Psychological Research Methods

Keele University
Postgraduate MSc (PG) Full-time 1 Year Psychology

About this course

An MSc in Psychological Research Methods at Keele will provide you with expertise in advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, covering a range of research designs, data handling and collection techniques, and analytical approaches. On successful completion of the programme, you will gain the skills required to pursue PhD research, launch a career as a professional researcher in psychology and more.

Why choose this course?

  • Explore meta-scientific issues of robust and ethical scientific practice, and implement open scientific practices

  • Learn techniques for using psychological evidence to implement change in organisational and government policy and practice, and gain hands-on experience implementing your skills during your work-based placement

  • Acquire a strong foundation for pursuing PhD-level research or a research career

  • Gain experience as a research apprentice, working on a live and active research project with an academic, alongside your dissertation project

  • Master the most in-demand research techniques

    MSc Psychological Research Methods at Keele, combines the development of advanced research methodological expertise with considering the practicalities of translating your knowledge into application.

    You will gain a strong grounding in a wide variety of methodologies. This will enable you to tackle research questions using different types of data. With opportunities to explore EEG, eye tracking, TMS, virtual reality, video observation, psychophysiological equipment and other facilities, the possibilities for research are open for you to discover.

    You will dive deep into advanced techniques including factor analysis, Bayesian analysis, computational modeling, and machine learning, whilst engaging with qualitative methods, from semantic to social constructionist approaches and more. You will learn how to carry out advanced qualitative analysis, develop programming skills in MATLAB, and conduct inferential statistics using the open-source software JASP.

    A key contemporary issue in psychological research methods is open science. Together, we will examine the meta-scientific issue of ensuring research is robust and reproducible, placing you in a strong position for a career in research.

    About Keele Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.

    We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.

    Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.

  • Study Options

    This course is available in 2 study options:

    Full-time Shown above

    Duration: 1 Year

    Qualification: MSc (PG)

    Location: Keele

    Part-time

    Duration: 2 Years

    Qualification: MSc (PG)

    Location: Keele

    Career Prospects

    Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

    3219 Health associate professionals
    2462 Probation officers
    2229 Therapy professionals
    3214 Complementary health associate professionals
    2224 Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists
    3229 Welfare and housing associate professionals

    Course Details

    Qualification
    Master of Science - MSc (PG)
    Study Mode
    Full-time
    Duration
    1 Year
    Start Date
    2025
    Academic Year
    2025
    Campus / Location
    Keele
    Scheme
    Postgraduate
    Subjects
    Psychology