Instructor: Isabel Sumaya, Ph.D.
email: Office: DDH H102 Phone: 654-2381
Office Hours:TTH: 10:30 – 12:30 pm TA: TBA
Required Textbooks:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Graziano, A.M., & Raulin, M.L. (2004). Research methods: A process of inquiry. (5th ed.).
Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Other Material Needed:Basic calculator, diskettes
Suggested Textbooks & Software:
Any Basic Statistics Book
SPSS software (student package)
Course Description & Course Objectives:TO TURN YOU ON TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH!!!!
As outlined in the university course catalog, this class is designed to elicit critical thinking about research strategies, empirical evidence, synthesis of research findings, theory, causality, and research ethics. In other words, this class is designed to teach you how to think like a scientist/researcher, design and implement research projects, and analyze and draw inferences from data. This course provides the necessary background for PSYC 300B where you will design and perform experiments, analyze, and presentdata.
Prerequisites: PSYC 100, PSYC 200, and PSYC 290 (or equivalents). Note: A grade of C or better in this class is required to enroll in PSYC 300B.
The Specific Course Objectives Are To:
- understand that modern science (including psychological research) is a process of gaining knowledge with underpinnings in the historical theories of science.
- learn the various levels of constraints and ethical considerations in the scientific process and how this relates to human and non human animal research in the discipline of psychology.
- appropriately use operational definitions of variables and understand the process of hypothesis testing, the appropriate use of research design and statistical testing (univariate).
- in a discussion setting, critically evaluate the validity of published data, identify important variables, and generate alternative explanations and methodology.
- gather scientific information through the print media (web & library).
- understand in theory and practice what plagiarism is.
- know and differentiate the various types of publications (ie., original research vs. review).
- use published research (“the literature”) to write and justify a rationale for hypothesis testing.
- take part in group assignments including data collection and statistical analyses.
- write a clear and concise literature review.
Requirements & Points Breakdown
Exams (3@100pts) = 300Experiments (2@30)= 60
Final (1@50pts)= 50Homework (4@10pts)= 40
Pop Quizzes (5@10pts) = 50Group Discussions (articles &
Literature Review= 100 exercise) (4@25 pts)= 100
= 500= 200TOTAL = 700 pts
Grading Policy
A = 100% - 95B = 86 – 84C = 76 – 74D = 66 - 64
A- = 94 – 90B- = 83 – 80C- = 73 – 70D- = 63- 60
B+ = 89 – 87C+ = 79 – 77D+ = 69- 67 F = 59 - 0
Policies and Guidelines or What I expect of you and what you can expect of me:
In the Classroom
Every class meeting I will present the most exciting, intriguing, up-to-date information about research methods. I expect that you will come to class prepared for the lecture and on time. Cells phones need to be turned off so that there are no interruptions during lecture. You are expected to read the chapter in advance and come to class with a copy of the lecture (powerpoint presentations you get on my web site).
Attendance
This class necessitates your attendance every class period. I will periodically take roll. Consequently, your absences will be deducted from your final grade, so do not skip class. I will consider an absence excused if you bring me a doctor’s note or have extenuating circumstances (death in the family, hospitalization etc.).
Exams
I do not give make-up exams. Please do not ask me. The answer will be no. However, if extenuating circumstances arise and I feel your circumstance warrants it, you can opt to take an exam at the end of the quarter during finals week to replace the one missed. There will be three exams and a final. In order to pass the class you are required to take the final. The format of the exams will be primarily short definitions (one to two sentences), short answers (one paragraph), and mathematical calculations. Since all the exams are short answer and essay format, you will be required to print your answers (not use cursive) so that I can read your answers with relative ease. This helps both of us in that I will clearly understand your answer and therefore give you the points you deserve. Pop quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class (4 true/false questions). If you walk in late, you will not be allowed to take the quiz.
Research Paper (Literature Review)
You will complete a final written project. In this paper you will perform a review of the literature in an area of psychology that you are fascinated with. You will use APA format for the paper (citation and reference style etc). In order to competently complete this paper, you will be required to begin work on it from day one. The paper can focus on either human or nonhuman animal research.
Homework
There will be four homework assignments. When appropriate, homework will be typed with the exception of assignments that require math calculations. Late homework assignments will not be accepted.
Experiments
You will participate in two experiments. You will collect data on yourself (N=1) for the first project and also participate in a class project where you will contribute your data point to the class as a whole. If you are not in class during the collection of data you will not be allowed to turn in the assignment for the experiment.
Journal Article Review/ Group Discussions
There will be three group discussions in class. The first discussion will focus on the article by D. Goodstein, How Science Works, where you will be required to work in groups and answer questions/defend a position etc. in the context of the article. After discussion in groups, each group will share their viewpoint etc. and full class discussion will take place. You will not be allowed to participate if you have not read the article! I will ask everyone point blank if they have done so. For the second article (subject to change) by D. Morgan et al.,Social dominance in monkeys: Dopamine D2 receptors and cocaine self-administration, you will asked to identify important components of the research design, analysis, hypothesis etc. Once again you will first work in groups then as a class. The third will be assigned later in the quarter. I will assign points based on your verbal participation and your overall knowledge of the article. I recommend that you take notes while you read the articles so that you have quick reference to details. If you are not in class during group discussions, you will not receive group discussion points. There will be no make-ups.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Students that are entitled to accommodations under the ADA should feel free to contact me directly so that I may ensure proper accommodations. These accommodations will be in complete compliance with the directives set forth by CSUB’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office.
