PSY 290 Lecture: MWF 9:10-10:05 in Lanigan 106 Lab: T (Section 820) or Th (Section 830) 9:35-11:35 in Campus Center 206 Instructor Kristen Link, Ph.D. klink@oswego.edu Mahar 461 / 312-3465 Campus Center 226 / 312-3650 Office hours: MW 10:15-11:30 in Mahar; T 11:35-12:30 in Campus Center; and by appt. Teaching Assistants Emily Ross (Thursday lab section) eross@oswego.edu Mahar 306 Office hour: T 11:45-1:00 Dan Semeraro (Tuesday lab section) semeraro@oswego.edu Mahar 306 Office hours: T & W 1-2, and by appt. Course Objectives The purpose of this course is to provide students a familiarity with and understanding of various research methods in the behavioral sciences so that they can: plan good research, understand the strengths and limitations of research methods, critically evaluate information about human behavior presented in both professional journals and the popular media, and develop proficiency in professional scientific writing. Course Format The course is divided into two parts: T/Th class periods and W or F lab periods. During regular class periods, concepts and examples of psychological research will be introduced via lectures, discussions, and group and individual activities. During lab periods, students participate in and conduct psychological research. Required Texts Cozby, P. C. (2007). Methods in behavioral research (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. Rosnow, R. L., & Rosnow, M. (2006). Writing papers in psychology (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Recommended Resources American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. (if you re planning on grad school in psychology) Cozby, P. C. (2007). Methods in behavior research: Online learning center. http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073531812/student_view0/. * especially useful for studying for the quizzes! Izzett, R. SPSS Windows instructions & examples for PSY 280, PSY 290, & PSY 40X. Oswego, NY: SUNY Oswego Department of Psychology. Link, K. E. (2008). Psy 290 course web site. http://www.oswego.edu/~klink/psy290/. - Syllabus Fall 2008 1
Course Requirements and Grading Research project formal research proposal (40 pts) IRB application (20 pts) report drafts (3 at 20 pts each = 60 pts) final research report (50 pts) presentation (30 pts) Book question sets and classroom assignments (about 20 at 5 pts each) Lab assignments Book quizzes (6 at 15 pts each) Exams (3 at 50 pts each) Final (comprehensive) exam Departmental research participation (1 hour) Attendance (each day @ 1 pt) TOTAL 200 points ~100 points 100 points 90 points 150 points 85 points 25 points ~50 points ~800 points Grades will not be decided on the basis of pre-established percentage guidelines. Rather, your grade will be determined by your total point count relative to the other students in the class, together with the instructor s general expectations for learners with your background and experiential insights derived from teaching courses in research methods. Extra Credit You have the opportunity to earn up to 30 extra credit points by doing any combination of the following: 1. Additional research participation. You will receive 10 pts for each 40 minutes of participation (over the 1 hour required.) 2. Bring up to two friends for each in-class research project data collection session to earn 5 points for each hour each friend participates. 3. Read one of the (very interesting!) articles by the Skeptic columnist, Michael Shermer, of Scientific American, and write an evaluative response for 15 points. Acceptable articles are those relevant to research methods and/ or critical thinking (check with me if in doubt) and are available online from the library. Your one-page response should include a brief summary of the article and the claims made, and your critical evaluation and analysis of the article incorporating the knowledge you have gained from this course. Other Things An alternate assignment to fulfill the research participation requirement can be turned in if you wish not to participate in a research study. For this course, the alternate requires that you read a empirical research report from a psychology journal (minimum length of 3 pages), write a summary of the article, and provide a critical review of the article using the skills you will have learned in this course. Make up exams will be given only in exceptional circumstances and with documentation. - Syllabus Fall 2008 2
