Critical Analysis of Psychological Research II: Delivering a Course for Inclusion in the Core Curriculum for Psychology

Abstract

It was argued in a previous paper (Barber, 2002) that first degree programmes in psychology are at present unlikely to enable students to acquire the critical thinking skills needed to appraise the research literature of the subject. The inclusion of a course in critical analysis of psychological research is therefore proposed, preferably at a stage in a psychology degree programme when a robust and mature commitment to the subject can be assumed. In the present paper, the proposal is made in concrete form, with aims and objectives, an outline timetable and a method of formal assessment. This is based on a final-year course of long standing in which students learn about the critical evaluation of published research papers. Practical details of this course and some issues that may arise in the conduct of such a course are described. Comments and feedback regarding the existing course are reported. It is argued that this type of provision should be part of any core curriculum in psychology.