In methods and evaluation, students learn how to plan, conduct and analyse psychological studies. They also learn how to judge the quality of psychological studies and assess which conclusions can and cannot be drawn from a study.
Knowledge of methods and evaluation is required in many areas of later professional life.
Comprehensive knowledge of research planning and evaluation is required, for example, when evaluating measures, such as the effectiveness of a new therapy or the effect of a personnel development measure. It is only possible, to make meaningful and reliable statements about the effectiveness of a measure if studies are well planned, well conducted and correctly analysed. In practice, it is generally required that the effectiveness of a measure is proven before it is regulary implemented and financed.
Statistical knowledge is also required in diagnostics, which involves measuring the characteristics of individuals and assessing the accuracy of the measurement.
This plays a role in personnel selection, for example, where the competences, motivation and attitudes of applicants are to be measured. Other examples are the measurement of competences in school psychology or mental disorder in clinical psychology.
Knowledge of methods and evaluation is also required in all areas of psychological research. This can take place at universities, but also in economy (e.g. market research) or in state, policy-related institutions. Research provides new insights that form the basis for subsequent practical action and political decisions. It must be ensured that the research meets quality standards and that the results are reliable. However, knowledge of methods and evualtion is also important for practising psychologists in order to be able to assess the validity of study results and select the appropriate procedures for their own work.
