Psychological Research (MSc)

Programme description

Drawing from a vibrant and stimulating research culture, this programme provides you with comprehensive training and grounding in research methods and analysis across the broad field of psychology.

This programme will help you develop professional, critical and analytical skills. You will learn how to formulate research problems, and appreciate diverse approaches to research, including qualitative methods.

The programme is targeted at those with a special interest in research methods, but is also ideal for those wishing to take an empirical approach to areas of psychology that are not covered by our other taught programmes.

Programme structure

This programme comprises two semesters of taught courses, including compulsory courses and option courses chosen from other areas within Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, followed by a dissertation.

Compulsory courses:

• Current Topics in Psychological Research
• Multivariate Statistics and Methodology using R
• Psychological Research Skills
• Specialist Techniques in Psychological Research
• Univariate Statistics and Methodology using R
• Qualitative Methodologies in Psychological Research

Option courses:

• Brain Imaging in Cognitive Neuroscience
• Clinical Neuropsychology
• Disorders of Language Functions
• Working Memory
• Multisensory Integration

Learning outcomes

The programme lays emphasis on the following outcomes:

• comprehension of the basic principles of research strategy and design, including an understanding of how to formulate researchable problems and an appreciation of alternative approaches to research
• competency in understanding and applying a range of methods and research tools
• skills in research management
• understanding the significance of alternative epistemological positions that provide the context for theory construction

Career opportunities

This programme has been designed to help you progress your research career and offers a firm basis for further postgraduate study, or for related research in industry.

Visit the Psychological Research (MSc) page on the University of Edinburgh website for more details!