Syllabusps261Spring2007.doc.
Research Methods in Psychology PS261
Spring 2007
W. H. Jack
Visit: Http://www.New-Hampshire.net/college for more information
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Research Methods is a “gateway” course
that enables you to use the knowledge you have gained in Introduction to
Psychology and in Behavioral Statistics to perform research in psychology.
You will gain additional skill in the use of statistics, data analysis,
theory building, APA report writing and laboratory work . This laboratory course provides you with
many opportunities to perform laboratory experiments and write appropriate
papers about those experiments. |
1) Attendance: Attendance is required for class and
lab. Failure to comply may result in
your being counseled out of the course.
2) Tests: There will be about 6 tests
including the final exam*. Each test
will be approximately equal in point value.
Your lowest test grade is dropped if you take all tests. If you miss one test, that test is
considered your lowest grade. If you
miss a second test that test is graded as an F.
* If there are
7 or more tests, the lowest two test
grades are dropped assuming you take all the tests.
Due to the drop option there will be no makeup tests. If you have a good reason for not being able
to attend a test, I may reschedule the test for the entire class assuming you
let me know of conflicts well in advance of the test. Illness, sports, etc. are
not excuses for missing a test. The drop option is there to help you in the
event of unavoidable absence.
Late papers will have a penalty of 1 grade increment
per class. A paper which is handed in after the class when it is due will receive
the late penalty.
Tests are generally
essay and/or statistical in format.
3) Grades: About 25% of your grade comes from your laboratory
reports and related work. Five percent is participation. The remainder is based
on your test performance.
4)
Any written work (other than statistical computations or tests) must be in APA format.
5)
Computers are used in this course. SPSS Openstat4 and/or Excel are used for statistical
analysis and some of the
experiments
will be run using computers. Students are expected to understand elementary
statistics and will experience more advanced statistics suitable for use in the
experiments that we perform.
6)
You will receive many handouts for use in lab and in class. If you miss a class
be sure to check and see what handouts you may have missed. Put the handouts in
the appropriate sections of your three ring binder. You need to bring your
three ring binder to class as we refer to it frequently.
Initial assignment (due next class):
a)
Review everything you covered in statistics.
b)
Bring your APA manual to the next class.
c)
get your text books d) Use a 3 ring binder for your notes. Divide the binder
into “class notes, lab notes; statistics
handouts; and other”
e) send an e-mail to:
.
7)
Second assignment (due by the third class): a) Go
to the library (or go to library.fpc.edu) and do a search using the ELECTRONIC
VERSION of Psychological Abstracts (Psych Info). Search for articles about
“delayed auditory feedback.” Try doing
a few other searches on psychological subjects of interest to you.
Note: You may be
able to do this search using your own computer even if you are off campus. Go
to http://library.fpc.edu. Then, click on “e-databases.” Click on EbscoHost. Click on “On Campus” or
“Off Campus” near the top of the page. Log in if you need to do so (off campus
people must log in. Select PsychINFO 1887-Current. [More advanced users
– note that there are a number of sources available. If you select more than
one source to search at a time your search may not be as effective due to the
different key wording systems used by various databases. If you are doing an Education related search
be sure to look at ERIC as well as Psych Info.] Now select the Psych Info “radio box”
and click on Enter. Try doing a few
searches on some specific topics you care about. Note that you need to go down
about ten lines on the search page and select “Professional” under the Intended
Audience “drop bar”. You need to do this
to eliminate non-scholarly works from
the search.
Search topics
will be assigned in the second class unless you find a good search topic on
your own.. Make a printout of the
citation and abstract from your electronic search. Find the three most relevant JOURNAL ARTICLES WE
HAVE IN OUR LIBRARY OR AVAILABLE IN FULL TEXT FROM OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM. Copy one of these journal articles and bring
it into class. Do NOT use someone else's
work. Do your own search and copy the journal article yourself. Look at the list of Journals that is
available from the circulation desk so you can note the titles we have in
psychology. This will help you when
selecting articles. The articles must be EXPERIMENTS (These
will have an abstract, as well as introduction, method, results, and discussion
sections.
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TOPICS FOR SEARCH ARE ASSIGNED IN THE SECOND CLASS MEETING. |
SUGGESTED
TOPICS: kinesthesis);(perception pitch); (perception loudness); (perception olfaction);
(perception size);(perception binocular); (perception monocular); (perception
sound localization); (learning serial); (learning motor); (learning recall);
(short term memory); (long term memory); (learning
rats);
(learning pigeons); (telepathy);(clairvoyance);(ganzfield);(development digit
span); (psychophysics); (delayed
reinforcement); (reward reinforcement);
(social learning); (learning aversive); (learning human); (perception faces);
(perception pain); (sleep brain)
6)
The course content depends on your level of competence in statistics. As soon
as possible, we will shift our emphasis from statistics to research design,
writing reports, and "hands on" research. Assignments will be given
well in advance. Coverage in this course
varies from term to term in order to address the needs of the students taking
the course. We will conduct several small experiments and will make
considerable use of the computer as a research tool.
FIRST
CLASS
I.Course
introduction and general information. Get your text books immediately.
II.
What you should expect from the course.
III.
Simple review of statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, normal
curve, graphing, etc.)
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Obtain a calculator that has exponential
notation. This should be your OWN
calculator – not a borrowed calculator. |
COURSE OUTLINE
I. This course is normally taken in the Spring
of the Sophomore year. Prerequisites are introduction to psychology and
statistics. In this course students are
initially drilled on basic statistics and quickly proceed to an advanced
undergraduate level of statistical expertise. .
Research report writing, conducting a variety of psychology experiments,
and gaining skills in research
methodology are integral with the statistics
theme which recurs within the course.
II. STATISTICAL "PACKAGE": Students
review basic concepts in probability and elementary
tests
such as chi square and T‑test.
They then learn to appropriately use a number of parametric and non‑parametric tests including but not
limited to: rank order and product‑moment correlation coefficients; analysis of variance up to and including
three variable analysis of variance., Schaefee’s S test, and the F
max test, and introductory use of multiple regression analysis will also be covered.
III. DESIGN "PACKAGE": Students will
read and conduct research which illustrates the techniques found in the
statistical package. They will gain at
least a rudimentary level of skill in designing experiments. A number of lectures will be devoted
specifically to types of experimental designs.
The advantages and pitfalls of each design will be explored.
IV. REPORT "PACKAGE": Students will be
given a number of typewritten exercises based on experiments they complete.
This process will teach students the
process of writing manuscripts
for
publication.
V. LABORATORY EXPERIENCE: The weekly lab
sessions will be used to combine the various "packages" into a
"hands‑on" series of research opportunities.
TEXTS: These are required
texts. – If you see a copy without the
disk complain to the bookstore personnel immediately. You need both of the
required texts by the second week of class.
American
Psychological Association Publication (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Salkind,
Neil J. (2006). Exploring
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Plagiarism will not be tolerated. The penalty for plagiarism is an F in the course and a report of the
incident to the Dean of Academic Affairs who may take additional action such
as suspension or expulsion from the college. See the student handbook, the
college catalog, and the library website for more information about
plagiarism. If you have any
doubts about this issue consult with your professor before turning in any
questionable work. |
Final note: There is no lab
during the first week of classes.
PS- Expect MANY handouts in this class. You need
to keep your notes and handouts in an orderly fashion. – Be sure to use a three ring binder.