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Demonstrate a critical understanding of the influence of theoretical perspectives in the creation, collection and interpretation of empirical data.

PYU613 Psychology in Question

Component 01: Assignment Guidance

Summary

Assignment type: Critical Essay.

Essay title: The nature of psychological objects, and what can be known about them. How different approaches affect what we can ‘discover’.

Word count: 2000 words Any words exceeding this word limit will not be marked. The word count includes everything but the reference list. You should include a word count at the bottom of your essay.

Weighting: 50% of module grade.

Submission date: Submit via the PYU612 Moodle page. Please refer to the Assignment Brief Component 1 for further information and Marking Criteria. Tutor support for the assignment will end five working days before your submission deadline. Any questions asked before this point will be addressed via email, however, no follow-up communications will be addressed.

Format: A single Microsoft Office compatible file.  Size 12 font. 1.15 line spacing. Font style should be easily readable e.g. Tahoma. No images should be included. PDF files will not be accepted. File name: PYU612_Essay_[insert student number]

Targeted learning outcome(s):

01: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the influence of theoretical perspectives in the creation, collection and interpretation of empirical data.

02: Critically compare multiple epistemological perspectives within psychology.

03: Make critical judgements and evaluations, identifying general principles and evaluating competing perspective.

Addressing the question

This assignment concerns our basic assumptions about the nature of psychological phenomenon, what can be known about those phenomena, and how that can be known. This assignment gives you a chance to flex your intellectual muscle and explore many different aspects of content from this course. The theoretical and methodological perspective adopted by researchers can and does influence the way in which psychologists approach the study of phenomenon, how they design studies and how they interpret their findings. In order to answer this question, you must do the following:

  1. Read the following paper:

Harris, M. A., Brett, C. E., Johnson, W., & Deary, I. J. (2016). Personality stability from age 14 to age 77 years. Psychology and aging, 31(8), 862–874. doi: 10.1037/pag0000133

2. Identify the ontological and epistemological assumptions made by the authors concerning the nature of the phenomenon they are investigating (personality).

3. Critically re-evaluate the authors study from another perspective. This must be either discursive psychology OR the phenomenological approach.

4. Consider the underlying assumptions of both the experimental method utilised by the authors, and your alternative, qualitative perspective. What do these assumptions change? Is it necessary to reconceptualise the nature of the phenomenon being studied, or the approach taken, or both? Your answer should focus on the underlying assumptions of each perspective, and whether the assumptions made by one are supported, or challenged, by the assumptions of the other. That is: is quantitative psychology fundamentally opposed to qualitative psychology, such that never the twain shall meet?

Accessing the paper: If you type the title of the article into Google or Google Scholar, it’s the first hit. The Google scholar link also contains a link for “all 12 versions”, which will give you the full article as it was published.

Recommended Readings

The following readings may help you complete this assignment. You may like to use the key readings as staring points to begin your research for this essay.

Alternatively, you may prefer to source your own materials. You are strongly advised to refer to your class notes from PYU520: Research Design and Analysis 2. In particular, weeks 11, and 12, which covered discursive psychology and interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Paradigms

Krauss, S. E. (2005). Research paradigms and meaning making: A primer. The qualitative report, 10(4), 758– 770. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ tqr/vol10/iss4/7

Moon, K., & Blackman, D. (2014). A guide to understanding social science research for natural scientists. Conservation Biology, 28(5), 1167–1177. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12326

Phenomenology

Bragg, M., Glendinning, S., Hodge, J., & Mulhall, S. (2015). Phenomenology. In L. Mulhall (Ed.), In our time. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04ykk4m

Clarke, C. (2009). An introduction to interpretative phenomenological analysis: A useful approach for occupational therapy research. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(1), 37–39. doi: 10.1177/030802260907200107

Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological journal, 20(1), 7–14. doi: 10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7

Discourse analysis

Goodman, S. (2017). How to conduct a psychological discourse analysis. Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis across Disciplines, 9(2), 142–153. Retrieved from http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/ fass/journals/cadaad/volume-9-2-2017 -special-issue-discourse-multidisciplinary -perspectives-on-identity/

Potter, J. (2010). Contemporary discursive psychology: Issues, prospects, and corcoran’s awkward ontology. British Journal of Social Psychology, 49(4), 657–678. doi: 10.1348/014466610X486158

Potter, J., & Hepburn, A. (2008). Discursive construc- tionism. In J. A. Holstein & J. F. Gubrium (Eds.), Handbook of constructionist research (pp. 275–293). New York: Guilford Press.

General guidance

Participation in the class debate sessions will help you develop both the style of argumentation, and an understanding of what I am looking for with this assignment. You may also find it beneficial to follow the additional readings provided in each lecture (see study calendar). Remember too this course has several critical themes which you may like to include in your writing. When preparing your answer, consider what the question is asking of you. Ensure you are clear about the aims of the essay, and of your argument before you start writing. You may like to state explicitly how you are addressing the question. Do not keep secrets from your reader! When writing your essay, say what you want to say clearly and concisely. Explain what you mean. Signpost your points clearly and explain why what you say matters.

