Spring Semester, 1999
Research/Experimentation in Psychology, PSYC 390
Tuesday/Thursday 2:30 - 3:45 PM
May Hall 312
Professor: Andrew McGarva, Ph.D.
Office phone: 483-2519, e-mail: amcgarva@eagle.dsu.nodak.edu
Office Hours: Klinefelter 227, see attached for hours (or by appointment).
-- Methods in Behavioral Research, 5th Edition; Cozby (Mayfield Publishing Company, 1993).
Psychology is a science in the same way that, for example, chemistry is a science. While chemists study the reactions between chemical compounds and the like, psychologists study behavior. The similarity in these endeavors is that they both employ what is called the scientific method. Using the scientific method, psychologists perform experiments to determine why people do what they do. Such experimentation involves the empirical representation of behavior--expressing what a person does in numerical form. These numbers are then entered into statistical formulas in order to determine the results of the experiment. This course will review the basic scientific methods as well as some of the statistical procedures employed by psychologists in conducting experiments.
Lecture material will often be supplemental to what you will find in the text. That is, since there will be little overlap between lecture and text materials, you will need to understand both lecture notes and readings in order to well in this class.
This course is intended to provide a foundational understanding of experimental methods and statistical procedures. By the end of the semester, students should have the ability to conduct a sound experiment from which conclusions can be drawn based on statistical hypothesis testing. Students are expected to put in two hours of out-of-class study for every hour of in-class time. As this is a 3 credit hour class, students should spend about six hours each week outside of class reading, reviewing lecture notes, and working on research papers for this course. Some students may need to devote more time, some less in order to receive a satisfactory grade.
I will not take roll BUT tests will be composed of questions about material not only from readings but also from lectures. Therefore, your grade for the course will indirectly reflect your attendance.
Final grades will be based on an overall point system where:
270-300 = A
240-269 = B
210-239 = C (average)
180-209 = D
179 or lower = F
Your total at the end of the semester will be the summation of points earned on four in-class exams, two research projects, and final exam.
Four (4) non-cumulative tests, each counting for fifty (50) points, will be given on material from class and from readings. These tests will be made up of multiple choice and short-answer questions. You will be required to work out problems on tests and show all work. There will be no opportunity to make up these exams but the lowest of these four will be dropped and not count toward your final grade.
The final exam will be cumulative and of similar format to the in-class exams. It will count for 50 points.
A major requirement of this course is the completion of a two research projects that together will be worth 100 points, one third of your final grade. The first of these projects will involve the development of a brief research proposal on a topic of your choice. A separate handout will be provided. This proposed study will be worth 30 points.
For the second project each student will design and conduct a major experiment over the course of the semester. The assignment will include a review of literature on a selected topic, the development of a research hypothesis, the writing of a research proposal, conducting the experiment, collecting data, analyzing the data statistically, presenting the data in graphic form, and writing the final report in correct APA form. A separate handout will be provided. This will be worth 70 points.
Students caught cheating on tests will receive a zero for that test or paper and their name will be submitted to the Dean. Bottom line: DON'T CHEAT!
Topic Required reading from text for each class period. (Optional reading in parentheses.) January 5 Syllabus Jan. 7 Course Review & Hypotheses 1 - 11 Jan. 12 Variables 12 - 26 Jan. 14 Measurement 27 - 36 Jan. 19 Experimental 37 - 47 Jan. 21 Independent and Dependent Variables 117 - 137 Jan. 26 Descriptive Statistics 256 - 258 Jan. 28 Variability 258 - 259 February 2 Normal Distribution 74 - 88 Feb. 4 Review Feb. 9 Exam 1 Feb. 11 Review Feb. 16 z Scores Feb. 18 z Test Feb. 23 Sampling Error Feb. 25 One Sample t-test 139 - 152 March 2 More t-test 153 - 162 March 4 Two Sample t-test March 8-12 Spring Break Holiday (no classes) March 16 More Two Sample t-test March 18 Exam 2 March 23 Review March 25 Experimental Design 89 - 101 March 30 More Design 102 - 116 April 1 Design and Survey Review April 6 Correlation 164 - 175 April 8 Exam 3 April 13 Review April 15 Analysis of Variance (One Way) 177 - 187 April 20 More ANOVA 189 - 207 April 22 Application of ANOVA April 27 Exam 4 April 29 Review Final Exam date and time to be announced.
Have a great summer!!