Psychology 100—Intro to Psychology (3 units)



Psychology 301—Psych Res & Stats Methods II Laura Malakoff, Ph.D.

Spring 2011 e-mail: lauramalakoff@

Lecture (02) 1733 Monday 4:00-5:50 in 2515 BT Office hrs: MW 1:45-3:45

Section (03L) 1734 Monday 6:00-7:50 in BT 1716 Office: 2152 Sage Hall

Section (04L) 1735 Monday 8:00-9:50 in BT 1716

Overview

Psych 301 is a continuation of Psych 300 and will build on material presented in that course. The goal of this course is to provide you with a basic understanding of research methodology and a framework to evaluate social and behavioral science research. An additional goal is to expand and apply your understanding of basic biostatistical methods. Topics include: 1) how to apply the scientific method within the field of psychology and social sciences, ethical guidelines and issues related to the research in, and practice of, psychology; 2) how to evaluate research and popular claims in psychology with a critical eye; and 3) how statistical tools work, when they should be applied, and what types of information can be gained from their use in research. Applications will be stressed throughout the course. Lab assignments will provide you opportunities for practice of statistical techniques and experience with statistical software. Emphasis is on the fundamentals and assumptions, and less on calculations and mathematical theories.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this semester, you will be able to:

• Read, understand, and critically evaluate research reports published in psychological journals on the basis of its construct validity, internal validity, external validity, statistical validity, and conformity to APA’s ethical principles.

• Develop testable hypotheses derived from a theory.

• Identify and apply various research designs in new situations.

• Create and critique questionnaires/survey instruments.

• Design and conduct a well-controlled experiment.

• Identify which statistical analyses are appropriate for various experimental designs.

• Uses statistical software (SPSS) to analyze data.

• Interpret and draw conclusions from descriptive and inferential statistical analyses.

• Apply the experimental method to answer questions about behavior through participation in laboratory exercises and experiments.

• Develop necessary skills for an efficient review of the psychological literature using a computerized index (PsycINFO).

• Prepare written reports according the stylistic conventions of the American Psychological Association.

Expectations

Successful performance in this class requires regular attendance and a personal effort on your part. In registering this course, you have contracted with me to attend class regularly and keep up with readings and assignments. If you are absent 3 times during the semester, you may be dropped from the course. Please arrive and leave class on time

Students are responsible for reading the text material assigned before the class meets. This course is 15 weeks in duration; therefore, we will move at a quick pace. Try not to fall behind in the reading and homework assignments. If you have difficulty during the course, please see me or email me as soon as possible.

Educational researchers believe that for every hour that a student is in class, a minimum of 2 hours should be allocated for studying outside the class. Many students find it helpful to form small “study groups” to review the material and I urge you to do this if you feel it would be useful.

Drop Deadline

If you find it necessary to drop the course, you are expected to complete all appropriate paperwork with the Admission & Records Office by the drop deadline. After that date, a complete withdrawal is only allowed for serious and compelling reasons.

Texts and Materials

Jackson, S.L. (2006). Research methods and statistics: A critical thinking approach (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thompson/Wadsworth. (ISBN 978-0-495-51001-7) Yes, you need the newest edition.

Stanovich, K.E. (2010). How to think straight about psychology (9th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. 9780205685905 or 9780205685900 You can use an older edition if you like.

Stern, L. (2010) A Visual Approach to SPSS for Windows: A guide to SPSS 17.0 (2nd ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 0205706053

You will need 2 Scan-Tron answer sheets (Form #882). Bring the answer sheet, a piece of paper, and a #2 pencil to both tests. If you do not have these materials when tests are given, you will not receive credit for the test.

Course Requirements

Your final grade is based on the following:

• Midterm: 50 points

• Final: 35 points

• Lab Assignments: There are 5 lab assignments. (each lab assignment is worth 10 points for a total of 50 points) Labs can be handed in one week late for partial credit. Lab assignments will not be accepted more than 1 week late.

