Psychological Research Methods - MSc

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the course.

It is taught by very friendly teaching staff, who are leading academics, and I was able to choose an optional module in an area that interested me as well as sitting in on some others which I also grabbed my curiosity and students could also attend weekly seminars by guest researchers.

I learned a wide variety of research methods including a superb advanced statistics module which was made very understandable through project work.

Other practical aspects such as seminar discussions by students on course relevant topics and practising particular analytical techniques on actual data in class is very beneficial way of learning. T

he course has demystified many aspects of the research process for me and given me much more confidence to go do my own research and I'm now equipped with a range of tools that I can draw on to address many types of research questions, leaving me feeling more flexible, critical and competent as a researcher.

Living in Cumbria, ninety miles away, I opted to study the MSc part time, whilst working 16 hours a week.

From my first queries about the course I found the Postgraduate Coordinators to be friendly and keen to discuss any questions or concerns I had about the level of commitment that was required for the course. I found the work load reasonable whilst working 16 hours a week, but I would not advise anyone to attempt to work many more hours than that whilst studying. If I was not able to attend a lecture or meeting with my dissertation tutor due an issue like the weather or travel, staff were flexible and understanding.

In sum, I found my part-time studying experience within the Psychology Department at Lancaster University supportive, achievable and most importantly, enjoyable.

Having completed my undergraduate degree and looking to start a career in research, completing an MSc in Psychological Research Methods seemed like a natural first step. I decided to undertake this course with the Lancaster University Psychology department for various reasons, such as the institutions reputation, the department’s facilities and how the Research Methods course was structured.

It’s safe to say that I wasn’t disappointed, and my experience at Lancaster University was enjoyable and satisfying. From the start, members of the department were welcoming and supportive, something that was constant throughout my MSc. I found that classes were interactive and stimulating, something that I believe is of great importance to any course. I also found every module to be unique and have something different to offer, with the department even finding a way to make the statistics classes lively and interesting! For me, the highlight of the course was completing my Dissertation. The module was tailored to my needs; with my supervisor and other members of the department offering valuable advice and guidance, as well as allowing me to make my own decisions about the project.

I found the course as a whole to be very rewarding; equipping me with the skills to carry out Psychological research, as well as giving me the choice to pursue my own interests. I really enjoyed my time at Lancaster, and feel that the MSc in Psychological Research Methods has a lot to offer those who would like to start a career in Psychological Research.

In 2006 whilst doing my A-Level Psychology I came to Lancaster University to access a journal article from the library. I remember distinctly being overawed by the facilities, especially the library, and thinking that I would love to be a full time student there. Little did I know...
By 2012 I had completed my BSc Psychology with the Open University and hoped to secure a place on a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. However, as anyone who has tried will know, there is a lot of competition for relatively few places! Despite a good first degree I soon concluded that I needed an MSc. Lancaster University's MSc in Psychological Research Methods seemed to have exactly the content needed to improve my profile as a scientist practitioner and furthermore Lancaster itself is a lovely city and very accessible by road and rail from my home in Cumbria.
Having now completed the course I can say that I was thoroughly impressed with the content, lecturing and support I received and that I really enjoyed my time as a student at Lancaster University. My research was well supported and has opened up opportunities for continued work in a clinically relevant area and hopefully for future publication. I now feel much more confident in my abilities as a researcher and furthermore this year I have secured my first interview for the Clinical Doctorate - which I sincerely hope will see me back at Lancaster next year.
Beyond the course, the campus has everything you need and is easy to navigate, it has a friendly atmosphere and great facilities. As a (very) mature student I was a little worried about integrating - but fears were unfounded and I made some good friends on the course. Did I mention that it has a wonderful library? Oh yes, at the start - well it's even better now! Do your postgraduate study at Lancaster University - it's fab!