A Delphi study to strengthen research-methods training in undergraduate psychology programs
Article
Robert, R., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., Bartlett, J., Blazey, P., Green, R., Pownall, M. and Munafò, M. 2024. A Delphi study to strengthen research-methods training in undergraduate psychology programs. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science. 7 (1), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459231213808
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | A Delphi study to strengthen research-methods training in undergraduate psychology programs |
Authors | Robert, R., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., Bartlett, J., Blazey, P., Green, R., Pownall, M. and Munafò, M. |
Abstract | Psychology programs often emphasize inferential statistical tests over a solid understanding of data and research design. This imbalance may leave graduates underequipped to effectively interpret research and employ data to answer questions. We conducted a two-round modified Delphi to identify the research-methods skills that the UK psychology community deems essential for undergraduates to learn. Participants included 103 research-methods instructors, academics, students, and nonacademic psychologists. Of 78 items included in the consensus process, 34 reached consensus. We coupled these results with a qualitative analysis of 707 open-ended text responses to develop nine recommendations for organizations that accredit undergraduate psychology programs—such as the British Psychological Society. We recommend that accreditation standards emphasize (1) data skills, (2) research design, (3) descriptive statistics, (4) critical analysis, (5) qualitative methods, and (6) both parameter estimation and significance testing; as well as (7) give precedence to foundational skills, (8) promote transferable skills, and (9) create space in curricula to enable these recommendations. Our data and findings can inform modernized accreditation standards to include clearly defined, assessable, and widely encouraged skills that foster a competent graduate body for the contemporary world. |
Keywords | Delphi; psychology education; research methods; consensus; British Psychological Society; accreditation standards; undergraduate; replication; statistics; qualitative methods; research design |
Sustainable Development Goals | 4 Quality education |
Middlesex University Theme | Creativity, Culture & Enterprise |
Publisher | SAGE Publications |
Journal | Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science |
ISSN | |
Electronic | 2515-2459 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 29 Jan 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Submitted | 23 Aug 2023 |
Accepted | 25 Oct 2023 |
Deposited | 15 Apr 2024 |
Output status | Published |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Copyright Statement | Creative Commons CC BY: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459231213808 |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:001151716500001 |
Related Output | |
Is new version of | A Delphi study to strengthen research methods training in undergraduate psychology programmes |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/1225z8
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a-delphi-study-to-strengthen-research-methods-training-in-undergraduate-psycho.pdf | ||
License: CC BY 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
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