This module builds on Investigating psychology 2 and takes a critical and creative approach to methodology in psychology with a substantive empirical project. Experimentation, survey methodology and text-based qualitative analyses (discourse analysis and phenomenological analysis) are explored through the topics of memory, language, creativity, personality, child development, emotions, and relationships. These topics are also used to present research in the core domains of biological, cognitive, developmental, individual differences and social psychology. In addition, quantitative and qualitative methods are taught. You can express a preference for the method to be used in your independent project: text-based analysis, experimentation, or survey.
What you will study
This module gives you the opportunity to carry out an independent research project with specialist supervision. To facilitate this, you are strongly encouraged to engage with an online activity that outlines the broad options available for the independent project. This takes place before the module begins and is designed to help you decide on your preferences. At the start of the module, you can record these preferences, which will be used to allocate you an appropriate tutor.
During the first half of the module, the interactive online study guide leads you, week by week, through an exploration of the key methods used in psychological research, investigating how the diversity of methods originated and how psychology relates to both social and natural sciences.
You'll examine how experimentation, survey and text-based methods are used and consider the kind of psychological knowledge that each method generates. This includes:
the use of experimentation in memory research and how it relates to clinical research, such as brain imaging, will also be reviewed
how attitudes and beliefs about the way children learn and develop relate to our practices in child rearing and education.
how surveys are used in personality research and in assessing creativity
phenomenological analysis, and how it can be used to explore our experiences of the world and ourselves
discourse analysis and how this method helps us to appreciate and analyse the socially constructed nature of the world around us, including psychological phenomena.
Experiments and surveys produce data that can be analysed using statistics, and this module builds on the statistical techniques introduced in Investigating psychology 1 and 2. The methods also lend themselves to the use of software, and you will be introduced to professional-grade packages that allow you to produce experimental procedures and questionnaires as well as to collect data in a straightforward and accurate manner.
The second part of the module is your opportunity to carry out your own psychological investigation. Under the close supervision of your tutor, you'll design and build a study, considering procedural and ethical issues. You'll collect your data, carry out the appropriate analysis and report your findings as a research report. You'll also participate in other students' projects, which will deepen your appreciation of how psychological data are generated.
Throughout this process, you'll be well supported, but we stress that this is your project, and you'll be expected to take responsibility for it. In our experience, many students find the independent project to be the most satisfying part of the degree.
Entry requirements
This module is not available for standalone study; it can only be studied as part of a qualification. Normally, you should have successfully completed Investigating psychology 2 (DE200) (now discontinued) before you study this module.
DE300 can only be studied at the same time as other modules in Stage 3 of a qualification or as the last module to complete your degree.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
marking your assignments and offering detailed feedback to help you improve
providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
guiding you to additional learning resources
facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated forums.
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Assessment
Course work includes:
5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA)
End-of-module assessment
What's included
You'll be provided with a textbook, statistical analysis software (SPSS) and access to the module website, which includes:
a week-by-week study guide and planner
interactive activities and materials
audio and video content
step-by-step statistical analysis guides
online tutorials and forums
assessment guides
links for further independent study.
Access to specialist software (Gorilla, Qualtrics, NVivo and SONA) to aid experimental, survey and qualitative projects, and to facilitate participant recruitment will also be made available through the module website.
Computing requirements
Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer with at least 8 GB of RAM, a quad-core processor (2.4 GHz minimum speed) and 3GB of free hard drive space. The screen must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
Operating systems – 64-bit version of Windows 11 or the latest supported macOS to install and run the SPSS Statistics software. Devices running the Linux-based Chrome OS will not be able to install or run this software.
Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.
Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
Software – You will be provided with the SPSS Statistics program.
If you have a disability
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying DE300 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Future availability
Investigating psychology 3 starts twice a year – in February and October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026 and February 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in February 2028.