Late assignments are those that are not turned in to me in the classroom on the day they are due. Your grade on most assignments decreases with each day that passes after the due date until you turn it in. Book question sets (QSs), however, will never be accepted late, but some (small) number of your lowest QS grades will be dropped. No assignments will be accepted via email. The Office of Disability Services (312-3358; dss@oswego.edu; 183 Campus Center; www.oswego.edu/dis_svc) is available to assist students who have a legally documented disability or students who suspect that they may have a disability. If you have a disabling condition that may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the office of Disability Services. Also, please see me to let me know how we may be of assistance. Alternative testing for students with learning disabilities is available. Intellectual integrity is a foundation for learning and SUNY Oswego has approved a Statement of Intellectual Integrity (www.oswego.edu/administration/registrar/policy_text.html#epii). This statement prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, and forging signatures. All allegations of academic dishonesty will be addressed to the fullest extent possible. All information in the syllabus is subject to change. Tentative Schedule Wed, 8/27 Thurs, 8/28 Fri, 8/29 Mon, 9/1 Tues, 9/2 or Thurs, 9/4 Course introduction LAB CANCELLED Scientific method demo Demo experiment Wed, 9/3 The scientific method Cozby Ch. 1 Cozby Ch. 1 Review Qs Fri, 9/5 Research topic exploration Rosnow & Rosenthal Ch. 1 R&R Ch. 1 Question Set Mon, 9/8 Theories & hypothesis testing Cozby Ch. 2 Cozby Ch. 2 Review Qs Tues, 9/9 or Thurs, 9/11 Wed, 9/10 Library research, reading articles Rosnow & Rosenthal Ch. 2; Article TBA Hypothesis testing, cont. R&R Ch. 2 Question Set Fri, 9/12 Quiz 1 (on Cozby 1-2); Variables and relationships Cozby Ch. 4, pp. 66-74 Cozby Ch. 4a Review Qs - Syllabus Fall 2008 3
Mon, 9/15 Experimental methods & internal validity Cozby Ch. 4, pp. 74-87 Cozby Ch. 4b Review Qs Tues, 9/16 or Thurs, 9/18 Wed, 9/17 Data analysis of demo experiment Rosnow & Rosenthal Ch. 4, 6 Library research worksheet; R&R Ch. 4, 6 Question Set Internal validity, cont. Fri, 9/19 Measurement Cozby Ch. 5 Cozby Ch. 5 Review Qs Mon, 9/22 Measurement, cont. Tues, 9/23 or Thurs, 9/25 Work day (demo project write-up; research project) Rosnow & Rosenthal Ch. 7, 8 R&R Ch. 7, 8 Question Set Wed, 9/24 Quiz 2 (on Cozby 4-5); Review for exam Fri, 9/26 Exam 1 (Cozby 1, 2, 4, 5) Mon, 9/29 Survey research Cozby Ch. 7 Cozby Ch. 7 Review Qs Tues, 9/30 Wed, 10/1 Thurs, 10/2 or Tues, 10/7 Developing questionnaires Writing proposals Rosnow & Rosenthal Ch. 3 R&R Ch. 3 Question Set Fri, 10/3 Developing questionnaires, cont. Demo research report Mon, 10/6 Observational methods Cozby Ch. 6 Questionnaire Worksheet 1; Cozby Ch. 6 Review Qs Wed, 10/8 Quiz 3 (on Cozby 6-7); Experimental design Cozby Ch. 8 Cozby Ch. 8 Review Qs Thurs, 10/9 Fri, 10/10 Mon, 10/13 Experimental design, cont.; Peer reviews of proposal Research proposal - Syllabus Fall 2008 4
Tues 10/14 or Thurs, 10/16 Observing behavior Wed, 10/15 Conducting experiments Cozby Ch. 9 Cozby Ch. 9 Review Qs Fri, 10/17 Conducting experiments, cont. Mon, 10/20 Quiz 4 (on Cozby 8-9); Ethics Cozby Ch. 3 Cozby Ch. 3 Review Qs Tues, 10/21 or Thurs, 10/23 Data entry for questionnaire; Research project: HSRC Observation worksheet; Administer 5 questionnaires Wed, 10/22 Ethics, cont. Fri, 10/24 Exam 2 (Cozby 3, 6-9) Mon, 10/27 Complex experimental designs Cozby Ch. 10 Cozby Ch. 10 Review Qs; HSRC application Tues, 10/28 or Thurs, 10/30 Evaluating and scoring questionnaires Wed, 10/29 Complex experimental designs, cont. Fri, 10/31 Complex experimental designs, cont.; Peer reviews of Intro/Refs Draft 1--Intro/Refs, 5 articles Mon, 11/3 Single-case experiments Cozby Ch. 11, pp. 203-208 Cozby Ch. 11a Review Qs Tues, 11/4 or Thurs 11/6 Research project: Pilot studies and manipulation checks Wed, 11/5 Quasi-experiments Cozby Ch. 11, pp. 208-221 Cozby Ch. 11b Review Qs Fri, 11/7 Quiz 5 (on Cozby 10-11) Questionnaire Worksheet 2 Mon, 11/10 Tues, 11/11 or Thurs, 11/13 Wed, 11/12 data collection Research project: Data collection data collection Fri, 11/14 Statistics review Cozby Ch. 12 Cozby Ch. 12 Review Qs - Syllabus Fall 2008 5
Mon, 11/17 Statistics review Cozby Ch. 13 Cozby Ch. 13 Review Qs Tues, 11/18 or Thurs, 11/20 Research project: Data analysis Wed, 11/19 Generalization Cozby Ch. 14 Cozby Ch. 14 Review Qs Fri, 11/21 Generalization, cont. Mon, 11/24 Quiz 6 (on Cozby 12-14); Peer reviews of Method & Results Draft 2--Method, Results, SPSS data & output files Tues, 11/25 - Fri 11/28 (lab cancelled on Tuesday) Mon, 12/1 Review for exam Tues, 12/2 or Thurs, 12/4 Research project: Work day Wed, 12/3 Exam 3 Fri, 12/5 Peer reviews of Research Report Draft 3--Title page, Abstract, Discussion, plus revisions of Drafts 1 & 2 Mon, 12/8 Tues, 12/9 or Thurs, 12/11 Wed, 12/10 Fri, 12/12 Wed, 12/17 Presentations Lab 13: Research Methods Jeopardy! Presentations Presentations Final exam @ 8:00 am - Syllabus Fall 2008 6