PSYC 314L: Research Methods
Spring, 2009
Course InformationInstructor Information:
Lecture meets in SGM 226 Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30-1:50pmDr. Ann Renken
Lab meets in KOH 208 computer lab: Thur 8-9:50am; Fri 2-3:50pmOffice: SGM 1061
Teaching Assistant: Elizabeth Chereji ()Office hours: Mon 2-3; Thurs 10-12
Required Texts
Neuman, W. L. (2009). Understanding Research. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.
McBride, D. M. & Cutting, J. C. (2008). Lab Manual for Psychological Research. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Recommended Supplement
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th Ed.). Correct use of APA writing style is required whether or not you consult this manual. Online APA guides are widely available but may contain errors. The manual can be ordered through apa.org and various web-based bookstores at a discount.
Other Required Supplies: One project may involve making photocopies and purchasing inexpensive supplies for the poster presentation. These expenses are typically under $15 per student.
Course Objectives
This course will involve you in conducting research in psychology and related disciplines. You will design and conduct scientific research and develop professional presentations of your findings. These skills are essential in psychology and all sciences; however, we will also emphasize the role of research in a broad range of professions, and in our daily experiences and decisions.
Specific skills you will develop include:
- Formulating research questions and selecting an appropriate means of investigation
- Locating and using published studies as resources
- Drawing scientifically valid conclusions from research findings
- Selecting, applying and interpreting appropriate statistical analyses
- Presenting research in scientific papers and presentations using the format of the American Psychological Association
In addition, note that this course requires working closely in small groups or partnerships during and outside of class time, giving you experience in the collaborative nature of professional research.
Activities, Assignments, and Evaluation
Exams. Two non-cumulative exams will be administered, consisting primarily of multiple choice items with a few short answer items. Exam questions will emphasize applying concepts rather than recognizing definitions of key terms. You must bring a pencil and Scantron form 882E. Exam questions will cover concepts from the assigned parts of the text, lectures, any additional reading material, and laboratory activities.
Research Projects: One Paper and One Presentation. You will conduct two research projects in this course. From these, you will write one APA-style research paper and give one presentation in a poster session during class. Several related assignments will be given in class and lab in order to keep you on track and give you feedback on challenging components. Graded components are to be completed independently unless you are told otherwise.
Project #1: Each lab will collaborate to design and administer a brief survey. Once complete, each student will select variables to analyze using correlation and t-test analyses, and write an APA-style research paper reporting the results of this study. The paper must be written 100% independently; further guidelines will be provided.
Project #2: You will work with another student to design and conduct an experiment during the second half of the course. You will select a topic and design your own study, but must have my approval before collecting data. This project is graded based on three components: a poster presentation (in part, graded by peer evaluation), related assignments during lab and class meetings, and a write up of your project due at the final exam.
Laboratory Activities. Graded lab activities will be assigned and due each week. These activities reinforce what is covered in class, and typically involve collecting data and analyzing it using SPSS or preparing specific elements of your research projects. You must attend the lab section for which you are registered. Unless told otherwise, all labs are due at the end of the session and may not be completed or submitted outside of the scheduled meeting time. If you must miss a lab due to a prescheduled event (i.e., being out of town) that is not covered under “Justifiable Absences” below, you must arrange in advance of the lab period to complete the work either in another of my lab sections or complete it on your own time and submit it by your scheduled lab session. You may only attend a different section once per semester as space is limited, and this requires advanced notification of all TA’s involved plus written evidence that you cannot attend your regular lab. If you miss lab without such arrangements, make-ups will only be allowed if you can document a lab-day emergency (see Justifiable Absences below); otherwise, a score of 0 will be assigned.
Class Assignments: Class time will occasionally be used to engage you in graded assignments. These may include working in small groups to develop or receive feedback on elements of a project, or discuss applications of research. You will be required to attend and participate during class or points will be lost (your partner cannot substitute for you). These days are announced at least one week in advance. Justifiable absences with documentation will excuse you from missed points.
Evaluation
The following weights apply to each course requirement: Letter grades will be assigned based on your weighted average using the scale below.
Two non-cumulative exams66%
Project #1 Paper 12%
Project #2 Presentation and write up12%
Laboratory activities and other
class assignments:10%
Grading Scale (grades are rounded to nearest percent)
A (93%+)B (83%-86%)C (73%-76%)D (63%-66%)
A- (90%-92%)B- (80%-82%)C- (70%-72%)D- (60%-62%)
B+ (87%-89%)C+ (77%-79%)D+ (67%-69%)F (59% or lower)
Course Policies: Please read carefully!!!
Attendance: Attendance in lab is required in order to receive points for the activity. I will not take attendance in class unless a graded activity is completed. However, I strongly recommend you attend as often as possible due to the activity-oriented nature of this course. You are responsible for all information communicated in class or lab, as well as all information posted on Blackboard or emailed to you. Please note that you do not need to inform me before or after you have missed class unless you have missed a deadline AND have a “justifiable absence” (see below).
