SARC25 - TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS FOR BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH

courses

ID:

SARC25

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

PSICOLOGIA GENERALE

Located in:

PESCARA

Url:

Course Details:

ECONOMICS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES/CORSO GENERICO Year: 1

Year:

2025

Course Catalogue:

https://unich.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/af/2025?co...

Date/time interval

Terzo Quadrimestre (25/03/2026 - 08/06/2026)

Course Objectives

The course contributes to the achievement of the educational objectives of the Degree Course by providing students with theoretical knowledge and fundamental methodological tools to understand and analyze the main research themes in the discipline and in related ones. Specifically, students must have acquired:
theoretical foundations of qualitative and quantitative research methodology; ability to critically address the problems related to research and to effectively communicate their reflections and/or discoveries.
Expected learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding:
Acquire a complete framework for understanding the scientific approach; acquire theoretical foundations and useful methodological knowledge and understand the results of scientific discoveries in a critical manner.
Applied knowledge and understanding:
Practical application of some research tools for the investigation of human behavior.
Autonomy of judgment:
Acquisition of the ability to compare different scientific results.
Basic knowledge of scientific rigor criteria.
Communication skills:
Ability to present acquired knowledge through scientific presentations.
Learning skills:
Develop critical thinking skills on scientific results.

Course Prerequisites

The course does not require specific prerequisites.

Teaching Methods

The course is delivered online and combines different teaching approaches that align with the expected learning outcomes. The main methods include: Classroom lectures, aimed at presenting theoretical frameworks and key concepts, and providing a structured overview of the course content; Practical sessions and data analyses, to help students apply their knowledge and develop analytical and critical thinking skills; Seminars with invited speakers, offering in-depth exploration of specific topics and opportunities to engage with researchers; Optional activities (e.g. workshops, project work, fieldwork) may be offered during the semester and will be announced in class or through the e-learning platform. Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended, as active participation in the various learning activities greatly supports the achievement of the course’s intended learning outcomes.

Assessment Methods

Student learning is assessed through a written exam consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options, only one of which is correct. The questions cover the entire course syllabus. The exam is graded on a 30-point scale. The final score is based on the number of correct answers. The passing threshold is set at 18 out of 30. Incorrect or unanswered questions do not result in penalties. The test is designed to distinguish different levels of competence, in alignment with the expected learning outcomes. Exam time is 30 min. Students can complete the exam with an oral integration, which can be also required by the professor. For attending students, midterm assessments (parziali) or early exam sessions (pre-appelli) may be offered during the semester.

Texts

- Gnisci, A. e Pedon, A. (2016). Metodologia della ricerca psicologica (seconda edizione). Il Mulino. Chapters 2-7.
- Research program guidelines (e.g. Office, Qualtrics, Google, SPSS)

This course will focus on the following core topics:
- The research process,
- Communication, principles and examples of research,
- Descriptive research methods,
- Experiments and quasi-experiments,
- Measurement instruments,
- Research programs (e.g. Office, Qualtrics, Google, SPSS).