Psychology/Sociology 4332: Social/Experimental Research
Spring 2015
11:00 MWF
Marshall Hall 107
Catalog Description
An overview and review of research methods and critical thinking skills and an individual data collection and data analysis project for sociology and psychology students.
Prerequisites: 9 hours of psychology or sociology including 3310 and 3132
General Description
This course includes:
1. An overview and review of research methods and writing a research proposal (Patten text)
2. An overview of the tools of critical thinking and meta-cognition (Levy text)
3. An overview of critical thinking skills applied to the behavioral sciences (Stanovich text)
4. Writing a research proposal (literature review and hypotheses completed in link course) including a proposed method section
5. Writing a proposal for ETBU HSRRC
6. Collection or creation of methodological resources (surveys and other apparatus)
7. Data collection using proposed methodology
8. Data analysis using SPSS
9. Writing a research report from data collection project
10. Presenting oral presentation or poster presentation to the SNSS Research Forum
Prior to this course you should have:
o studied research methods and learned statistical analysis
o utilized SPSS for statistical analysis of data
o conducted a review of the literature (link course paper)
o proposed a research hypothesis related to the literature review (link course paper)
o proposed a methodology to test the hypothesis
During this course you will:
o submit a formal research proposal (literature review, hypotheses, and methods section)
o submit a research proposal to the HSRRC of ETBU
o design and conduct an data analysis project
o conduct data analysis on data collected
o write a journal-style research article using APA format
o create and present a poster or oral presentation summarizing the project to the SNSS Research Forum before April 22.
o cover and complete BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENTS on the content of:
o tools of critical thinking (Levy text)
o critical thinking in the behavioral sciences (Stanovich text)
o complete the Patten text as a guide to writing a proposal for empirical research
Formal Prerequisites
o Students should have completed the link course, completed their link paper, and have successfully completed the necessary research methods and data analysis courses prior to enrolling in this course.
Course Objectives(as related to Departmental Goals):
o Writing a research proposal and HSRRC proposal
o Designing, conducting, statistically analyzing, and interpreting the results of a research (data collection) project
o Writing and assembling in APA format a research (data collection) poster presentation or oral presentation for the SNSS Research forum (before April 22)
Specific Course Competencies:
o Writing and Assembling an APA-Format Research Report
o An Introduction to the Concept of Falsifiability in Hypothesis Testing
o Operationism and Essentialism in Critical Thinking
o Assessing the Validity of Testimonials and Case Studies
o Correlation and Causation
o Comparison, Control, and Manipulation
o The Artificiality Criticism and Psychology
o The Importance of Converging Evidence
o The Issue of Multiple Causation
o Probabilistic Reasoning
o The Role of Chance in Psychology
o Psychology’s Image Problem: Resistance to Scientific Psychology
o Research Ideas and Hypotheses
o A Review of Non-Experimental Methods
o A Review of the Basics of Research Methods of Experimentation
o A Review of Designing, Conducting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Experiments
o Internal and External Validity
o External Validity and Critiquing Experimental Research
o Writing Empirical Research Reports
Major topics include the following
Critical Thinking Skills
n Applied to course data collection project
n Levy’s Tools of Critical Thinking (Unit Take-home Exam)
n Stanovich: How to Think Straight About Psychology (Final Take-home Exam)
Term Data Collection Project with Written and Oral Presentation (Poster Session)
Behavioral science majors may postulate hypotheses relevant to program design and review and grant-achieving skills. Psychology and sociology majors are expected to postulate a research hypothesis appropriate for a Master’s or Doctoral thesis (in a research-rich area.) All proposals must comply with APA format. This presentation will occur at the SNSS Research Forum.
Method of Evaluation and Grading Scale
· 200 points: Research proposal* submitted based on the Proposing Empirical Research text (Patten, 2010)
*The research project and the APA-format written paper with poster-session presentation or oral presentation to the SNSS research forum will be the equivalent of two exams or 50% of the grade in the course.
· 100 points: BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENT based on Levy’s (2010) Tools of Critical Thinking 2ND edition.
· 100 points: BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENT covering the information denoted in Stanovich (2013) How to Think Straight about Psychology,
Total Points Possible = 400 points
Grading scale:
360--400=A
320--359=B
280--319=C
240--279=D
below 240=F
Class Attendance:
o Class attendance is mandatory. Excused absences include sickness, death in the family, and absence due to ETBU activity. Written documentation is required for an excused absence.
Instructor:
Robert L. Benefield, PhD
Professor of Psychology
Dept. of Behavioral Science
Instructor Contact Information:
Office: Marshall Hall 103-E
Phone: 903-923-2089 Office
318-470-6868 Cell
E-mail: or
Spring 201Office Hours:
o Monday Wednesday Friday
8:00—11:00 and 2:00--3:00* (*MW only)
o Tuesday Thursday
9:30--11:00 and 1:30—3:00
(Other times by appointment}
BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENTS:
o FOR FULL CREDIT CONTINGENT UPON ASSIGNMENT COMPLETION BY ASSIGNED DATE AND TIME.
