47.269  Research I:  Basics

Syllabus

Fall, 2009

 

Instructor

Doreen Arcus, Ph.D.

Materials released

Sunday 12:01 AM

Office

Mahoney 211 (Psych.)

Southwick 320 (Honors)

Office Hours

Mon   10:00-12:00

Thurs 1:00-2:00

Phone

978-934-4172 (Psych.)

978-934-2798 (Honors)

E-mail

 doreen_arcus@uml.edu

 

Please print for easy reference!

 

 

I Description

III Expectations

V Accommodations

VI Resources

II Goals

IV Participation

VI Grading

VII Schedule

 

 

I.  Course description

 

From the UML Course Catalogue: 

 

“An introductory course concentrating on the basics of scientific research in Psychology. Students will learn: how to acquire information from libraries and the internet; methods for collecting data, such as surveys, case studies, unobtrusive measures and observational procedures, in experimental, quasi-experimental and correlational designs; how to operationalize variables to create reliable and valid measures; to identify types of data and how to describe and graph data; the basics of hypothesis testing and statistical significance; how research is communicated in research reports using APA style. Attention will also be given to ethical issues in research with human and nonhuman subjects. Prerequisite: 47.101 or its equivalent. 3 credits” 

 

A final grade of C or better in Research I is a prerequisite for enrolling in Research II and Research III.  In other words, pursuing a Psychology major is dependent on performing at a C level or above in this course.  Note that BLA students (Bachelor of Liberal Arts) who have two areas of concentration may elect to have Psychology as one of them without completing the research sequence. 

 

So, why take this course?  Research is at the core of what Psychologists do.  It is a method for acquiring evidence that can be used to support practice or policy or inform us about human nature.  It is not without its limitations.  That is one of the most important reasons to understand research methods:  to be able to interpret the literature with respect to findings and limitations.

 

II.  Course Goals

 

When you have completed this course you should be able to:

 

·         Apply the scientific method to the formulation and refinement of research questions

·         Distinguish between primary and secondary sources

·         Identify empirical research articles and be able to search efficiently using standard databases such as PsycInfo

·         Evaluate the credibility of information available on electronic media

·         Apply principles of psychometrics for the assessment of validity and reliability to the selection and construction of research tools

·         Distinguish among experimental, correlational, and descriptive designs and apply them appropriately to research questions

·         Identify the strengths and limitations of major types of assessment (i.e., surveys, interviews, observation, physiology) and apply them to relevant research designs

·         Use operational definitions to describe psychological constructs and procedures

·         Identify the strengths and limitations of between- and within-subjects designs and apply those designs to relevant research questions

·         Use the appropriate descriptive statistics to describe the central tendency and variability of a body of data

·         Describe a research design using APA style to organize and cite information

·         Use these principles to critique the design of studies and identify whether conclusions are supported by the methods employed

·         Apply these principles to an original research design based on primary source empirical journal articles and employing an experimental manipulation.

 

You will find that this type of thinking, “What is the evidence?” translates into the types of critical thinking skills that will serve you well, not only in your psychology careers, but in reading the newspaper, engaging in conversation, watching movies, and listening to “talking heads.”

 

III.  Course Expectations

 

This is a blended course.  We meet once a week face to face in class and once a week in cyber space.  The materials that are posted for each week are your responsibility for that week’s class on Thursday.  Be prepared to come to class and actively discuss the material. 

 

I expect that you will keep up with the materials that are posted for you.  You can expect to spend at least 8 hours each week on this material, with significant variation depending on your personal learning style.  You must also have regular and extended access to a computer with internet connection in order to complete assigned work.  If you anticipate any problems with these expectations, you might re-think the appropriateness of taking this course at this time. 

 

You will have four assignments to complete.  We will use the online assignment drop box to submit assignments.

 

You will have three exams. The first two will focus on the material we have covered in the preceding unit and be given in class on Thursday.  The third will be a comprehensive final exam.  Note: All exams will be comprehensive in a sense since this material builds on what came before.

 

You will attend three research colloquia offered in the Psychology Department.  I encourage you to attend colloquia in person but you may also watch streaming video of the colloquia, which are posted at http://www.uml.edu/dept/psychology/colloquia.htm shortly after each talk is presented. For each research colloquium that you “attend,” you must complete a colloquium attendance form [located in 269 General Materials] and submit it via the assignment dropbox.  These are all due by our final class.

 

Note:  There is nothing wrong with doing them early rather than waiting until the last week of class when your lives will be crazy enough without one more thing to do!

 

 

You will create a RESEARCH PROPOSAL designed to test a psychological hypothesis based on your interests and the empirical literature.  You will not have to carry out the proposed study but your design and methods must be carefully thought out and must comprise an experiment rather than a simple relational study. You will write the proposal using APA style for organization as well as citing references in the text and at the end.  The proposal will be done in stages, beginning with topic approval. 

 

 

 

Note well!

Every italicized word in the above paragraph turns out to be critical. 

