Coursework: April 2026 study session

BSc Psychology
Module: PL3035 Research Project 2: Consolidation
Coursework: April 2026 study session
Submission Deadline: Monday 14th September 2026, 13:00 (UK Time)
• Please Note: You are permitted to upload your Coursework in the final submission
area as many times as you like before the deadline. You will receive a
similarity/originality score which represents what the Turnitin system identifies as
work similar to another source. The originality score can take over 24 hours to
generate, especially at busy times e.g. submission deadline.
• If you upload the wrong version of your Coursework, you are able to upload the
correct version of your Coursework via the same submission area. You simply need to
click on the ‘submit paper’ button again and submit your new version before the
deadline. In doing so, this will delete the previous version which you submitted and
your new updated version will replace it. Therefore your Turnitin similarity score
should not be affected. If there is a change in your Turnitin similarity score, it will be
due to any changes you may have made to your Coursework.
• If, for whatever reason, you have issues uploading your assignment to the dedicated
submission link on the VLE, you must immediately log an enquiry with University of
London through your Student Portal and attach your assignment to that enquiry.
• Please note, when the due date is reached, the version you have submitted last, will
be considered as your final submission and it will be the version that is marked.
• Once the due date has passed, it will not be possible for you to upload a different
version of your assessment. Therefore, you must ensure you have submitted the
correct version of your assessment which you wish to be marked, by the due date.
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Coursework Brief:
The Research Project 2: Consolidation module is assessed entirely through coursework
(there is no exam). The Research Project (or Research Proposal) counts for 100% of your
grade and must follow the structured format provided. Templates and guidance notes are
available in the Assessment section of the VLE.
Producing your final year research project is a central requirement of your psychology
degree. This assignment allows you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have
acquired throughout your studies and to showcase how you have applied them to a real
world research problem. You will develop critical thinking, research design, and data analysis
skills, as well as a clear understanding of the ethical considerations involved in research. This
prepares you for future academic or professional work as an independent researcher.
The report must follow current APA style. Tables and figures should be included within the
main body of the text at the appropriate points, not at the end of the report.
Report Structure
The report is made up of the following sections. The headings and subheadings listed must
be included. Some suggested subsections are also provided (shown in italics).
Title Page
Include:
• Student ID number (not your name)
• Full project title
• Module title and code
• Word count
• Statement of contribution
Statement of Contribution
Clearly state which work you carried out (e.g., hypothesis formation, recruitment, data
collection, analyses, interpretation). Indicate whether each element was completed
independently or jointly with supervisors or other researchers.
Abstract
• For quantitative projects: use a structured abstract with the headings Background,
Aims, Method, Results, Conclusion.
• For qualitative projects: you may omit any headings that are not relevant.
Although APA style does not normally include headings in abstracts, you must include them
here.
Introduction
A strong introduction engages the reader with the research problem and sets the context for
the study. It should establish why the topic is important, situate the study in relation to
current knowledge, and highlight prior theoretical and empirical work. It is not necessary to
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review every study, but the most relevant and recent literature should be included, with
proper credit to other researchers.
The introduction should conclude with a clear statement of the overarching research
question.
Depending on your design, you may also include research aims, hypotheses, or propositions.
If you present more than one hypothesis or proposition, number them clearly.
Method
Describe your study in sufficient detail for replication (i.e., so another researcher could
reproduce it exactly).
This section will vary depending on your study. Possible subsections include (depending on
your design):
Design
Provide a concise overview of your study type (e.g. experimental, survey, qualitative, or
secondary analysis
Participants
Describe sampling and recruitment methods, inclusion or exclusion criteria, sample size, and
dropouts (those excluded after data collection and why). Participant characteristics (e.g.,
age, gender) should be reported in the Results, not here.
Materials or Measures
Describe what was used in the study. For questionnaires, include the instrument name, its
main features, response type, example items, scoring method (e.g., mean or sum scores),
possible range, and reliability evidence if available.
Procedure
Describe exactly what happened in the study. Include consent, randomisation or matching,
the tasks participants completed, how data were collected, and any debriefing procedures.
For qualitative projects, you must explain how recordings were pseudonymised and
anonymised during transcription, coding, and analysis.
Statistical Analysis
Most projects will contain a short explanation of the statistical analysis techniques used in
the study. This should clarify the statistical techniques used and justify the choice of
methods, demonstrating the rigour of the analysis, and providing a framework for
interpreting the results.
• For quantitative projects, you should also summarise what data cleaning, if any, was
undertaken and how much (%) data was lost as a result (i.e., ‘missing data’).
• For qualitative projects, you should also describe how data were collected and
transcribed, and the type of analysis framework that was used.
Results
Do not include raw, unsummarised data or any identifying material. Structure your Results
according to the conventions of your study design.
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Sections may include:
• Participant Characteristics: number, age, gender, etc. Include a table if appropriate.
Test for group differences where relevant.
• Summary of Main Data: e.g., means, standard deviations, correlations, reliability.
• Inferential Analyses: directly test your hypotheses. Use hypotheses as subheadings if
helpful. Avoid including irrelevant analyses.
• Qualitative Analyses: describe data organisation, present themes, provide
supporting quotations.
Tables and Figures
Use tables and figures (i.e. charts, graphs and pictures) to display the most important
results from your main analyses.
• Maximum of 5 in the Results section.
• Number consecutively and cite in-text.
• Each must stand alone with a clear take-home message.
Discussion
Must include:
• A clear statement of support or non-support for each hypothesis.
