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Psychology 314L Research Methods
Psychology 314L Research Methods
Spring, 2009
Instructor: Robert Gore, Ph.D.Office Location: SGM 534
Office Hours: Friday 3-4pm & by appt except during Spring Break
Email:
If you need answers to questions outside of office hours, you may stop by SGM 534 to request an appointment. If I am able to do so, I’ll talk to you at that time, but if I’m committed to something else, I’ll offer you an appointment.
Lecture: Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 to 10:50 am, KAP 145
Labs: 10-11:50 AM Friday, KOH 208
8-9:50 AM Wednesday, KOH 208
Scheduled Final Exam Time: Tuesday, May 12, 8-10 AM. All work must be completed and handed in by or before this deadline no matter what.
TA: Kysa Christie
Contact Information:
Office Hours: Wednesday 10-11 AM or by appointment
Required Texts
Martin, D. W. (2008). Doing Psychology Experiments (7th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. (at USC Bookstore)
Underhill, P. (2009). Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping (Updated and Revised for the Internet, the Global Consumer, and Beyond). New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. (at USC Bookstore)
Recommended (but NOT Required)
American Psychological Association (1994). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.
Other Required Supplies
For some lab exercises, you may need a stop watch or some other means of timing as accurately as seconds. You may also have to make some photocopies for your research project and may need supplies to make a poster for the poster presentation at the end of the semester.
You will need access to Blackboard (e.g., computer and internet access).
Course Objectives
The main objective of this course is to introduce you to the basics of designing and evaluating research on human behavior. Throughout your life, regardless of what career you pursue, you will have to make decisions based on your understanding of why people do the things they do. This course is designed to help you precisely formulate theories, test them, and evaluate claims about human behavior.
Specific skills you are expected to develop include:
Formulating research questions, developing testable hypotheses, and designing an effective means of investigation
Finding scientific articles on human behavior (in professional and scientific journals)
Interpreting articles and understanding the basic methods used as well as their strengths and weaknesses
Drawing valid conclusions from research findings
Using statistics to analyze data, including selection of appropriate analytic techniques and use of SPSS to analyze the data
Communicating research in scientific papers using American Psychological Association Style guidelines
You will also learn to conduct research collaboratively by working in small groups outside of class time.
Assignment / Date (or Due Date) / Point ValueFirst Exam / 2/10/09 / 150
Second Exam / 3/12/09 / 150
Third Exam / 4/21/09 / 150
Project #1 Paper / 2/19/09 / 150
Project #2 Poster presentation / 4/23/09 (prepared to go starting this date) / 100
Project #2 – Your evaluation of other Poster presentations / 4/30/09 / 50
Laboratory activities and other assignments given or done in class / In lab at end of lab period (for labs) or as assigned (for other assignments added in class) / 100
Final Paper (write-up of final project) / 4/30/09 / 150
Extra Credit (participation in research experiments outside of class) / 4/30/09 / 150
30 points graded as 100% for each experiment outside of class you participate in (proof due to Kysa Christi) and averaged into your grade at the end of the semester (up to five))
Grading Scale
A 93+%
A- 90-92%
B+ 88-89%
B 83-87%
B- 80-82%
C+ 78-79%
C 73%-77%
C- 70-72%
D 60-69%
F 59% or lower
Activities, Assignments, and Evaluation
Exams. Three multiple choice, non-cumulative exams will be administered. Exam questions will emphasize applying concepts but there will also be questions related to your knowledge of definitions of terms. You must bring a pencil and Scantron form 882E. Exam questions will cover concepts from the assigned parts of the texts, lectures, and any additional reading material and labs. Questions are primarily from topics covered directly in class or lab. Exams will be open notes (handwritten or printed – no photocopies of text). Thus, you may use handwritten or typewritten notes to assist you, but you may not use photocopies or the book itself. You may NOT use your laptop as a source of notes.
Research Projects: Two papers and one presentation (poster presentation, 5-10 minutes during which you present your study, and five minutes for question and answer).
You will conduct two research projects in this course. From these, you will write two full APA style research papers and present data from your second project in a poster presentation in class. You can be creative about the way you present the data in your poster presentation – you are encouraged to make it interesting and entertaining – but you should cover the basic material you would cover in a paper: significance of the topic, prior findings and theory, predictions, methods for testing the predictions, results, and an evaluation of your findings in light of past research and theory (i.e., “discussion”). Data will be collected outside of class (by you) for these projects. Several related assignments will be given in class an in labs to provide you with some limited guidance on how to keep on track.
