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Lecturer(s)
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Charvát Miroslav, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Classrom n. 213 "i-lab" (Vodární 6, second floor on the left) I have set new dates and times of MPRM in 2025 as follows: 1) Thursday 20th of February from 13:30 to 15:00 - first information meeting 2) Thursday 27th of February from 13:30 to 15:00 3) Thursday 6th of March from 13:30 to 15:00 4) Thursday 13th of March from 13:30 to 15:00 5) Thursday 20th of March from 13:30 to 15:00 6) Thursday 27st of March from 13:30 to 15:00 7) Thursday 3rd of April from 13:30 to 15:00 8) Thursday 10th of April from 13:30 to 15:00 9) Thursday 17th of April from 13:30 to 15:00 10) Thursday 24th of April from 13:30 to 15:00 You will get all other important information right on our first meeting. Topics Covered: 1) Introduction & Course Overview Orientation to course objectives and structure Discussion: "Psychology as science?" - Pre-Paradigmal Psychology Complexity of psychological research Students share initial research ideas 2) Justification & Theoretical Background Group brainstorming on potential topics Formulating research problems and questions Research Objectives & Hypotheses Why is your study needed? Literature review & theoretical frameworks 3) Aligning research questions with appropriate methods Research approach: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods Overview of different research designs and methods Matching designs to specific research questions 4) Population, Sample & Ethical Considerations Sampling strategies Informed consent, risk, and ethical requirements Drafting sampling plans 5) Data Collection Methods Surveys, interviews, and observation protocols Reliability and validity issues Outlining data collection procedures 6) Analysis Approaches: Quantitative & Qualitative Statistical tests, coding processes, and software tools Ensuring analysis aligns with research objectives 7) Budget, Timeline & Practical Challenges Estimating time, resources, and costs Creating Gantt charts Addressing common pitfalls and constraints 8) Student Proposal Presentations & Feedback Each student presents a 15-slide proposal Group and instructor critique 9) Course wrap-up and discussion of next steps
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work Activities
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Learning outcomes
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This course aims to help students formulate and present (or write) a coherent research proposal that includes: Justification & Significance of the research. Theoretical Background and a brief literature review. Research Objectives and/or Hypotheses. Population & Sample determination (with sampling strategies). Data Collection Methods and a rationale for their use. Choice of Analysis Methods (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed). Ethical Issues and other practical considerations. By the end of the course, students should be able to produce a well-structured, persuasive research proposal and apply these skills to their theses or future research endeavours.
Competences Acquired Defining Research Questions: Ability to formulate clear, relevant, and feasible objectives. Designing Methodologies: Selecting proper methods for data collection and analysis. Ethical & Practical Awareness: Identifying ethical issues, resource needs, and limitations. Presentation Skills: Communicating research ideas effectively in both written and oral formats.
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Prerequisites
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No formal prerequisites. Basic familiarity with research methods is helpful but not mandatory.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Student performance, Seminar Work
Requirements on Students Main Outcome: Develop a concise PowerPoint presentation (approximately 15 slides) outlining a research proposal: Aims - Central question(s) or purpose(s). Justification - Relevance of the study. Theoretical Background - Key concepts and supporting evidence from the literature. Research Objectives - Clear and feasible objectives or hypotheses. Methodology - Proposed research design, data collection strategies, analyses. Population & Sample - Who, where, and how participants will be selected. Data Collection Methods - Tools/instruments used. Analysis Methods - Qualitative/quantitative, planned statistical tests or coding strategies. Ethical and Practical Considerations - Potential challenges and limitations. Presentation & Discussion: These proposals will be presented and discussed in class. Constructive critique from peers and the instructor will guide improvements. Course Policies Attendance and Participation: Regular attendance is encouraged. Active participation is crucial, as in-class discussions and feedback sessions are integral to developing your proposal. Academic Integrity: Students must adhere to academic honesty policies. Plagiarism or unethical research conduct will not be tolerated. Deadlines and Submissions: Presentation dates will be scheduled by mid-semester. Slides (and optional written proposals) should be submitted digitally before your presentation. Communication: For questions, clarifications, or to arrange a consultation, please email Dr. Charvát at miroslav.charvat@upol.cz.
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Recommended literature
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American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Ed.). Washington, D.C.
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Coolican, H. Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology. 2019.
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Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc..
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Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2011). Designing qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage.
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