---------- INTRODUCTION to PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN ---------- 
  ---------- SYLLABUS ----------
    Dr. John M. Morgan
 
 
 
Psychology 200 INTRODUCTION to PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN Spring, 2002
 Lecture 12:00-12:50 AM   MW HGH 225
 Laboratories 1:00- 2:50 PM  M or W HGH 119 
 
 
REQUIRED TEXT: Experimental Methodology eighth edition
 by Larry B. Christensen, Allyn and Bacon, 2001
 ISBN #0-205-30832-5
 
 
 LECTURE AGENDA - CRN# 20106
 
Week Dates Descriptions 
 
1 Jan 23 W Course Introduction
 
2 Jan 28 - Jan 30 What is Science  Ch 1
 Question: What is not Science? "Creation Science"?
 How to use and not use the results of scientific 
 experiments.
  What If studies conflict?
 What If yesterday's data are contradicted by today's? 
 Lab==>'Unconscious bias' exercise with ESP cards
  'Clever Hans'
 
3 Feb 4 - Feb 6 Nonexperimental Research Approaches  Ch 2
 Lab==>Exercise based on ESP movie
 Formulate each team's survey research 
 question & hypothesis of first survey
   Discuss experiments
4 Feb 11 - Feb 13 Survey Method  Ch 2
 Lab==>Library Tour
 computer literature search
 
 Feb 18 - Feb 20 Experimental Research Approach  Ch 3 
 Lab==>Take and exam computer surveys
 Design questionnaire and write questions
 
 Feb 25 - Feb 27 Hypothesis Formation & Ethics (IRB form)  Ch 4&5
 Lab==>Movie? Milgram???, discussion, scenarios
 Critique the possible survey questions,
 decide of response mode, put them
 in order, etc.
 Feb 27 Test 1
 
 Mar 4 - Mar 6 Variables used in Experimentation  Ch 6
 Lab==>Final, Final revisions and copying of surveys
 
 Mar 11 - Mar13  Movie "Keys of Paradise" and finished Dependent Var
 Lab==>No lab in lieu of work obtaining 100 questionnaires  
 per team 
 Mar 15 End of First Half of Semester
 
 Mar 18 - Mar 20 Spring Break
 
 Mar 25 Control in Experimentation   Ch 7
 Lab==>Compile questionnaire results, display, plot,
 Means, etc.
 
 Mar 27  Techniques for Achieving Constancy  Ch 8
 Lab==>design second experiment and/or run experiments
 
 Apr 1  Cesar Chavez Holiday 
 
 
 Apr 3 - Apr 8  Experimental Research Design   Ch 9
 Lab==>Last minute design changes of experiment
 
 
 Apr 10  Quasi-Experimental Designs   Ch 10
  Lab==>Scenarios and designs
 
 Apr 15 Test 2
 
 Apr 15 - Apr 17 Single Case Research Designs   Ch 11
  Lab==>Biofeedback Data Collection
 
 Apr 22  Data Collection   Ch 12
  Lab==>Inputting data into SPSS
 
 Apr 24  Hypothesis Testing   Ch 13
  Lab==>Mean, Median, Standard Deviation
   Graphs
 
 Apr 29 - May 1  External Validity  Ch 14
  Lab==>Insure that all data has been
  collected and ready for report writing
 
 May 7 - May 9  Research Report  Ch 15
  Lab==>Write Report
 May 9  Test 3
 
 May 13 - May 17 Final Examination week
 May 18  Commencement
 
 
 20 points for volunteering for a research project sponsored by a
 Psychology faculty member.
 
 My office is in room 116C of HGH (826-4571). I invite 
you to consult with me on any matter during my office hours 
or any time that is agreeable to you and me either in person
or by email (jmm4@axe.humboldt.edu).
 
Laboratory Sessions:
 
Early in the semester, students will form small groups of 4 to 6 
students from our class. During some of the laboratory periods 
these groups will discuss the topic assigned by the professor and 
report to the class on the outcome of their discussions at the end
of the period. 
During other lab periods the groups will design and begin carrying 
out the group's research projects. Each member of the group will 
take responsibility for certain aspects of the group's projects 
and report on the their findings both to the group and the class. 
Each group will submit a written report of each week's laboratory 
activities within a week of the lab date. Each student will be 
responsible for an individual research report of the last of their 
group's research projects written in proper style and using 
conventions discussed in the book, in suggested web sites and in 
class. All of these matters will be discussed and help will be 
provided in the laboratory sessions.
Active participation in all lecture and laboratories is expected 
and part of the final point score will depend on my perceptions 
of each student's participation.
 
----------------------------------------------------
 
IV. Resources:
 Textbook of the course
 Book section (stacks) of the library
 Periodical section of the library (see list of
 Neuroscience journals, for example)
 Search of electronic indexes through the library, e.g.
 Medline, Psychlit, ERIC, etc.
 Internet newsgroups and lists (see list for examples)
 Search internet for specific topic home pages as suggested
  by the textbook
 
 
 
VI. Evaluation:   Total Points
 Mandatory:
3 quizzes over the lectures @ approx 5 week intervals @ 50 pts 150
 25 multiple-choice questions each
Essay Final Examination 50
Attendance and Participation 100
Oral team report to class on first team research project 50
Written report of second team research project 100
Best ten of the Team lab reports @ 10 points each 100
Two Team peer evaluations @ 25 pts each 50 
      ----------
 Total for the Semester  700 
 Voluntary extra credit:
 Volunteering to be a subject in 2 Psychology dept experiments 40
 
My Wide World Web site is http://users.humboldt.edu/jmmorgan
My Internet email address is jmm4@axe.humboldt.edu
 Letter grades are calculated on a curve generated by
this class only. 
My office is in room 116C of HGH (826-4571) and I invite you
to consult with me on any matter during my office hours or
any time that is agreeable to you and me.
 

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Copyright c 2002, Dr. John M. Morgan, All rights reserved
This page last edited March 25, 2002
If you have any feedback for the author, E-mail me