Project #1: Working in groups of 4 to 6, you will conduct a study using either survey methods or naturalistic (field) observation. Each student (individually) will write an APA style research paper from this project. The methods and results sections should be identical for every member of the group, while the introduction, literature review, and discussion should be done as individual work. You will work on this project outside of class and during lab. Further guidelines to come, and you should obtain authorization for your survey before beginning to give it.
Project #2: Working with a partner, you will design and conduct an experiment utilizing a factorial (two independent measures) design on a topic you select. This project spans the second half of the course, comprising many lecture and lab activities. You must have my approval before collecting data, and your group will be required to meet with me at least once to discuss your project before beginning. Failing to obtain approval first will result in a grade of 0 points. You and your partner will present this project as a poster. The format will be flexible, but the general sections used in a research study should be addressed. Additional instructions will be provided as scheduled on the syllabus. A randomly assigned group of classmates will evaluate each student’s knowledge and delivery as well as the project’s merit by reviewing the presentations and writing evaluations of them. Each student must evaluate a designated number (three) of poster presentations (10% of your own presentation grade will be deducted for each assigned YouTube presentation that is not evaluated). In addition, each group must submit (deadlines for each part TBA) raw data, consent forms, SPSS analyses, article copies, and a printed version of your poster presentation. An additional written assignment for this project will be required of each individual, constituting your final exam. As such, late submissions will receive scores of 0.
Laboratory Activities. Graded lab activities will be assigned and due each week. These activities will reinforce what is covered in class, and typically involve collecting data and analyzing it using SPSS or preparing specific elements of your research projects. Specific requirements for each activity will be provided in lab meetings. You must attend the lab section for which you are registered. Graded components of lab activities 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), you must arrange in advance of the lab period to complete the work either in another of my lab sections (this is not an option during weeks when you are working on group projects, however) or complete it in your own time. It is due at the end of the lab attended or your session if completed independently. Only one such assignment will be made per student per semester, and requires advanced notification of all TA’s involved plus written evidence that you cannot attend your lab. If you miss lab without such arrangements, make-ups will be allowed only if you can document a lab-day emergency (see Justifiable Absences below); otherwise a score of 0 will be assigned for that lab.
Class Assignments: Class time may occasionally be used to engage you in graded assignments related to lab or projects. These may include data collection activities, demonstrations, and working in small groups. You will be required to attend and participate during class or points will be lost. These days will be announced at least one class period in advance.
Extra Credit: Notice that you can earn extra credit for participation in research (studies outside of this course). You may earn up to the number of points shown in the table (given elsewhere). These points are added to your grade as 100% credit. Thus, they will raise your average slightly if you are doing well and a little more if you are doing badly. You must document participation in the usual way for the subject pool and turn in documentation to your TA by the last day of regularly scheduled class.
Course Policies: 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. Please note that you do not need to inform me before or after you have missed a class unless you have missed a deadline AND have a justifiable absence (as defined 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 out (not emailed), and turned in during class on the due date.
Be aware that you are responsible for information communicated in class, which is more extensive than that posted on Blackboard. I strongly recommend that you attend and get notes from another student or two if you are absent. If you have a justifiable absence, you may email or come to my office hours to see if additional information was given in class.
Justifiable Absences: You will be granted deadline extensions ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING: (1) serious illness, (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 appropriate staff person a statement that you could not possibly attend class on specific dates which must include the lab date or deadline. Your extension is one class/lab period for every period you were excused. One day is assumed unless your note says otherwise. Show me your excuse the first class day after it expires and I will notify your TA that you are to make up any missed lab(s).
Presentation of Project #2: Both partners must deliver the presentation. Be sure both partners have access to all needed materials. 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.
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 that you have an excuse within 24 hours of the exam.
Using Blackboard: I post such material as I do post as promptly as possible. Your TA will post or distribute lab assignments and grade and enter your lab scores. Please monitor your scores often and keep all assignments until after the final grades have been determined. You will need to bring a graded assignment as proof it was misrecorded on Blackboard. All score corrections must be requested with proof by the scheduled final exam period. No changes will be made thereafter.
However, my own lecture notes and slides are not meant to be a comprehensive review of material in your textbooks. Do not even think about relying on them instead of doing your own reading, considering the lecture, and taking notes. The slides are primarily meant as a starting point for discussion in class and to help guide me through the material (i.e., as a prompt).