Watch for them throughout the semester

 

 

 

You will complete each of these items on-time.  I will not accept late submissions without a documented emergency.  There will be absolutely no exceptions to taking exams in class and on time without a documented emergency and ADVANCE notice.  Without advance notice, you will receive a 0 for that exam.

 

You are also responsible for adhering to regulations outlined in the UML undergraduate catalogue with respect to academic honesty and integrity.  I will ask that you submit copies of your research proposal to Turnitin.com for a screening process designed to detect plagiarism.  Watch for an e-mail containing login information.

 

IV.  Course Participation Requirements

 

In class

Attendance and active participation are expected.

 

Discussion Board

Your participation in the discussion board is an excellent opportunity to learn from each other.  You should take time in making your contributions thoughtful and on topic. In order to be useful, they should also be timely.  This discussion is YOUR tool.  It will not be graded.

 

 

 

V. Accommodations & Support

 

Students with disabilities need to work through the UMLOffice for Disability Services.  There are also a host of resources available through the UML Student Counseling Center and the Centers for Learning.

 

VI.  Grading

 

Grades will be based on the quality of your work and contributions as outlined in Expectations above.  The final grade will be out of a total of 250 possible points comprised of the following contributions:

 

 

Activity

Grade Contribution

Participation

5%

Assignments

 
  • Workshop self quizzes

  0% (Recommended, not required)
  • Assignments incl. colloquia

15%

Research Proposal

35%

Exams

 
  • Exams & final

35%
  • Weekly quizzes

10%

 

Final grades will be based on the final average (arithmetic mean) of exams, assignments, and the final research proposal, weighted as above.  Letters grades will be distributed as follows:

 

 

A

91-100

A-

89-90

B+

87-88

B

81-86

B-

79-80

C+

77-78

C

71-76

C-

69-70

D+

67-68

D

61-66

D-

59-60

F

0-58

 

Remember that a grade of C or above is required in Research I in order for students to proceed to Research II. 

 

I do not anticipate giving grades of INCOMPLETE except in the rarest of circumstance.  The everyday stresses of daily life (work, school, family) will not be sufficient to warrant an exception.

 

VII.  Class Resources

 

You have an excellent textbook that is required for this course:

 

Gravetter, F.J. & Forzano, L.B. (2009).  Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences (3nd edition).  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth/Thomson

 

It has a companion website that you also should consult regularly:

 

Gravetter & Forzano, 3rd edition Companion site

 

Here is the URL in case you want to cut and paste:

 

http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20bI&flag=instructor&product_isbn_issn=9780495509783&discipline_number=24

 

You also have access to a variety of research resources through the publisher

 

http://psychology.wadsworth.com/workshops

 

 

 

Words of wisdom:

 

By WEEK 10 you need to have an idea of what you want to write for your final research proposal.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL WEEK 9 TO THINK ABOUT IT.  During every week of the semester, think about how the information might inform you in some topic in which you have interest.  When we learn about literature searches, try to search for some literature about a topic of interest to you and something you might like to think about testing experimentally.  Your final proposal is really a capstone project for this course and an opportunity to demonstrate that you can apply (in theory, remember you do not have to DO it) the constructs we have covered in class.

 

VIII.  Class Schedule

 

 

Fall 2009

47.269 Research I:  Basics

Blended Course Format

 

Remember: Workshops are recommended;

Video and Assignments are required and are in bold

 

Week

Class

Topic

Readings

0

9.3

Introduction

 

1

9.10

The Nature of Science

Ch. 1

2

9.17

The Research Process & Literature Review

Ch. 2

3

9.24

Defining and Measuring Variables

·         Workshop: Reliability & Validity

·         Workshop:  Controls

·         Video discussion: Implicit Association

Ch. 3 

4

10/1

Describing Variables

Ch. 15

(p. 385-404)

5

10/8

Ethical Issues in Research

Ch. 4

 

6

10/15

EXAM 1 (Ch 1, 2, 3, 4, & pp. 385-404)

  • A good week to catch up on colloquia!

 

7

10/22

Selecting & assigning participants

Research Strategies & Validity

Ch. 5 & 6

8

10/21

Descriptive and Correlational Designs

Ch. 12 & 13

9

10/29

Experimental Designs and Methods

Ch. 7

10

11/5

Between & Within Designs

Ch. 8 & 9 (Skip secs 8.4, 8.6, 9.4 & box 9.1)

11

11/12

Beyond Main Effects:  Factorial Designs

·         Workshop:  Common Mistakes in Student Res

Ch. 11

 

12

11/19

EXAM 2 (Ch. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, & 13)

 

13

11/26

Happy Thanksgiving!

Note that you are responsible for class on Tuesday. Please use this time to work on a draft or your research proposal

There is no additional assignment this week.

 

14

12/3

Inferential Statistics & testing hypotheses

Ch. 15

15

12/10

Reporting research in APA style

  • Workshop:  APA Style
  • Assignment:  You’re the editor

 

Research Proposal due Tuesday 12/15

Ch. 16

 

TBA

FINAL EXAM

Comprehensive

 

 

 

End of syllabus