• Explanations for findings (including null results).
• Critical interpretation of results, considering:
o Bias, validity threats, measurement issues
o Adequacy of sample and statistical power
o Overlap among tests or multiple comparisons
o Note: These critical reflections are suggestions rather than a comprehensive
or mandatory list.
Strengths and Limitations
• For quantitative projects, consider issues of generalisability, ecological validity, and
sampling validity, noting any challenges (e.g., missing data, dropouts) and how these
were managed.
• For qualitative projects, consider transferability rather than generalisability, reflect
on ecological validity (authenticity of context and responses), and address sampling
limitations. Note challenges such as recruitment or achieving data saturation and
how these were overcome.
• Note: These strengths and limitations are suggestions rather than a comprehensive
or mandatory list.
Implications
• Reflect on conceptual, methodological, and practical significance.
• Suggest directions for future research, policy and/or practice where relevant.
Conclusion
• Summarise the overall conclusions (broader than results).
• Relate clearly back to the title and research question.
• Highlight key next steps or implications.
Note: If you find material that does not fit into these sections, it is unlikely to be relevant and
should be removed.
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References
Follow APA style. No maximum, but 20–40 is recommended.
Appendices
Include material that is too detailed for the main body.
Mandatory appendices:
• A link to your UoL-provided OSF section, which must:
1. Be private (not public)
2. Be set to Germany-Frankfurt storage
3. Contain three components: Data, Data analysis plan, Participant
information
4. Be the OSF section set up for you by UoL (not one you created yourself)
5. Contain all specified UOL contributors (as explained in the module
information on the VLE)
Optional content (where relevant):
Otherwise, it is your decision to determine which information to include in the main body of
your report, OSF, or appendices. Consider the most effective and efficient way to present
your findings to your reader.
• Raw qualitative data
• Extra tables
• Questionnaires or other research instruments
• Stimuli or materials used
• Extracts from interview transcripts
Assessment Criteria:
Please refer to Appendix D of the Programme Regulations for detailed Assessment Criteria.
AND
Please ensure that you also refer to the specific marking criteria for this module, as these
are an important supplement to the general marking criteria. The specific marking criteria
can be found on the main page of the Assessment section.
Plagiarism:
This is cheating. Do not be tempted and certainly do not succumb to temptation. Plagiarised
copies are invariably rooted out and severe penalties apply. All assignment submissions are
electronically tested for plagiarism. More information may be accessed via: Assessment
offences and cheating | University of London
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Artificial Intelligence (AI):
For BSc Psychology Programme specific guidance on the permitted usage of AI as a
supportive tool, please refer to the coursework coversheet, which can be located
alongside this assessment brief on your module VLE assessment area.
In addition, the following guidance is provided in sections 7.1 & 7.9 of the University of
London General Regulations 2025-26:
7.1
All work which you submit for assessment must be your own, expressed in your own words
and include your own ideas and judgements. By submitting work for assessment you confirm
that the work is entirely your own, that you have acknowledged the work of other people
within your submission, in line with our requirements, and that you understand what is
meant by plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, contract cheating and research misconduct.
7.9
Except in cases where their use is explicitly required or permitted for a particular
assessment, submitting work which has been generated by software, or derived from
prompts or queries provided to any third-party service, including use of Large Language
Model/Generative AI/AI chatbots, either in full or part, is an Assessment offence. Where
usage is permitted for an assessment, the use of these tools should be appropriately
acknowledged.
Coursework Coversheet:
A coursework coversheet can be located alongside this coursework brief in the assessment
area of your module VLE.
Please ensure that you complete the fields for ‘student number’ and ‘word count’on the
first page, and the table on second page with check boxes and free type fields in relation
to the declaration of AI usage.
Please ensure that you attach the COMPLETED coversheet to your submitted work. Failure
to submit a completed coversheet with your work will result in a 5 mark deduction.
Penalties for exceeding the word count:
What counts towards the word count
• Included: the main body of text, in-text citations, references within the text,
quotations, headings, and subheadings.
• Not included: cover page, title, abstract, tables and figures (and their captions),
reference list, and appendices.
• Footnotes are not allowed.
Limits for different sections
• Title: maximum of 20 words.
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• Abstract: maximum of 250 words.
• Appendices: maximum of 2,000 words.
• Tables and figures: up to five in total (in any combination of tables/figures).
Extra allowance for qualitative or mixed-methods projects
• You may use up to 1,000 additional words in the Results section to present data
excerpts.
• These 1,000 words do not count towards the 5,000-word main limit.
• On the title page, clearly state the total count, e.g., “Total word count: 4,999 (plus 800
additional words in Results)”.
• This extra allowance is optional; you may be able to present your excerpts within
5,000 words.
Full submission instructions are included in the VLE with coursework submission forms. There
are penalties for exceeding the specified word count.
• The maximum word limit for the assignment is 5000 words ± 10%.
• You MUST state an accurate word count on the coversheet and at the end of your
work. If you do not state an accurate word count your mark will be reduced by 5
marks. Please note that failure to submit a word count and coversheet is a
maximum 5 mark deduction (not 10 marks).
• If you exceed the word limit, we will reduce the mark you receive as follows:
Excess number of words over the word
limit
Penalty applied
Up to and including 10%
More than 10% up to and including 20%
5 marks deducted from original mark
10 marks deducted from original mark
More than 20%
10 marks deducted from the original mark.
The updated mark will be capped at a
maximum of 40%.
End of Brief
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