INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGICAL METHODS
Sec.
#6253: T
7:00-9:50 -> I-146
FACULTY INFORMATION:
Email:
clifford.j@mccd.edu
Office: I-214
Web Page:
http://www.mccd.edu/faculty/clifford.j/
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a continuation of PSYC-01A with emphasis on psychological theory and a detailed treatment of the scientific method as applied to the study of human behavior. Experimental design, basic assumptions, and limitations and advantages of the experimental method are considered along with an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics.
EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the
APA Code of Ethics.
2. Demonstrate how to find
journal articles in the library and on the internet relevant to a research
topic.
3. Importance of citing sources
of facts and information.
4. Compare and contrast the
major research methods used in behavioral research.
5. Demonstrate in-depth
understanding of the experimental method.
6. Critically analyze existing
research.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of
statistics and measurement as applied to behavior.
8. Formulate, conduct, analyze
and present results from an original research project.
PREREQUISITES:
PSYC-01A
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Gravetter, F. J.,
& Forzano, L. B. (2009).
Methods in Behavioral Research.
(3rd ed.).
CA:
Thomson.
OPTIONAL TEXTBOOKS:
Perrin, R. (2009).
Pocket Guide to APA Style. (3rd
ed.).
American Psychological
Association. (2009).
Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association,
(6th
ed.).
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
Five Scantrons
(form No. 882-E) available for purchase at the bookstore.
DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES:
If you have a verified
physical, medical, psychological, or learning disability or perhaps you feel you
may have one of these disabilities which impacts your ability to carry out
assigned course work, please contact the Disabled Student Services (DSS) office.
DSS staff will review your needs and determine what accommodations are necessary
and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. DSS is
located in the Lesher Student Services Bldg. Room 234, phone 384-6155. In Los
Banos, DSS is located in Building A, phone 381-6423.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Academic
dishonesty is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and is handled by the
Vice-President of Student Personnel.
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, collusion, misuse of college computers and software, and other dishonest conduct. Students in violation of the Merced College Academic Honesty Student Code of Conduct are subject to dismissal from this course.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are
expected to attend each class and to be responsible for all of the materials
covered in the textbook and lecture.
In most instances lectures will complement and NOT review the assigned reading
materials. Consequently, if for some
legitimate reason you are unable to attend class it will be advisable for you to
make arrangements with another student to acquire the lecture notes and to stop
by during my office hours if you have questions regarding the material.
PUNCTUALITY:
It is important to
be on time to each class. Important
announcements will be made at the beginning of class (e.g., reminders,
assignment instructions, changes to the class schedule, etc.).
If you are late, you may miss these announcements.
Do not come late to the final exam.
The exam will end when the last person who arrived on time has completed
their exam. This means that if the
final exam starts at 8pm and everyone who arrived on time is finished by 8:30pm,
the class will end at that time. If
you come in at 8:25, you will only have 5 minutes to complete the exam.
ASSIGNMENTS & EVALUATIONS:
Exams:
Five comprehensive examinations will be scheduled.
Each examination will typically consist of multiple-choice, short answer,
and essay questions covering materials from both the textbook and lecture.
Make-up exams will only be given under extreme
circumstances. The reason for your
absence must be documented (i.e., a note from a doctor).
Excused make-up examinations must be scheduled within
one week of the original examination date.
Make-up exams will not be the same as the scheduled exams.
An unexcused exam absence will result in the
score of 0%.
(Total Possible Points: 500)
Active
Learning/Critical Thinking & Homework:
Throughout the course, you will have many
opportunities to participate in group and individual critical thinking
activities.
You must be in class and participate to earn these points.
Homework
assignments will be given during the semester.
Some assignments will be completed in class while others will be due at
the next class meeting. All out-of-class assignments
must be typed according to APA format to receive credit.
Late homework will be penalized 10% each day it is late.
(Total Possible Points: 100)
Research Papers: Three
papers will be assigned during the semester.
All papers must be typed
according to APA format. In addition, a poster presentation of Paper #3 will be
required worth 30 points. The format
of the poster presentation will be covered in lecture.
Late papers will be penalized 10% each day it
is late. (e.g., for a paper worth
100 points that is due on Tuesday, if you turn it in on Wednesday, the highest
score possible will be 90 points, on
Thursday it will only be worth a maximum of 80 points … the following Tuesday,
it will only be worth 30 points).
(Total Possible Points: 230)
GRADING PROCEDURE:
During the semester you can
earn up to 830 points. Five exams
(100 points each) will be worth 500 points, research papers will be worth 200
points, the poster presentation will be worth 30 points, homework assignments
and active learning activities will be worth 100 points. The total number of
points you earn during the semester will determine your final grade.
Grades will be given as follows:
747 - 830 points = A
664 - 746 points = B
581 - 663 points = C
498 - 580 points = D
Below 498 points = F
COURSE SCHEDULE
This syllabus and schedule are
tentative and subject to change. All
changes will be announced in class.
DATE
TOPIC
Week 1
Jan. 19
Introduction
Week 2
Jan. 26
The Scientific Method
Chapter 1
Research Ideas
Chapter 2
Week 3
Feb. 2 Defining & Measuring Variables Chapter 3
Writing Research Reports
Chapter 16
Week 4
Feb. 9
Exam 1 (Chapters 1-3, 16)
“The Pepsi Challenge”
Week 5
Feb. 16
Ethics in Research
Chapter 4
Paper 1 Due
Week 6
Feb. 23
Research Strategies & Validity
Chapter 6
Week 7
Mar. 2
Exam 2 (Chapters 4 & 6)
Paper 2 Experiment
Week 8
Mar.
9
Descriptive Research Strategy
Chapter 13
Week 9
Mar. 16
Experimental Research Strategy
Chapter 7
Paper 2 Due
Week 10
Mar. 23
Exam 3 (Chapters 13 & 7)
Paper 3 Group Work
Week 11
Mar. 30
Experimental Designs
Chapter 8
Experimental Designs
Chapter 9
Week 12
Apr. 6
Spring Break
Week 13
Apr. 13 Paper 3 Group Presentations
Factorial Designs Chapter 11
Selecting Research Participants Chapter 5
Week 14
Apr. 20
Exam 4 (Chapters 8, 9, 11, & 5)
Paper 3 Group Work
Week 15
Apr. 27
Single-Subject Designs
Chapter 14
Correlational Research
Chapter 12
May 4
Quasi-experimental Designs
Chapter 10
Statistical
Evaluation of Data
Chapter 15
Week 17
May 11
Review and Wrap-up
Paper 3 Due
Week 18
May 18
Poster presentations
Week 19
Final Examination (Chapter 14, 12, 10, 15)
Date and Time TBA