PSY 303 - Research Methods
Fall 1998
Tues/Thurs 9:30-10:50, Straub Hall 146
Lab: Straub Hall 180, see times below

COURSE OBJECTIVES/CONTENT:
This course serves a theoretical and practical introduction to doing research in psychology. We will cover the major issues in conducting psychological research, discussing how to:

1) formulate a research question
2) design a study
3) conduct the study
4) analyze data and interpret findings
5) communicate the results

Although the course is specifically designed to teach research methods in psychology, the course has been designed with an eye to teaching general research skills that can be used in other fields (e.g., data analysis, program evaluation). An even more general goal is to teach logic and critical analysis skills that will allow you to be an informed consumer of other people's research findings and claims.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:
PSY302 (Statistical Methods) or its equivalent is a prerequisite for this course. You must have a working knowledge of statistics for this course.

COURSE READINGS:
The required text for this course is Research in Psychology: Methods and Design (2nd edition), by C. James Goodwin. An optional resource that you will find highly useful, particularly if you intend to take more psychology courses and especially if you are considering graduate school in psychology, is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (4th edition). The manual is a helpful and complete guide to writing papers outside of psychology as well. Students who have taken this course in the past have found the manual valuable. Even if you do not purchase this book, you are responsible for following the guidelines within it for your assignments in this class. A copy of the manual is also available at the reference table in the Knight Library.

In addition, you may wish to purchase A Simple Guide to SPSS for Windows , by L. A Kirkpatrick and B. C. Feeney. This is a helpful guide to the statistics software you will be using to analyze data in the course lab.

In addition to the text, there are three articles that you will be required to read early on in the quarter. Copies are on reserve in the reserve room at the Knight Library. You may also read these articles in the bound journals in the Knight Library. There is alos an optional article that is helpful in guiding your reading of journal articles.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1) There is no substitute for attending class AND lab in this course. Most of the topics covered are understood only via a combination of background knowledge (that you will get from reading the text) and demonstration and discussion that will occur in class and in lab. However, more importantly, you will participate in several activities in class and in lab that will allow you to practice and master research skills. This practical training aspect of the class cannot be achieved without your attendance. Furthermore, because one important aspect of learning research methods is to learn how to critique research design and execution, part of your job as a member of this class is to provide suggestions and feedback to your other classmates.

I strongly recommend planning to attend EVERY class and EVERY lab. If you miss a quiz or an in-class assignment, you cannot make it up. If you miss more than two classes, I will not use office hours to go over what you missed. (I reserve the right to grant exceptions to the two previous statements under dire circumstances, but don't count on being an exception.) If you know you must miss a class, I would appreciate you telling me in advance.

Your attendance at the scheduled exam period is mandatory. If you do not attend, you will fail the course.

If you don't already have an e-mail account, please get one, as there may be additional class information that I will distribute via e-mail. Once you have your account, or if you already have one, send an E-mail message to YOUR GTF so they will know you are on-line. This is your first class assignment.

If you send me E-mail questions about the class, I will try to answer them as soon as I can; however, if they are long or complicated, it is possible (but unlikely) that you will have to wait until my next office hours for an answer. Also, from time to time I will post helpful information on the course web page.

2) All papers in this class will be typed in a readable font, double-spaced, left justified only, and with margins of one inch at the top, bottom, left side and right side (these are all consistent with the APA Publication Manual ). If you foresee problems meeting these qualifications, please discuss them with me.

3) Reading assignments should be completed before lecture on the day they are listed on the syllabus. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Assignments turned in after the start of class are half a day late, with a 5% penalty, up until 4 pm of the due date; papers turned in after 4 pm are 1 day late with a 10% penalty. Each subsequent day rolls over at 4 pm, with an additional 10% penalty. If you do not turn in your paper in class, turn it into the Psychology office (131 Straub) and get the time stamped on it. Do not plan to skip class to finish your paper--your paper will be penalized anyway, and you will miss class and get behind.

Each student gets one "bonus day late" credit that can be used on any Homework 1-3 (not on Homework 4, or the final poster). The bonus allows you to turn in the assignment up until 4 pm the day after the due date without penalty.

Some assignments in the course are ongoing, and are not listed specifically on the syllabus (for example, analyzing data for your final project). You will be reminded about these activities in class periodically, but it will be your responsibility to pace yourself.

4) As part of the course, there is a lab in the Straub Hall computer lab (Straub 180). Lab attendance is not optional, and participation and performance on lab assignments will be part of your course grade.

5) Grading will be broken down as follows:

4 quizzes @ 25 points each                                    = 100 points
Homework 1 (Introduction)                                     = 25 points
Homework 2 (Reference section and summary)                    = 25 points
Homework 3 (Intro and methods for final project)              = 75 points
Homework 4 (Results and discussion for final project)         = 50 points
Midterm                                                       = 75 points
   (you may drop one quiz and have your midterm count 100 instead)
Final Poster**                                                = 100 points
Worksheets, participation, and attendance                     = 50 points

**The project is worth 100 points. However, if you do not attend the final poster session (during
the scheduled exam for this course), you will receive a failing grade for the course. 

Final grades MAY be curved upwards. Extra credit options totaling no more than 5% of a student's grade (25 points) may be offered throughout the quarter. Detailed instructions for the homework assignments and the final project will be distributed in class. Quizzes will be short (approximately 15 minutes) and will cover class material and reading since the last quiz (i.e., they are not cumulative, although later concepts that build on earlier ones are fair game). In a sense, homework assignments relating to your final project (2, 3, & 4) ARE cumulative. You will need to turn in either the original or a copy of Homework 3 with Homework 4.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me soon. Please request that the Counselor for Students with Disabilities send a letter verifying your disability.

NONNATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS: If you have been speaking English for a limited time, and anticipate that your English abilities may interfere with your progress in this course, please arrange to see me. I can advise you on available resources and discuss possible accommodations