Academic Dishonesty
Last but not least is the issue of dishonesty (See CSUB 2005-07 Catalog pg. 80 for academic dishonesty policy). Cheating on exams or plagiarism (from published work or classmates) will not be tolerated. If you are caught in any of the above mentioned acts you will at the very least receive a “0” for that assignment and are at risk for University censure or expulsion. In the case of plagiarism, I will assign a “0” for the assignment, report the incident to the proper school authorities and you will receive an “F” for the course. I have done this in the past and will continue this policy. Below is an excerpt from the Purdue Online Writing Lab ( defining plagiarism:
“Plagiarism is the unauthorized use of someone else's thoughts or wording either by incorrect documentation, failing to cite your sources altogether, or simply by relying way too heavily on external resources. Plagiarizing does not give due credit to the party who really came up with the language and/or idea, but also fails to inform the reader that the information originated from an outside source which they might have had the option of consulting had adequate acknowledgments been provided. Plagiarizing undermines your academic integrity. It betrays your own responsibilities as a student writer, your audience, and the very research community you were entering by deciding to write a research paper in the first place. Whether intentional or, as is more often the case, inadvertent, the result is that some or all of another author's ideas become represented as your own. It's like lip-synching to someone else's voice and accepting the applause and rewards for yourself. Incidentally, plagiarism also includes informal published material such as the re-use of the same paper for more than one course or "buying" a paper from another student. If it feels like cheating or an easy way-out, and the moral and intellectual consequences don't sound alarm bells, stop and think of the serious punitive repercussions you could incur. Because it is intellectual theft, plagiarism is considered by all post-secondary institutions as an academic crime with punishment anywhere from an F on that particular paper to dismissal from the course to expulsion from the college or university. If that scares you, it shouldn't, because there is no reason it has to happen to you.”
Course Schedule (Subject to Change)
DateReadings (read before getting into class!)
Week 1
(Lecture)
3/28T&THIntro to course (Syllabus)Welcome to the World of Science
3/30Curiosity, Creativity & CommitmentCh. 1 – PPT Lec 1
(Class discussions & Assignments)
-Research Paper – Brain Storming
-Types of pubs:review vs original work APA 1.04
- Assignment: Homework#1 Get Articles for Research Paper (one review & one empirical)
- Assignment: Homework#2 (Pseudoscience)
Week 2
4/4 (T TH)Research is a Process of InquiryCh. 2 – PPT Lec 2
4/6- phases of research, levels of constraint The Starting Point: Asking Questions Ch. 3- PPT Lec 3
- types of variables, applied vs basic, ethicsAPA Appendix C
(Class discussions & Assignments)
- In Class Discussion: Article #1 (Goodstein – “How Science Works”)
- Assignment:Homework #3 Plagiarism: 8 questions (
- Assignment: Homework #4 HSIRB & IACUC training (on web training)
- HSIRB: ()
- IACUC: ( GradStudies/HCUAS) Only Module I!
Week 3 &4
4/11 – 4/13Data & the Nature of Measurement Ch. 4- PPT Lec 4
- scales of measurement, operational definitions, reliability, validity
4/18 – 4/20Statistical Analysis of DataCh. 5 – PPT Lec 5
- descriptive & inferential, statistical inference
(Class Discussions & Assignments)
- Assignment: Experiment #1: Circadian Experiment: Temperature – outside of class
Descriptives (mean, SD, SEM, data plotted)
Week 5
4/25 (T)EXAM 1 (covers Ch 1- Ch 4: Descriptive Stats pg. 95-115)
______
4/27 (TTH)Literature Review…Any questions????
Week 6
5/02 (TTH)Natural Observation/Case Study & SurveysCh. 6 – PPT Lec 6
5/04Correlational ResearchCh. 7 – PPT Lec 7
(Class Discussions & Assignments)
- Assignment: Experiment #2: -Survey (Life Expectancy)
(correlation between life expectancy & gender)
Week 7
5/09 (T)Hypothesis Testing, Validity & Threats to ValidityCh. 8 – PPT Lec 8
5/11(TH)Issue of ValidityCh. 9 – PPT Lec 9
(Class Discussions & Assignments) TBA
Week 8
5/16 (T)Exam #2
5/18 (TH)Control of Variance Through Experimental Design
T-Test & ANOVA
Between Subs DesignCh. 10 – PPT Lec 10
Week 9
5/23 (T)Within Subjects Designs (repeated measures)Ch. 11 – PPT Lec 11
5/25 (TH)Factorial DesignCh. 12 – PPT Lec 12
Two-Way ANOVA
(Class Discussions & Assignments)
- Group Discussion:#2 - Main Effects & Interaction Exercises
Week 10
5/30 (T)In Class Discussion: (Articles) #3 & #4
6/01 (TH)Exam #3
Week 11 (Finals Week: 6/06-09)
6/06 (T)ComprehensiveFinal Exam (8:00 – 10:30 am)