Resources, Tech

Equipment guide – Voice recorders

Olympus VN712pc

The lab has a number of Olympus VN-712PC voice recorders which can be borrowed. They are very simple to use and give good quality recordings for interviews and focus groups.

They run on AAA batteries which we supply you with (battery life is around 70 hours). We can supply you with additional memory, but most people find the built in memory is fine – allowing between 131 and 823 hours depending on the quality setting. We can provide you with a USB cable that you can use to download your recordings to your computer, or Joe the psychology technician can put your recordings onto a USB stick if you’d prefer.

Download the user manual here.

If you would like to book one please speak to Joe the psychology technician, who will also make sure you are comfortable using it before booking it out to you.

Guidance, Resources

SPSS and research methods help

Getting started with data analysis

If you’re just getting started with your data analysis, we’re happy to help. The video below goes through a number of steps you need to complete before you can carry out your analysis with SPSS:

Topics covered: 

01:56    Downloading your Qualtrics data
02:55    Cleaning the dataset
05:40    Reverse scoring
13:40    Computing scores
16:42    Defining randomised conditions
22:11    Next steps 

Multiple regression, moderation and mediation

Topics covered: 

00:01:07    Downloading and installing `Process` 
00:04:50    Multiple regression & data screening
00:35:06    Moderation
00:56:50    Mediation
01:11:03    Summary

Remember that the SS511 Psychological Research Methods area on StudentCentral also contains a wealth of resources for data analysis.

If you’re still struggling, get in touch with us!

We also have some additional films to help entering data, coding variables and carrying out statistical tests. You might need to enter your university login and password.

If you are struggling with research methods or SPSS it is much better to get help early on rather than waiting until exam or data analysis time, letting all the questions mount up, getting more and more confused – and finally realising you’ve got a mountain to climb and no more time. No question is too silly – often the questions you think are the silliest are the most useful ones to get clear in your head early on.

Want SPSS on your own computer?

Guidance, Interesting studies

Thinking about what dissertation to do?

Don’t worry if you’re stuck! I’ll be posting some guides before term starts about what the psychology lab can offer you in terms of dissertation support (stats support, equipment and facilities) which will also aim to give you an idea of the types of dissertations this will help you to think up.

In the meantime one suggestion I’d make if you’re stuck for inspiration is to go over the BPS Research Digest with a fine tooth comb, and subscribe to the newsletter! This is a really excellent resource with interesting cutting-edge research which you could think about developing further or taking in a new direction. If you scroll to the bottom of the screen in the BPS Research Digest, the categories allow you to select your area of interest. There are also links to more blogs with lots of ideas. Good luck!

Events

BUDS 2015 film

BUDS (the Brighton Undergraduate Dissertation Showcase) is a conference organised by SASS for final year students to present their dissertations to second years. More background can be found here.

Click on the image below for a short film about the event, which features interviews with some of the attendees and presenters. I hope this will encourage first, second and third year students to attend! For first and second years it really is an excellent way to get a feel for dissertations from those who really know, and for third years it gives you an opportunity to develop skills in presenting your findings – all of the students in the film thought it was a great experience, after they had finished!

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Facilities, Resources

Supporting the Transforming Sexuality and Gender Research Cluster

The Transforming Sexuality and Gender Research cluster brings together a cross-college group of researchers who are conducting research related to LGBTQ lives; sex, sexuality and health; gender and sexuality in childhood; promoting transformative research the use of participatory and creative methods.

The research cluster has funded the Creative Methods Lab and also a range of creative and visual methods resources, which include Lego and a wide range of craft materials. The cluster has funded GoPro cameras, wearable cameras, movable cameras, a BlackMagic Cinema camera, and a suite of image and movie editing software and hardware. Details of some of the equipment can be found here. Members of the cluster can obtain further information about exactly what is available and book the equipment by contacting the technicians.

