Research Methods

                                                                   (2001.314.005)

                                                                      Spring 2010

                                                                        Syllabus

Lecture:                                                                                    Lab:

Tues. & Thurs.  11:00am – 12:15pm                                           Wed. 1:00 – 2:50pm.

LA 3103                                                                                   LA 2105 

Dr. H. L. Petri

Office Hours:              Tues.  1:10 – 2:00pm    

                                    Wed.  11:00 - Noon                                          

Thurs. 1:10 – 2:00pm

 

Office: LA 2144                      

Phone:  410-704-3064                 

Fax:    410-704-3800                 

E-mail: hpetri@towson.edu

Webpage: http://pages.towson.edu/petri                   

 

Texts: 1. Myers, A. and Hansen, C. (2006).Experimental Psychology

                     (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson.

             

  2. Perrin, R. (2009). Pocket Guide to APA Style (3rd  ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

 

Readings (in Myers and Hansen): __________________

Chapters 1,16   -           Jan. 25 - 29                  

Chapter  2         -           Feb.  1 - 5        

Chapter  3         -           Feb.  8 - 12                              

Chapter  5         -           Feb. 15 - 19     

Chapter  13       -           Feb. 22 - 26                 

Chapter  6         -           Mar.  1 - 5

Chapter  7         -           Mar.  8 - 12

Spring Break     -           Mar.15 - 19

Chapter  8         -           Mar.22 - 26

Chapter  9         -           Mar.29 - Apr. 2

Chapter  9         -           Apr.  5 -  9

Chapter  10       -           Apr.12 - 16

Chapter  11       -           Apr.19 - 23

Chapter  12       -           Apr.26 - 30

Chapter  15       -           May  3 -  7

Open                -           May 11 – last class

 

Tests: There will be four multiple-choice tests covering material from both the books and lectures.

 

 

Approximate Test Dates:

Test 1 - Chapters 16, 1, 2, 3, 5 – Feb. 18th

Test 2 - Chapters 13, 6, 7, 8,   -  Mar. 25th         

Test 3 - Chapters 9, 10, 11      - Apr. 29th

Test 4 - Chapters 12, 15         -  Final Exam Period 

                                                                       


               

 

Grading: There are four examinations and five written lab assignments (introduction and references; introduction and references rewrite; methods; results; final full report in proper APA format) required in this course.  In addition, non-graded rough drafts of the method, results, discussion, and abstract may be required.  The four examinations, taken together, will be worth 50% of your grade.  The format of these examinations will be multiple choice.  The lab assignments, taken together, will be worth 50% of your grade.

 

  The following is a breakdown of points available on the tests and written assignments:

Test 1 = 35 pts.             Introduction and References      = 30 pts.

Test 2 = 35 pts.             Intro and Refs (rewrite)             = 20 pts.

Test 3 = 35 pts.             Method section                          = 30 pts.

Test 4 = 35 pts.             Results section                          = 20 pts.

                                                Final paper                                = 40 pts.

                        ------                                                                 -------

                        140 pts                                                              140 pts

Total points for the course = 280

 

Letter grades will be determined using the following scale:

   

92 - 100%      A  (256 - 280 pts.)

90 - 91%        A- (252 - 255 pts.)

88 - 89%        B+ (246 - 251 pts.)

82 - 87%        B  (230 - 245 pts.)

80 - 81%        B- (224 - 229 pts.)

78 - 79%        C+ (218 - 223 pts.)

70 - 77%        C  (196 - 217 pts.)

60 -  69%       D  (168 - 195 pts.)

Below 60%    F  (less than 168 pts.)

 

Tests are to be taken on the day scheduled.  Make-up exams will only be given with a doctor's excuse (which must include the doctor's telephone number so that the absence can be verified).   Extra credit projects will not be given to raise low grades, however, you may gain 5 points toward your final grade by participating in a departmentally sanctioned research study.  These may be found on the Psychology Department’s research pool webpage.  Incompletes will only be given for medical disabilities occurring during the semester, which prevent completion of the course during that semester.

 

 

Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the use of another's ideas, writings, etc. as if they were your own.  Plagiarism not only includes the use of published material as if it were your own but also using the same ideas and sentences as other members of the class -- in other words, written reports are to be done individually.  The first instance of either plagiarism or cheating will result in an F on that piece of work.  Any further instances of plagiarism or cheating will result in failure of the course and possible suspension from the University.  A xerox copy of each complete article used as a reference in your paper will be turned in with the introduction.

 

Attendance: Attendance will be taken on a regular basis, regular attendance is expected and necessary for good performance.  More than three unexcused absences from lectures may result in a 10-point reduction from points accumulated in the course. Attendance is required for all lab periods.  Unexcused absences from lab will result in a 5-point reduction of accumulated points for each lab missed.

