PS 3318 RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY-LEVEL 5 (Revised Fall 2015) 3/3/4

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1 DEREE COLLEGE SYLLABUS FOR: PS 3318 RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY-LEVEL 5 (Revised Fall 2015) 3/3/4 PREREQUISITES: PS 1000 Psychology as a Natural Science PS 1001 Psychology as a Social Science PS 2147 Analysis of Behavioral Data -Level 4 UK CREDITS: 20 CATALOG DESCRIPTION: RATIONALE: Systematic presentation and evaluation of research methods, designs and tools in psychological science. A variety of research methods for data collection, (observation, interview, participant observation and experiment) as well as qualitative (interpretative phenomenological analysis, grounded theory) and quantitative data analysis (descriptive and inferential) are covered. Logic of scientific thinking, ethical dimension and dilemmas of research process, use of computerized database searches and statistical program for data analysis, writing research reports. This course offers an integrated approach to scientific thinking, research practices, methods and analyses of psychological data. The course provides students (a) with the essential conceptual knowledge to evaluate critically research findings and (b) with the practical skills necessary to carry scientifically and ethically sound empirical projects. It requires background knowledge on basic psychological concepts and statistics and is a requirement for all 6 level courses in psychology. It is essential in helping students to become more critical consumers of research findings by reading primary literature. LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of taking this course, a student should be able to: 1. Perform competent literature search to formulate empirical questions and to convert psychological concepts into measurable variables, and select appropriate methods and statistical procedures to answer research questions. 2. Apply ethical principles conducting research, perform basic statistical analyses with SPSS in agreement to specific questions and forms of data, and effectively communicate research findings and conclusions. 3. Write publishable research reports using the current APA format. 4. Distinguish between types of quantitative and qualitative methods of research and critically assess their advantages and disadvantages. 5. Classify sampling methods, explain the concepts of reliability and validity (external and internal) and critically discuss them in view of various methodological approaches. 6. Recognize ethical research practices and critically discuss ethical issues particular to different methods. METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING: In congruence with teaching and learning strategy of the college, the following tools are used:

2 (PS 2418) ASSESSMENT: The course is divided into two parts, class periods (3 hours per week) and lab periods (3 hours per week). Regular class periods consist of lectures, practical demonstrations and critical discussions of Lab assignments. Students working in a group will develop two research proposals on survey research and on observation respectively. Proposal will be submitted individually and should include a minimum of 6 empirically based research articles. Articles cited must be submitted with the paper. For survey research, students will be given a set of scales (6) accompanied by key literature (4). For observation they will be given a list of topics (5). Specific guidelines, adjusted to the particular features of each methodological approach, will be provided to help students cover the critical issues of a research proposal. Students will conduct either the survey or the observation research based on their proposals. Students will collect and analyse data using SPSS, and submit a written report of their small-scale research with APA format including expanded literature review, method, results discussion and references. Weakly, thorough and individual feedback in writing to all Laboratory assignments. Office hours Use of Blackboard site Weekly Laboratory Exercises and research proposal-formative ONE research paper (2,500 to 3,000 words) summative In-class final examination (2 hours, comprehensive) summative 0% 1. Laboratory work: Classification of methodological approaches/goals, matching goals to methods, development of operational definitions for psychological concepts, formulation of empirical questions, critical evaluation of published articles, analyzes of data and interpretation of findings. 2. Research proposal: Include research goals, research questions/hypotheses, methodological procedure, conceptualization of data analysis, references and appendices (consent form, instruments/materials and debriefing statements) Paper with APA format including abstract, literature review, method, results, discussion, references and appendices. Topic chosen from one out of the two research proposals. 60% 40% Short answer questions (choice: 3 out of 5) Application exercises (choice: 4 out of 6) The formative laboratory exercises aim to help student clarify and prepare them for their research proposal and their research project. The research paper tests Learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3 The final examination tests Learning outcomes: 4, 5, 6 READING LIST: 1. Required Material

3 (PS 2418) Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister E. B. and Zechmeister J. S. (2009). Research Methods in Psychology, 8 th edition. New York: McGraw- Hill Inc. Rosnow, R. L., & Rosnow, M. (2006). Writing papers in psychology, 7th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Milinski, A.K. (1999). Case in Qualitative Research: Research Reports for Discussion and Evaluation, Los Angeles, CA : Pyrczak Publishing. 2. Further Reading: Reading to supplement Laboratory assignments and the basic material covered in the textbook American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 th edition. Washington, DC: Author. Dunbar, G. (2005). Evaluating Research Methods in Psychology: A Case Study Approach. UK: BPS and Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Gelfand, H. and Walker, C. J. (2001). Mastering APA Style: Student's Workbook and Training Guide, latest edition. Pallant, J. (2007). SPSS Survival Manual, 3 rd edition, New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. Goodwin, C.J. (2010). Research Methods in Psychology: Methods and Designs, 6 th edition. USA: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Meltzoff, J. (1998). Critical Thinking about research: Psychology and related fields. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Willig, C. (2004). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. UK: Open University Press Pyrczak, F. (2008). Evaluating Research in Academic Journals: A practical Guide to Realistic Evaluation, 4 th Edition, Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Publishing. A selection of articles will be assigned from different scientific journals covering basic and applied research from varied subfields of psychology (social, developmental, cognitive, educational, organisational, clinical, etc) RECOMMENDED MATERIAL: WWW RESOURCES: The Psychologists American Psychologist Psychological Science Psychological Bulletin British Journal of Psychology Journal of Applied Psychology American Psychological Association

4 (PS 2418) British Psychological Society Cozby Internet Site on writing research reports Dewey psych web project and scholarly psychology resources from this site on research Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister E. B. and Zechmeister J. S. Research Methods in Psychology.: Online learning centre Trochim Research Methodology Internet Site APA style resources available from html INDICATIVE CONTENT: 1. The science of Psychology 1.1 The context of scientific research 1.2 Psychological science and Pseudoscience 2. Ethical issues in the conduct of psychological research 2.1 Ethical issues with humans and animals 2.2 Risk/benefit ratio, informed consent, deception, debriefing 2.3 Ethics and publication 3. Developing ideas for research in Psychology 3.1 Asking empirical questions 3.2 Qualitative vs. Quantitative research 3.3 Evaluative criteria to assess psychological research 4. Communication in Psychology 4.1 Guidelines for effective writing 4.2 The structure of research reports 5. Observation 5.1 Classification of observational methods: participant observation, structured observation 5.2 Sampling and recoding behaviour 5.3 Analysis of observational data 5.4 Observer bias and reactivity 6. Survey research 6.1 Correlation and causality 6.2 Types of interviews: qualitative vs. structured interviews 6.3 Questionnaires: construction and psychometric properties

5 (PS 2418) Qualitative Analysis styles 7.1 Grounded Theory Basic principles Strengths and limitations 7.2 Interpretative phenomenological analysis Basic principles Strengths and limitations 8. Experimental Methods 8.1 Logic of experimental research 8.2 Independent group designs 8.3 Repeated measures designs 8.4 Threats to internal validity 8.5 External validity of experimental findings