Events, Resources

PhD students and researchers – Creative Methods in Sexuality and Gender Workshop

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The lab is purchasing some new cinema-quality camcorders and accessories that can be booked by psychology staff and students. If they arrive in time, I’ll be using these to record this workshop here at the Falmer campus, on 3 July. If you are  a PhD student or researcher in the field you might like to attend, it looks really interesting! If you would like to sign up or obtain more details please click here. Here is the description of the workshop:

“Want to explore beyond well-used methods that reproduce well-established stories about sex, gender, sexuality and relating? Fancy yourself doing modelling, bad sex writing or as a deep thinker, visual artist or ‘craftivist’?  Read on!

Creative research methods can yield narratives different from and phenomenologically richer than interviews, focus groups and surveys. When doing public engagement and dissemination, creative methods can help people think differently about sex, gender, sexuality and relations/relating to challenge popular/media representations.

Having been successfully hosted by the Open University, University of Manchester and Coventry University this half-day FREE event is hosted by the University of Brighton.”

Events

Alternative evening out – discussing the Human Rights Act

The School of Law, Politics and Sociology at the University of Sussex is holding its next “Sussex Salon” entitled “Who’s afraid of the Human Rights Act?” on 16 June at the Brighton Dome – an alternative evening out with an opportunity to participate in a discussion with a panel of experts. The evening will explore why critics argue that the 1998 Act is “insufficiently British”, ask what a proposed Conservative British Bill of Rights would look like, and consider what it would mean to lose the Human Rights Act altogether.

The panel includes Dr Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, Senior Consultant Constitutional Affairs Policy Exchange, Dr Charlotte Skeet, Sussex Law School, Paul Bowen QC Brick Court Chambers and Bella Sankey, Director of Policy for Liberty.

Tickets include a glass of wine and cost £7 (or £5 for concessions). For more information and to buy tickets please see this page.

Events

Students – want to earn money helping on the Falmer open day?

Please see below! If you’re interested you need to contact Karen Richards before Friday 29th May to apply (k.b.richards(at)brighton.ac.uk)…

Dear Student,

We would like to invite you to work in July and earn some extra money for the summer break as a student helper at the University of Brighton Falmer Open Day.

Please review the information below, and if you would like to work on this date contact me (Karen Richards) before Friday 29th May to confirm your availability, course and phone number. The student recruitment team will confirm with you, shortly after this date, if and when you are required to work. These details will include your allocated role and any additional information that may be required.

The Falmer Open Day will take place on Saturday 11 July for Education, SASS, HUMS, Paramedic Practice, Nursing.

Working Hours: c. 08:30 – 17:00 (roles vary)

Pay: Under six hours: £8.42/hour

Lunch: 30mins if working 6 hours (please bring/purchase food)

Dress: Blue University of Brighton T-shirt (we will provide this if we haven’t already issued you with one)

Eligibility: Must have / be applying for a National Insurance Number (students can apply at http://www.direct.gov.uk/) Must have the right to work in the UK.

Due to the nature of Open Days, we would ask that students remain flexible. Though we will endeavour to guarantee the hours above where possible, there may be times when you are asked to finish your shift early, undertake a different role or be offered the opportunity for additional hours depending on demand over the course of the day.

Karen Richards

 

 

Events

BUDS 2015

BUDS is the Brighton Undergraduate Dissertation Showcase, an annual conference open to all Level 5 and 6 students in SASS. Final year students get to experience presenting their findings to a large audience and fielding questions, other level 6 students get to experience an academic conference first hand and ask questions, and level 5 students get to learn about what a dissertation entails, from those with the most up-to-date experience!

This year, BUDS 2015 is on Wednesday 20th May 2015. We’ve got a record number of 18 fabulous speakers, covering a huge range of different topics! The conference will be in three parts with three sessions running in parallel during each part.

If you are a Level 5 or Level 6 SASS student, and even if you are presenting, you must register for BUDS 2015. Firstly, please take a look at the conference abstracts by clicking here. Choose one session from the red part, one sessionfrom the blue part and one session from the green part and then click here to register your details and session choices. You can also tell us about any specific dietary needs you have, as food and drink will be laid on too!

We hope to see you there!Brighton Undergraduate Dissertation Showcase