Final Exam Policy:
You are waived from the final exam but must complete:
1. Critical Thinking Skills Departmental Exam
2. Major Field Achieve Test (MFAT) in Psychology or Sociology
Appropriate Classroom Behavior:
o All students are expected to engage in behavior that is consistent with the ETBU Student Code of Conduct. Receiving cell phone calls, disruptive side conversations, and sleeping in class are not appropriate classroom behaviors.
Texts:
o Patten (2010) Proposing Empirical Research 4th edition ISBN:1-884585-89-2
o Levy (2010) Tools of Critical Thinking: Meta-thoughts for Psychology second edition ISBN: 1-57766-629-1
o Stanovich (2013) How to Think Straight about Psychology, 10th ed.
ISBN: 9780205914128
Schedule of Classes and Time Line for Projects
JANUARY
07 Course Introductions and Overview of Research & HSRRC Proposals
09 Skill Review: Patten Text Part A and B Review
12------RESEARCH PROPOSAL BASIC IDEA (Informal Proposal) DUE*
14 Skill Review: Patten Text Part C and D Review
16 Skill Review: Patten Text Part E and F Review
19---Holiday (NO CLASS)
21--RESEARCH PROPOSAL INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESES SECTION DRAFT DUE {based on link-course paper}
23 Skill Review: Patten Text Part G Review
26 Skill Review: Patten Text Part H Review
28---Revised Research Idea (Formal Proposal) including METHOD SECTION DRAFT DUE
30 Skill Review: Patten Text Part I and J Review
FEBRUARY
02 FORMAL RESEACH & HSRRC PROPOSAL DUE*—mail electronic copy to
*Data collection may not begin until formal approval by the ETBU Human Subjects Research Review Committee}
************************************************************************
BEGIN LEVY TEXT (BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENTS DUE WHEN ASSIGNED):
04 Levy Chapters 1-3
06 Levy Chapters 4-6
09 Levy Chapters 7-8
11 Levy Chapters 9-11
13 Levy Chapters 12-14
16 Levy Chapters 15-17
18 Levy Chapters 18-19
20 Levy Chapters 20-22
23 Levy Chapters 23-24
25 Levy Chapters 25-26
27 Levy Chapters 27-28
MARCH
02 Levy Chapters 29-30
04 Levy Epilogue, Summary Table, Appendix and Overflow/Review for Exam
06 ORAL PRESENTATIONS—BASED ON BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENTS on Levy text DUE TODAY
09-13 Spring Break J NO CLASS
16 First Draft of Results and Discussion Sections Due
***********************************************************************
BEGIN STANOVICH TEXT (BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENTS DUE WHEN ASSIGNED)
18 Stanovich Chapters 1-2
20 Stanovich Chapters 3-4
23 Stanovich Chapters 5-6
25 Stanovich Chapter 7-8
27 Stanovich Chapter 9-10
30 Stanovich Chapter 11-12
APRIL
01 Stanovich Overflow DAY
03 Good Friday (No Class)
06 ORAL PRESENTATION OF BLACKBOARD ASSIGNMENTS on Stanovich text DUE TODAY
08 complete work on data collection project (MEET IN LAB)
10 complete work on data collection project (MEET IN LAB)
13 complete work on data collection project (MEET IN LAB)
15 complete work on data collection project (MEET IN LAB)
17 complete work on data collection project (MEET IN LAB)
20 complete work on data collection project (MEET IN LAB)
*22* STUDENT RESEARCH FORUM: Oral and Poster Presentations
24 FINAL DOCUMENT PREPARATION.
27 FINAL FORMAL RESEARCH PROJECT PAPER DUE (200 points)—mail electronic copy to
April 27@8:00===Major Field Achievement Test and Critical Thinking Skills Test
*ALL RESEARCH PROPOSALS WILL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND DEAN AND THE ETBU HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH REVIEW BOARD.
Note: This schedule is subject to change. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to check with the instructor to determine if changes have occurred.
Poster Presentations
o All posters and oral presentations will be presented at the School of Natural and Social Sciences Research Forum April 22, 2015.
o Exceptional posters may be submitted to the UTA PSI CHI undergraduate research forum:
o
Travel funds may be available for students who wish to present their posters to this or some similar conference.
o
Disability Accommodation Statement
Students with a disability may request appropriate accommodations for this course by contacting the Office of Student Success and providing the required documentation. If accommodations are approved by the Disability Accommodations Committee, the Advising Office will notify you and your professor of the approved accommodations. You must then discuss these accommodations with your professor.