
• Are the results discussed in terms of the background material presented in the introduction?
• Is there an attempt to interpret and explain the current findings with respect to previous studies and theories or models?
• Is there a discussion of what the present study adds to our understanding of the chosen topic?
• Are the strengths and limitations of the study discussed and evaluated?
• Are there specific and well justified suggestions for further research?
• Is there a discussion of the wider or applied potential impact of the present study?
• Does the report end with a summing up of the general conclusions? Do these conclusions follow from the preceding discussion (they should not add anything new)?