Your assignment must:

  • Re-evaluate the quantitative, empirical study from a qualitative perspective
  • Use either Discursive Psychology OR Phenomenology to do this.

Your assignment should:

  • Orientate to the philosophical underpinnings of each methodology – the assumptions of either discursive psychology or phenomenology
  • Not solely address methodological issues within your chosen paper
  • Identify and examine the key areas of concern
  • Display a critical understanding of psychological and philosophical issues relating to the question
  • Evaluate psychological theories
  • Integrate case examples and theoretical or empirical explanations
  • Give ideas for solutions/further directions in research
  • Orientate to the importance of the issues you discuss for the nature of the discipline.
  • Augment your argument with additional academic sources
  • Develop your answers in more depth than you have for second year work
  • Remember: ‘Being critical’ means weighing up both the positive and the negative aspects of an argument

Marking Criteria

 

1st (Distinction): 80–100%

1st: 70–79%

2:1: 60-69%

2:2: 50-59%

3rd: 40-49%

Bare fail: 30–39%

Fail: 0–29%

Critically compare multiple epistemological perspectives within psychology.

Shows a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the different assumptions between quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Moves beyond simple methodological concerns to address philosophical underpinnings of the research perspectives

Shows an understanding of the different assumptions between quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Attempts to move beyond simple methodological concerns to address philosophical underpinnings of the research perspectives

Shows a reasonable understanding of the different assumptions between quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Attempts to move beyond simple methodological concerns to address philosophic al underpinnings of the research perspectives, though some evidence of misunderstanding is apparent.

Shows a reasonable understanding of the some of the assumptions of quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Makes little attempt to move beyond simple methodological concerns to address philosophic al underpinnings of the research perspectives Some minor omissions, mistakes or confusions may be evident.

Shows a poor understanding of the differences between quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Relies upon simple methodological concerns to address philosophic al underpinnings of the research perspectives Some omissions, mistakes or confusions may be evident.

Shows a poor and / or inaccurate understanding of the differences between quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Fails to move beyond simple methodological concerns to address philosophic al underpinnings of the research perspectives Omissions, mistakes or confusions are evident

Shows a poor and inaccurate understanding of the differences between quantitative and qualitative research perspectives Demonstrates a misunderstanding of methodologic al concerns, and fails to engage with philosophical underpinnings of the research perspectives Omissions, mistakes and confusions are evident.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the influence of theoretical perspectives in the creation, collection and interpretation of empirical data.

Shows a detailed and nuanced understanding of the way in which the theoretical and epistemological position adopted influences the design and interpretation of psychological research, and the interpretation of data. Critically evaluates evidence and arguments both for and against the position taken.

Shows a nuanced understanding of the way in which the theoretical and epistemological position adopted influences the design and interpretation of psychological research, and the interpretation of data. Manages a reasonable, critical evaluation of evidence and arguments both for and against the position taken.

Demonstrates a reasonable attempt to explain the way in which the theoretical and epistemological position adopted influences the design of psychologic al research and arguments both for and against the position taken

Demonstrates a reasonable attempt to explain the way in which the theoretical and epistemological position adopted influences the design of psychologic al research

Demonstrates a poor attempt to explain the way in which the theoretical and epistemological position adopted influences the design of psychologic al research, and the interpretation of data. Insufficient attempt to evaluate evidence and arguments both for and against the position taken

Demonstrates an insufficient depth of understanding about the way in which the theoretical and epistemological position adopted influences the design of psychologic al research, and the interpretation of data. Attempt to evaluate evidence and arguments both for and against the position taken is weak and unconvincing.

Demonstrates an insufficient attempt to engage with theoretical and epistemological position adopted, and how they may influences the design of psychological research, and the interpretation of data. Insufficient or one-sided attempt is made to evaluate evidence and arguments both for and against the position taken.

Make critical judgements and evaluations, identifying general principles and evaluating competing perspective

Draws insightful and critical conclusions, well supported by literature.

Draws insightful and / or critical conclusions, well supported by literature

Draws reasonable conclusions, well supported by literature.

Attempts to support conclusions with reference to appropriate literature

Conclusions are not well supported with reference to appropriate literature

Does not draw upon appropriate literature to support argument.

Does not draw upon appropriate literature to support argument.

Referencing:

Draws exclusively upon peer reviewed academic sources Referencing accurate and complete according to APA6th edition

Draws almost exclusively upon peer-reviewed academic sources. Referencing mostly accurate and complete according to APA6th edition

Draws heavily from peer-reviewed academic sources. Referencing generally accurate and consistent according to APA6th edition

Draws from peer-reviewed academic sources. Referencing generally consistent but contains some inaccuracies, according to APA6th edition.

Not all sources are peer-reviewed. Referencing lacks consistency and contains inaccuracies, according to APA6th edition

Seems reliant upon non-peer-reviewed sources Significant errors and / or omissions in referencing, according to APA6th edition.

Seems reliant upon non-peer-reviewed sources Significant errors and / or omissions in referencing, according to APA6th edition.

Essay title: The nature of psychological objects, and what can be known about them. How different approaches affect what we can ‘discover’.

PYU613 Psychology in Question


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