Letters of Recommendation: If you intend to apply to graduate school and think that you would like a letter of recommendation, please plan accordingly by (a) making sure that you introduce yourself and letting me know your career plans, (b) participating enthusiastically in class discussions and doing the readings, (c) doing an exceptional job on your projects and presentations, and (d) being exceptionally reliable in the way you handle deadlines and responsibilities in the course. It would also be helpful, on the conclusion of the course, if you sent me a printed portfolio of your course work (papers and any particularly excellent lab assignments). I cannot write particularly helpful letters only on the basis of a class – you should plan on doing additional research work with faculty members in order to bolster a graduate school application if this is important to you. Any letter I write is likely to be a brief summary of your performance in terms of grades, participation, and quality of the assignments. Three years from now, I will need help remembering the details, hence the request for a portfolio. For future reference, I request at least 8 weeks prior notice to write a letter of recommendation in order to ensure that it fits within my workflow.
Notice to Students with Disabilities
If you require accommodations due to a documented disability, please follow the DSP procedures in submitting requests. I need these requests as soon as possible for course and exam planning. Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for the approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to the TA) as early in the semester as possible. The important words here are “be sure the letter is delivered”. DSP can be reached at 213-740-0776 and is located in the Student Union Building on the third floor, room 301. Walk-ins are welcome during the hours of 8:30 to 5:00. DSP services can be accessed through
Academic Integrity
Cheating during an exam will result in a score of zero on that exam. A score of zero will be assigned at my discretion 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 during the exam. You may not leave the room and return once exams are distributed. No cell phones or electronic devices may be out or on during an examination. If your cell phone rings during an examination or makes any other sound, or if there are any other electronic nuisances, I reserve the right to lower your grade by one full letter grade for each occurrence. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry, your MacPhone, your grandmother, your blog, that great new friend you made last week, your broker, your parents, and anyone else trying to reach you will still care after the test is over if they cared before. I promise.
Gross dishonesty – behaviors such as using tests, notes, or answer sheets during an exam will result in a grade of F for the entire course. 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 to be 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. Any papers judged to violate the USC academic integrity guidelines, such as evidence of plagiarism or data fabrication, 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 appropriate University officials.
Week / Class Date / Class Topic and Reading / Lab Activity1 / 1/13 / Overview of Course
Ways of knowing: intuition, logic, authority, observation (Martin, Chapter 1, pp 1-5) / Accessing PsychInfo and SPSS
Creating a Dataset and Basic Analysis
Exercise from Instructor
1//15 / Observation: Quantitative versus Qualitative Designs
Martin, Ch 1, remainder
Underhill, Ch 1
2 / 1/20 / Martin, Ch 4: Ethics with Participants / Lab Topic 2 (ethics in research)
1/22 / Martin, Ch 4: Ethics, continued
Underhill, Ch 2
3 / 1/27 / Martin, Ch 2: Variables / Lab Topic 3 (facilitating your project)
1/29 / Martin, Ch 2: Continued
Skim Underhill, pages 38-88
4 / 2/3 / Martin, Ch 3: Developing Research Ideas
Underhill chapters 8 and 9 / Lab Topic 4 (facilitating your topic)
2/5 / Martin, Ch 3: Continued
5 / 2/10 / Exam #1 / Lab
2/12 / Martin, Ch 5: Dirty and Questionable Tricks
6 / 2/17 / Martin, Ch 5: Neat Tricks / Lab
2/19 / Martin, Ch 6: Literature Searches
First written research paper due
7 / 2/24 / Martin, Ch 6: Continued / Lab
2/26 / Martin, Ch 7: How to Decide on an Independent Variable
8 / 3/3 / Martin, Ch 7: How to Decide on a Dependent Variable / Lab
3/5 / Martin, Ch 8: Between versus Within Subjects Designs (Between)
9 / 3/10 / Martin, Ch 8: Within Subjects Designs, Matching / Lab
3/12 / Exam #2
Spring Break
10 / 3/24 / Martin, Ch 9: How to Plan Experiments (Single Variable and Factorial Designs) / Lab
3/26 / Martin, Ch 9: Converging Series Designs
11 / 3/31 / Martin, Ch 10: How to Design Non-Experimental Research / Develop and test hypotheses about what leads some people to have many more friends than others on facebook or myspace
4/2 / Martin, Ch 10
12 / 4/7 / Martin, Ch 11: Before Beginning / Lab
4/9 / Martin, Ch 12: Interpreting Results
13 / 4/14 / Martin, Ch 12: / Lab
4/16 / Martin, Ch 13: Reporting Results
14 / 4/21 / Exam #3 / Lab: Consultation groups to discuss results of research project 2 and get ideas for results/discussion
4/23 / Poster Presentations / (Kysa away 4/22-4/26)
15 / 4/28 / Poster Presentations / Lab: Consultation groups to discuss results of research project 3 and get ideas for results/discussion
4/30 / Poster Presentations
NA / 4/30 / Second Research Paper Due