Corso di laurea in Scienze e Tecniche Psicologiche

The aim of the course is to let the students know the main methodological ways to conduct an empirical research in Psychology, with a special focus on quantitative data collection methods. For this aim, after an introduction on the research process procedure, lessons will deepen the epistemological and methodological differences between researches conducted using questionnaires and tests. Students will be introduced to Classical Test Theory and to the following issues: scaling, test validity, dimensionality and reliability. The course is aimed to put the students in a position to be able to demonstrate: To understand a research process and its data collection procedures; - to know how to select psychological measurement instruments appropriate to different application contexts; - to be able to read and to critically reflect on data collection procedures presented in psychological research papers.

At the end of the course, students should know:

-           Which are the main methodological ways to plan an empirical research in Psychology

-           The epistemological and methodological differences between researches conducted using tests or questionnaires

-           The concepts of reliability, dimensionality and validity of a psychological measurement instrument and the ways to test these properties

-           Scaling and scoring

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

-           Understand a scientific paper based on empirical data, especially as regards the Method section

-           Understand and apply norm-referenced tests

-           Understand the structure of a survey

-           Understand the planning of an empirical research

At the end of the course, students should be able to critically reflect on data collection procedures of published researches. Further, they should be able to understand and explain the reasons motivating methodological choices in research papers and, starting from a research question, they should be able to formulate empirically testable hypotheses and to propose appropriate data collection procedures.

Lessons will take place in presence (classroom S5, Palazzetto Aldo Moro). A video streaming will be available on Webex (see meeting links in the table below)

IMPORTANT UPDATES ON THE METHODS OF CONDUCTING THE EXAMINATIONS VIA TELEMATICS
In conjunction with the emergency COVID-19, and in compliance with the rectoral decree rep. 1097/2020 of 20/03/2020, the exams will be held in the manner indicated below:
written multiple answer test through the Moodle application and via the Webex platform.
Exams will be carried out on the dates already scheduled in the calendar.

Students enrolled in the exams will be notified via communication on the institutional email address, where they will be sent the link to the electronic exam.

Erasmus student's have to agree on a oral examination with the professors.  

The course covers the following topics:

-          empirical research in Psychology

-          principal data collection methods and techniques, with a special focus on quantitative methods

-          psychological tests: origin, development and characteristics

-          questionnaires: origin, development and characteristics

-          scaling and scoring

-          introduction to Classical Test Theory, validity, dimensionality and reliability of measurement instruments

Teaching will follow the time schedule below: 

Any textbook covering all the topics listed above (Course Program), agreed with the professor.

By appointment, with the agreement requested by e-mail (davide.marengo@unito.it; giorgia.molinengo@unito.it).