HP3102 Methods in Research Synthesis

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills to systematically synthesise existing research to address focused questions in psychology and the social sciences. You will learn how to formulate well-structured research questions, design and execute reproducible literature searches across multiple academic databases, and critically select relevant evidence from both academic and grey literature.

Through hands-on training, you will gain proficiency in using industry-standard tools such as Zotero, Rayyan, and Covidence to manage references, document screening decisions, and extract and organise data for synthesis.

The course is particularly suited for students preparing to undertake an honours thesis, pursue postgraduate studies, or work in research-driven environments where rigorous evidence appraisal and synthesis are essential. Step-by-step guidance and scaffolded practice will enable you to develop methodological competence and analytical insight, producing work aligned with international standards for transparency and reproducibility.

By the end of the course, you will possess transferable research skills valued in academia, policy analysis, consultancy, and professional practice, and be prepared to contribute meaningfully to evidence-informed decision-making in your chosen field.