Environmental Psychology Research - Study Design and Methods
Miljöpsykologisk forskning: studiedesign och metod

AAM005F, 7.5 credits

Valid from: Spring 2012
Decided by: FN3/Per Tunestål
Date of establishment: 2013-08-26

General Information

Division: Architecture
Course type: Third-cycle course
Teaching language: English

Aim

The course will provide knowledge about how quantitative, qualitative and mixed study designs and methods are applied in environmental psychology research, and how different methods of data collection are applied within the study designs. A further aim is to strengthen the student's understanding of the relationship between study design, research question, methodology, execution, and results presentation. The course therewith aims to provide a base for the student's own doctoral work as well as for further research in environmental psychology.

Goals

Knowledge and Understanding

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• To pass the course students must
• - Show a general orientation of various study designs in the research field of environmental psychology
• - Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods used in environmental psychology studies
• - Demonstrate an understanding of how the study design and methods relate to each other
• - Demonstrate an understanding of how different methods can be used in parallel or simultaneously in a study

Competences and Skills

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• To pass the course students must
• - Be able to describe the study design and methods of their doctoral project or the research of others based on established concepts
• - Constructively formulate and discuss the choice of study design and research methods in their own and other doctoral projects

Judgement and Approach

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• To pass the course students must
• - Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of study design and methodology for the results of published research studies
• - Be able to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of methods used in their own PhD project

Course Contents

Relevant study designs, methods for data collection and analyses within environmental psychology are presented. Thematic seminars cover methods used within the field of environmental psychology for the study of physical and social environment, human activity and individual differences important to human response to the environment. Published studies within students' own research areas are discussed with regard to the relation between research question choice of design, method, and presentation of results.

Course Literature

Robson, C.: Real world research, 3rd ed.. Wiley, UK, 2011.
Additional literature selected in collaboration with the teachers.

Instruction Details

Types of instruction: Seminars, exercises

Examination Details

Examination formats: Seminars given by participants, miscellaneous. The participants read and present orally course literature in thematic seminars.
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner:

Admission Details

Admission requirements: Ph D students or similar
Assumed prior knowledge: MSc

Course Occasion Information

Contact and Other Information

Course coordinator: Eja Pedersen <eja.pedersen@arkitektur.lth.se>