- An undergraduate course
in
Psychology and Counselling
and
Social Sciences.
Exploring psychology project
- On this page
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | DXR222 |
| Credits | 15 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| Residential school | |
This short course, with a week-long residential school at its core, provides an opportunity to develop your practical skills in psychological research. It builds on the associated course Exploring psychology (DSE212), using materials from this course – alongside other resources – to help you prepare for the residential school. During the residential week, you will engage in activities that demonstrate the practical and ethical issues involved in conducting research. You’ll also design, conduct and analyse one project as part of a group, using either quantitative or qualitative methods. Register early if you have a preferred date and venue in mind as unfortunately we can’t always offer your first choice.
An alternative, online course that develops the same practical skills is offered under the course code DZX222. For further information on which course is the most suitable for you, see DXR222 or DZX222: Making the right choice.
Modules at Level 2 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at Level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.
Register for the course
What you will study
The course is divided into three principal components. The first involves preparatory work and activities, revising aspects of psychological research methodology and statistical analysis that you explored in Exploring psychology (you must have completed TMAs 03 and 05 of Exploring psychology before undertaking DXR222). A study guide directs you through this work, which is mainly reading with a few multiple choice questions and other activities, and provides information about the assignments that you will complete. The second component is the residential week itself, which will be held at several UK universities during July and August. You will be asked to choose your week when you register for the course. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. The third component is the assignment you complete after your residential school week. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
The residential week starts with preparatory activities based around the two psychological topics of memory and communication. On Sunday and Monday you will participate in tutor-guided activities, based on different steps in the research cycle, designed to prepare you for the group-based project work that you complete during the rest of the week. During the week, you will learn more about collecting and analysing both quantitative and qualitative data, and gain experience of using different experimental and observational techniques. You will also have an introduction to the use of electronic databases and guided tuition in using a more advanced computer-based statistical analysis than you conducted in Exploring psychology (but using the same computer package, SPSS).
After the residential school you will be asked to write an assignment comprising a report of the research you have conducted.
The cost of accommodation and meals at the residential school for this course starting in June 2013 is included in the fee shown above.
Entry
This Level 2 course builds on the content and skills developed in the first half of Exploring psychology, so you should either take the two courses in the same year, or take DXR222 after you have successfully completed Exploring psychology. You must have completed TMAs 03 and 05 of Exploring psychology before undertaking DXR222. (N.B.: if you studied Exploring psychology prior to the October 2007 presentation you must have completed TMAs 03 and 04). The two courses are closely linked and together they provide excellent preparation for further studies in psychology. It is expected that you will complete DXR222/DZX222 before attempting the Level 3 psychology courses.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability
Attendance at the school is required, so if you feel it may present difficulties for you, you should take advice from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering. You could register for Exploring psychology on-line project (DZX222) instead. For more information to help you decide between DXR222 and DZX222 see DXR222 or DZX222: Making the right choice.
At the residential school you will be expected to participate in group work, use computers, conduct observations and run experiments. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the course website. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or using the internet and have any concerns about accessing the types of course materials outlined you are advised to talk to our Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs. After you have registered you will receive detailed information about the residential school site and the facilities available to help with the academic programme.
The printed course materials are available in comb-bound format and on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format. The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and scientific, mathematical, foreign language, musical or graphic materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other materials may be available in future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Services for disabled students website for more information, including:
- help to determine your study requirements and how to request the support that you need
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- using a computer for OU study
- equipment and other support services that we offer
- examination arrangements
- residential school arrangements, including the support and equipment available
- how to contact us for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Study and assessment guide, other printed materials, website.
You will need
DVD player.
You will also need some of the materials from Exploring psychology – course books 1, 2, and Exploring Psychological Research Methods, the CD-ROMs, and DVD.
N.B. If you studied Exploring psychology prior to the October 2007 presentation you will need the following materials - course books 1 and 2, CD-ROMs, and methods booklets. You will also need the Exploring psychology videocassette for your preparatory work.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course. It includes online activities – you can access using a web browser – and some course software provided on disk.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2007 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
- A netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device is not suitable for this course – check our Technical requirements section.
- If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will work with several tutors during the residential school week. They will provide support and advice as you conduct and analyse your project work. You do not have a tutor during the rest of the study time, but you will have access to a tutor-led online forum and a phone-based helpline to answer queries.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
Your participation at residential school will contribute towards the assessment, but the major assessed component will consist of a report of the project you conducted, to be submitted on paper at the beginning of September.
Professional recognition
This course may help you to gain recognition from a professional body. You can view or download our Recognition leaflet 3.1 British Psychological Society for further information.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in June 2013. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year and the last starting date to be in 2014.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.
Student Reviews
“After completing the DSE212 course online, I was very excited about going to residential school for doing some research in ...”
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“It's enjoyable sharing a learning experience with your peers and a sunny week in Brighton enhanced the experience. To maximise ...”
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Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
Undergraduate
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | DXR222 |
| Credits | 15 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| Residential school | |
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