• Attendance: 10 points

• Quizzes There are 5 short quizzes in class and in lab (5 points each). The best 4 will count. Participation in research projects can substitute for one quiz. There are NO make-ups. 20 points

• Research Report and Presentation: 80 points This includes:

1. Research Proposal and IRB application (15 points)

2. Poster preparation, project presentation in a poster session at the end of the semester and work within your group (individual effort on the project) (25 points)

3. Quality (complexity, sophistication, and value) of the topic (10 points)

4. Data Collection, management, analyses and write up for the research manuscript (approximately 10 pages) (30 points)

Total: 245 points

Grading Standards Final grades will be assigned based on:

• 97-100 A+

• 93-96 A

• 90-92 A-

• 87-89 B+

• 83-86 B

• 80- 82 B-

• 77-79 C+

• 73-76 C

• 70-72 C-

• 67-69 D+

• 63-66 D

• 60-62 D-

• 0-59 F

I rarely adjust this standard at the end of the course, but I may adjust it depending on the distribution of scores students receive during the semester.

Course Website In addition to the text, the publisher maintains a web site that contains very helpful material pertaining to the course. The URL is Contained in the publisher’s web site is various activities and resources. I encourage you to take the practice quizzes.

Accommodations

Students who have disabilities or special needs and require accommodations in order to have equal access to classrooms must register with the designated staff member in Student Affairs in order for us to better accommodate special needs. Students will be required to provide documentation of a disability when accommodations are requested.

COURSE SCHEDULE: Psych 301

|Mon | |Readings |Lab/Assignment |

|January | 1: Intro—looking backwards and forwards | |Form Groups: Develop Research Topic |

|24 |Experimental Designs | |HW #1 distributed |

|Jan |2: Experimental Designs and t test reviewed |Jackson, Chapter 8 | |

|31 | | | |

|Feb |3: Experimental Designs and t test reviewed |Stan: Chapter 7 Jackson, Chapter 9 |HW #1 due |

|7 | |(225-240) |HW #2 distributed |

|Feb |4: Experimental Designs: One-way analysis of variance |Jackson, Chapter 10 |Lab Quiz 1 |

|14 |(ANOVA) |*Howell, Chapter 16 |Submit Initial Research Proposal |

| | | | |

|Feb |5: ANOVA’s continued |SPSS, Chapter 12 |If changed, submit revised Research |

|21 |Quiz #2 |Stan: Chapter 8 |Proposal |

| | | |Each group must conference with Prof. |

|Feb |6: Complex Experimental Designs Two-way analysis of |Jackson, Chapter 11 |Lab Quiz 3 |

|28 |variance |SPSS, Chapter 13 |HW #2 due |

| | |*Howell: Ch 17-18 |HW #3 distributed |

|March |7: Two-way ANOVAs continued | Stan: Chapter 9 |HW #3 due |

|7 | | |Submit student IRB application |

| | | |Write draft intro and methods section |

| | | |Review for midterm |

|March |Midterm | | |

|14 | | | |

|March 21 |Spring Break | | |

|March |8: Quasi-Experimental and Single-Case Designs |Jackson: Chapter 12 |HW #4 distributed |

|28 | | |Prepare instructions for participants;|

| | | |consent form |

|April |9: | | |

|4 | | | |

|April |10: Overview of Non-Parametric statistics |Jackson: Chapter 13 |HW #4 due |

|11 | |SPSS: Chapter 8 |Data Collection for Research Project |

| | |*Howell: Chapter 19 | |

|April 18 |11: APA style |Quiz 4 |HW #5 distributed |

| |Chi Square Goodness of Fit |Jackson: Chapter 13 |Data Collection for Research Project |

| | |Stan: Chapter 10 | |

|April |12: Chi Square Test of Independence |SPSS: Chapter 17 |Data Analysis for Research Project |

|25 |Multiple regression (briefly) |*Howell: Chapter 20 |Begin Poster |

| |Thanksgiving: Nov. 25 | | |

|May | 13: |Quiz 5 |Data Analysis for |

|2 | |Stan: Chapter 11 SPSS: Chapters |Research Project |

| | |15,16 |Write draft results section |

| | |*Howell, Ch 10,11 |Prepare Poster |

|May |14: Review for Final |Stan: Chapter 12 |HW #5 due |

|9 | | |Review for Final |

| | | |Finish poster |

| Friday, May 13 |Poster Presentations | |Research Report Due |

|5-7?? | | | |

|May |Final during lab (6-7:50 or 8-9:50) | | |

|16 | | | |

This schedule is subject to change.

* Optional—Howell’s text can be found on reserve in the library.

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