Behavioural Science MSc
Experimental Design and Methods for Behavioural Science ECON5144
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: Adam Smith Business School
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
The course covers concepts, methods and principles for learning how to design and implement experimental projects either in a real word setting or in laboratories. Additionally, the course will focus on experimental good practices, ethical concerns, transparency and reproducibility of experimental research.
Timetable
Lectures: 5 x 2-hours (in teaching weeks 1-5)
Workshops: 3 x 1-hour
Tutorials: 2 x 1-hour
On campus.
Excluded Courses
None.
Co-requisites
None.
Assessment
1. Report; Individual; 550 words; 30%; ILOs 3-4.
2. Degree exam: in-person; Individual; 90 minutes; 70%; ILOs 1-2.
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
The course aims to:
- introduce the main concepts and techniques for conducting various types of experiments on human behaviour, from the experimental design up to its implementation.
- present students with the following topics: elements of an experiment, types of research design, causality, differences between online, lab and field experiments, pre-analysis, power analysis, pre-registration, ethical approval form, reproducibility, and transparency.
- provide students with the theoretical toolbox to allow them to develop their experimental studies in their academic and non-academic futures.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Compare and analyse the different types of experimental research design.
2. Develop and convert an idea into research questions and formulated hypotheses.
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply for a justifiable ethical approval of an experiment.
4. Compose experiment pre-registration form