PSYb1121 Essentials of Psychological Research

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Stanislav Ježek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Širůček, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Stanislav Ježek, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 15. 9. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 29. 9. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 13. 10. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 27. 10. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 10. 11. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 24. 11. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Mon 8. 12. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
PSYb1121/s1: Mon 15. 9. 10:00–11:40 U41, Mon 29. 9. 10:00–11:40 U41, Mon 13. 10. 10:00–11:40 U41, Mon 27. 10. 10:00–11:40 U41, Mon 10. 11. 10:00–11:40 U41, Mon 24. 11. 10:00–11:40 U41, Mon 8. 12. 10:00–11:40 U41, J. Širůček
PSYb1121/s2: Mon 15. 9. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 29. 9. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 13. 10. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 27. 10. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 10. 11. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 24. 11. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 8. 12. 10:00–11:40 U34, S. Ježek
PSYb1121/s3: Mon 22. 9. 8:00–9:40 U34, Mon 6. 10. 8:00–9:40 U34, Mon 20. 10. 8:00–9:40 U34, Mon 3. 11. 8:00–9:40 U34, Mon 1. 12. 8:00–9:40 U34, S. Ježek
PSYb1121/s4: Mon 22. 9. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 6. 10. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 20. 10. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 3. 11. 10:00–11:40 U34, Mon 1. 12. 10:00–11:40 U34, J. Širůček
Prerequisites
The course is intended for first-semester students and has no prerequisites.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Introduction to the role of research in psychology.
Introduction to the core processes of research projects and their logic.
Gaining first-hand experience with these processes incl. data analysis.
Gaining the ability to consume research findings.
Learning outcomes
After taking the course students will:
- know the role research plays in psychology;
- know the basic processes that comprise a research project;
- be able to assess the core aspects of the validity of research findings;
- gain the competency to assist with carrying out psychological research;
- in general be able to competently use (consume) findings of psychological research.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory topics, validity
  • 2. Observational studies
  • 3. Surveys
  • 4. Correlational studies
  • 5. Experimental studies
  • 6. Generalizability of research findings
Literature
    required literature
  • MORLING, Beth. Research methods in psychology : evaluating a world of information. Fourth edition. New York: W. W. Norton & company, 2021, xxix, 643. ISBN 9780393536263. info
  • Publication manual of the American Psychological Association : the official guide to APA Style. Seventh edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020, xxii, 427. ISBN 9781433832161. info
Teaching methods
lectures, reading, group projects, discussion
Assessment methods
30% of grade will be based on project work during semester
70% of grade will be based on final written exam with various item types. Students can use self-tests in the Information System to practice for the final exam. The grading scale is A: >89%, B: >79%, C: >69%, D: >59%, E: >49%, F: < 50%.
Náhradní absolvování
The course is recommended for the 1st semeester when students usually do not leave for Erasmus stays. In the case of taking this course later it is possible to participate in the seminar activities from wherever they would be staying.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2025/PSYb1121