 

 

 

Course Objectives:

 

Goal 1: Research Methods in Psychology  Students will understand and apply basic  research methods in psychology including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.

 

Goal 2: Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology  Students will respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.

 

Goal 3: Values in Psychology  Students will be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of psychology as a discipline.

 

Goal 4: Information and Technological Literacy  Students will demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.

 

Goal 5: Communication Skills  Students will be able to communicate effectively in  APA format.

 

In addition:

 

This course also fulfills General Education Requirement ID, “Advanced Composition” and is designed to prepare you to write in your chosen field.  This course will help you to

 

1. Write papers that are adequately sophisticated/nuanced/complex

   for upper division work;

 

2. Follow an appropriate disciplinary format and write papers

   with a clear beginning, middle, and end, each part being

   proportionate to their purpose;

 

3. Support your main idea with correct, strong, and germane

   evidence;

 

4. Develop strong reasoning and analysis and avoid common

   fallacies of logic;

 

5. Write paragraphs, sentences, and clauses and phrases within

   sentences that are clear and logically related;

 

6. Use correct words, phrases, and disciplinary vocabulary that

   are emphatic when needed and avoid clichés

 

7. Vary sentence lengths, leads, and syntax and use a tone and

   point of view that are conventional to the discipline;

 

8. Avoid subliterate errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics,

   and spelling; and

 

9. Provide documentation that is standard to the discipline.

 

(Dr. Hahn, Coordinator of GenEd Advanced Writing Courses,11/24/2004)

 

 

 

Repeating this course: University policy states that a student may not repeat a course more than once without specific prior permission from the Academic Standards Committee.  If you have taken this course twice before and have not received written permission from the Academic Standards Committee to take the course a third time, you should not be registered in this course - please consult the Registrar's office about the procedure for petitioning the Academic Standards Committee.

 

Course requirements:  You may remain in this course only if you have passed both "Behavioral Statistics" (PSYC 212 or its equivalent) and "Writing for a Liberal Education" (ENGL 102 or its equivalent) with at least a grade of "C" (2.00 GPA) in each course.  If this is not the case, it is your responsibility to drop the course immediately. Please present a transcript (either official or unofficial) to me by the second course meeting so that I can verify that you have successfully completed the course prerequisites.  A transcript may be printed by going to online services on the Towson University website. The trail to obtain an unofficial transcript is as follows: Learner Services > Academics > View Unofficial Transcript.  From there you should be able to print a copy of your unofficial transcript.

 

Special Needs: For any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hours.  A memo from Disability Support Services authorizing your accommodations will be required.

 

 

General Information:

 

            Please silence cell phones during class.

 

            Syllabus subject to change as necessary

 

 


 

 

 

                                                                             

                                             Research Methods Laboratory Schedule

 

Lab:

Wed. - 1:00 - 2:50 P.M.

LA 2105

Dr. H. L. Petri

Office LA2144

Phone: 410-704-3064

              

Jan.    27 - No lab

Feb.    3 -  Ethics in Human Research/IRB(PY 407)

Feb.   10 - APA Format (PY 407)

Feb    17 - Intro. to PC lab and online literature searches (PC Lab)

Feb.   24 - PsycInfo Search Lab (PC Lab)

Mar.    3 - Conference Session - Research Topics & Lit.Search(PY 428)

Mar.   10 - Statistics - Graphing, t - tests, correlation (PY 407)

Mar.   17   Spring Break

Mar.   24 - Statistics - ANOVA, using SPSS (PY 407 and PC Lab)

Mar.   31` - Conference Session - discuss methods (PY 428)

Apr.     7 - Ethics in Animal Research(PY 407)

Apr.   14 – Conference Session (PY 428)

Apr.   21 - Analysis Lab -Pseudodata distributed & analyzed by computer(PCLab)

Apr.   28 – Conference Session - draft of discussion & abstract(PY 428)

May     5 - Conference Session - fine-tuning the paper (PY 428)

 

 

The formal meeting place for the laboratory session is LA 2105.  As indicated above, we will sometimes meet in the PC Lab (LA ).  All conference sessions will be held in my office (LA 2144).  Xerox copies of articles used in the writing of your paper are to be submitted with the introduction and with any other sections where an article is cited.  Late reports (introduction and references, introduction and references (rewrite), methods, results, & full paper) will be reduced by 5 points for each day that they are late.  Lab attendance is required and you must be on time.

 

Due Dates for lab assignments

 

Intro & reference page, and refs(5 minimum)      Due March 10th (30 pts.)

Introduction & reference page rewrite:               Due April  7th (20 pts.)

Method section:                                                 Due April 14rd (30 pts.)

Results section:                                                 Due April 28th (20 pts.)

Final complete paper:                                         Due May   12th (40 pts.)