Deadlines: All deadlines are firm; simply being absent the day an assignment is due, given or amended, does not grant you an extension. Written work must be printed (not emailed), and submitted by the start of class on the due date. Early submissions may be left in your TA’s mailbox in SGM 501. Please do not timestamp your work with the administrators in the Psychology office.
Justifiable Absences: You will be granted deadline extensions ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING: (1) serious illness with medical attention, (2) personal/family emergency, (3) school-related activity, or (4) scheduled graduate school or job interview with proof from the organization. I must have in writing from a doctor or an appropriate staff person a statement that you could not possibly attend class on specific dates which must include the lab/due date. Being sick a few days before a due date or exam is not a reason for an extension unless a doctor states in writing that you were incapacitated throughout this period. (NOT procrastinating will keep this from being an issue!) Your extension is one class/lab period for every period you were excused. One day is assumed unless your note states otherwise.
Presentation of Project #2: Both partners must deliver the presentation. Missing your presentation with no excuse will result in a grade of 0; the partner that shows up loses no points but must present alone or reschedule if possible.
Exams: Unexcused missed exams will receive scores of 0. Make up exams will be given with written documentation as noted above and must be completed by the 3rd weekday after your excuse expires. You must notify me (email is acceptable) that you have an excuse within 24 hours of missing an exam.
Using Blackboard: I post lecture slides, assignments and announcements as promptly as possible. Your TA will post or distribute lab assignments and your lab grades. Please monitor your scores and notify us of any discrepancies. Note that scores will not be changed after the scheduled final exam period due to misentries.
You may wish to print the slides and bring them with you to class; they are posted the day preceding lecture. Much detail not on the slides is provided during lecture. They are not intended to take notes for you and may not help prepare you for exams if you are not present to add your notes to them. Their purpose is to outline the concepts to be covered and provide images and examples.
Notice to Students with disabilities: University policy requires reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Please work with Disability Services and Programs to make arrangements for alternate testing procedures.
Academic Integrity
Cheating during an exam will result in a score of zero on that exam. A score of zero will be assigned if a student has displayed a test for others to see, looked at another student's test or answer sheet, or attempted to communicate in any manner with another student during the exam. You may not leave the room and return once exams are distributed—not even to use the restroom. No cell phones or electronic devices may be out or on during an exam. Plagiarism is the appropriation and subsequent distribution of another's ideas or words as one's own. If the words or ideas of another are used, acknowledgement of the original source must be made through recognized reference practices (APA style in this case). Data fabrication is creating or altering research data, and will also result in a grade of 0 for the associated project and assignments. Any papers judged to violate the USC academic integrity guidelines will result in a grade of 0 for the work or an F for the course depending on severity, and the incident will be reported to the appropriate University Officials.
Schedule
Assignments key: “Ch”=chapter in Neuman text and “LM”=Lab Manual by McBride and Cutting
Reading and
Date and Lecture Topic Exercises Lab Schedule______
1/13 Course Overview
1/15 Why Do Research? Ch. 1
1/20 Planning a StudyCh. 2Lab 1: Using PsycInfo
1/22 Planning a StudyCh. 2& Reading Journal Articles
1/27 MeasurementCh. 5Lab 2: Critique Online Survey
1/29 MeasurementCh. 5
2/3 Survey ResearchCh. 6Lab 3: Construct Lab Survey (Project 1)
2/5 Quantitative Data AnalysisCh. 9
2/10 Quantitative Data AnalysisCh. 9; LM 28-37Lab 4: Review of t-tests and correlations
2/12 APA style LM Part III
2/17 Exam ILab 5: Analyze Lab Survey (Project 1)
2/19 ExperimentsCh. 7
2/24 ExperimentsCh. 7; LM 39-43Lab 6: Oneway ANOVA Experiment
2/26 Factorial DesignsLM 44-49
3/3 Factorial Designs(cont.)Survey Paper (Project 1) Due
3/5 Research EthicsCh. 3
3/10 IRB Procedures(cont.)Lab 7: Get Partner and Generating Ideas (Project 2)
3/12 open appts. for project 2
3/17-3/19: No class: Spring Break
3/24 Project 2 Idea MeetingsLM 58-63Lab 8: Factorial ANOVA Experiment
3/26 Sampling Ch. 4
3/31 Content AnalysisCh. 8Lab 9: Complete Project 2 IRB Application
4/2 Naturalistic ObservationCh. 10
4/7 Exam IIWork on Project 2 materials (optional)
4/9 Project 2 design feedback exercise
4/14 Go over Exam IILab 10: Set up data file and submit hypothesis testing plan
4/16 Data collection day
4/21 Preparing a Poster PresentationLab 11: Analyze data, prepare Results, work on poster
4/23 Applying Research Skills in Professions Activity
4/28 Presentations Work on poster or write up (optional)
4/30 Presentations
Final Exam Period: Wednesday, 5/13, Project 2 write-up due at 2pm