RESEARCH METHODS
Spring 2022
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Class Information |
Instructor Information |
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PSYCH 3002, Sec 02 |
Helen C. Harton, Ph.D. |
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Sabin 127 (class) and 109 (lab) |
Bartlett 2080 |
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MWF 11-11:50 + M 12:00-12:50 |
273-2235; harton@uni.edu |
Office hours: Monday 3-4 pm, Friday 1-2:50 pm and as arranged
TA: Lacie Hines
Course Information
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, you should be able to:
Instructor Course Description: In this course, you will learn how to design, interpret, present, and evaluate psychological research.
Course Catalog Description: Introduction to fundamentals of
psychological inquiry. Emphasis on experimental research but all major approaches
(correlational, field, clinical, phenomenological) considered. Prerequisite(s):
PSYCH 1001; plus 6 additional credit hours in psychology.
Syllabus/Class Information Locations: The course syllabus can be found linked from my website, www.uni.edu/harton, or directly at www.uni.edu/harton/rmsyll22s.htm. It is also linked from the BlackBoard elearning site. Hyperlinks in the syllabus link to PowerPoint slides for the class, readings, and further information on assignments. PowerPoint slides will be posted online before each class.
Credit Hour Statement: This course meets the Course Credit Hour
Expectation outlined in the Course Catalog. Students should expect to work a
minimum of 2 hours per week outside of class for every course credit hour.
Since this is an advanced undergraduate course, the expectation is that you
will work approximately 3 hours per week outside of class for every course
credit hour, or an average of 12 hours per week.
Readings
Required:
Jhangiani, R. S., Chiang, I-C. A., Cuttler, C., & Leighton, D. C. (2019). Research methods in psychology (4th ed.). Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. (JCCL)
Optional, but recommended,
especially if you plan to go to graduate school in
psychology or a related area:
American Psychological Association
(2019). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association (7th ed). http://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
In addition, some short articles and podcasts will be assigned in class. These will be provided in Blackboard and/or linked from the syllabus.
*Note that the online textbook (JCCL) has NOT been updated to new APA
style, which came out in October 2019, but that you WILL need to use version 7
style for your papers (resources available in Bb).
Grading
Exam 1 10%
Exam 2 15%
Exam 3 15%
Final exam 15%
Proposal introduction 10%
Proposal method and expected results 10%
Final completed proposal 15%
Homework/Lab 10%
Earning 90% of the possible points will earn an A, 80% a B, etc., with these categories being further subdivided by pluses and minuses (e.g., 80-82 = B-; 83-86 = B; 87-89=B+).
Course Requirements and Expectations
Exams: There will be three exams and a comprehensive final. Exams will be made up of multiple choice, short answer, and short essay questions. You can use printed or handwritten notes during the exam (no electronic devices), but the exam is timed, so you won’t have time to look up everything, or even many things (so you still need to study). I recommend studying as if you won’t have the option to look things up, and then only using it when you really need to. The plan right now is for the exams to be in person, in the classroom. If that has to change at some point, you’ll get a week’s notice at least.
· Exam 1 will be on February 18 and will cover the basics of the scientific method, scientific knowing, replication, theories, basic and applied research, and understanding graphs, tables, and articles.
· Exam 2 will be on March 30 and will cover scientific writing, measurement, reliability and validity, the observational method, sampling, surveys, and correlations.
· Exam 3 will be on April 22 and will cover experiments, advanced experiments, and ethics.
· Exam 4 will be on May 10 (exam week—Tuesday at 10am). It will cover the material since the last exam PLUS information from throughout the semester.
Research proposal: You will design a study to test a hypothesis that you are interested in. The research proposal will include an introduction that pulls together previous research on the topic (aka a literature review). This is not just a compilation of separate paragraphs, each describing one study--you should organize the studies you read in a coherent manner, analyzing what others have done and leading into what needs to be done next (your study) and what you expect to find. You will then have a method section detailing who your participants would be and what you would have them do, a results section describing what your expected results are and how you would analyze to find them, and a discussion section detailing the implications of your expected results. These should be followed by a list of references (in APA style), and appendices (including questionnaires used). You will turn in the introduction first, then the methods and expected results, and finally the entire paper (with revisions to previous sections based on feedback). The paper should be in the latest APA style. There are sample papers available in Blackboard.
Homework/Lab exercises: There will be homework exercises and/or lab exercises each week that will be assigned in class to give you practice with course concepts. They include article summaries, computer exercises, class demonstrations, and data collection. The pre-paper assignments (e.g., reference section, outline, annotated bibliography) count as part of your homework grade. In-class assignments such as practice sheets and small group activities will also be included in this part of your grade. Lab assignments generally count twice as much (10 pts.) as in-class activities (5 pts). Points for homework assignments vary from 5 to 25 depending on the assignment. See further information on assignments for more details.
Course Schedule
The schedule is tentative—it’s possible that
some topics may take a little longer or get covered more quickly depending on
class understanding, which may also affect due dates, especially for smaller
(e.g., homework) assignments. Exam dates and due dates for the paper should be
set, but we may still need to be flexible. At any rate, the exams and paper
assignments will not be moved forward.
Further details on each assignment are
provided here and in
Blackboard. Unless indicated otherwise, all assignments should be submitted via
BlackBoard.
Hyperlinks on dates are to PowerPoint slides. They will be posted each week by the start of class.
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Topic |
Assignment |
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Welcome and introduction to the course |
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Scientific ways of knowing |
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Read
JCCL Chapter 1 (textbook) ·
“Me” slide due ·
Lab—choosing a research topic |
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Scientific knowledge and logical fallacies |
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Read
chapter on logical fallacies (Bb) ·
Logical
fallacies assignment due |
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Critically thinking about research |
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Topics
due |
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Basics of the scientific method |
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Read
JCCL Chapter 2 ·
Lab—using library resources |
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Hypotheses and operational definitions |
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Final
topic due |
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Understanding articles |
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Read this
article on how to read empirical articles. |
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Understanding graphs and tables |
· Hypothesis assignment due · Lab—interpreting research |
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Replication |
·
Listen
to podcast on replication: https://youarenotsosmart.com/2019/03/01/yanss-147-the-replication-crisis-rebroadcast/ ·
Questions
on article due |
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Theories |
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Basic vs. applied research |
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Lab—understanding and writing about
research |
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Scientific writing |
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Read this
article: Sternberg, R.
J. (1993). How to win acceptances by psychology journals: 21 tips for better
writing. APS Observer. https://www.csustan.edu/nelson/how-win-acceptances-psychology-journals-21-tips-better-writing ·
Read
JCCL Chapter 11 ·
Article
summary due |
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Feb 18 |
Exam 1 |
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Scientific writing |
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Plagiarism
assignment due (upload screen shot of final grade) ·
References
due ·
Lab—improving writing |
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Scientific writing |
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Measurement |
·
Read
JCCL Chapter 4 |
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Reliability and validity |
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Lab—designing a scale |
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Scaling |
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Sampling |
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Outline
and idea for proposal due |
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Observation |
·
Read
JCCL Chapter 6 ·
Lab—evaluating your scale |
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Observation |
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Surveys |
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Read
JCCL Chapter 7 |
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March 12-20 |
Spring break |
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Surveys |
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Lab—doing an observation |
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Surveys |
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Rough
draft of introduction due |
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Surveys and correlation |
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Surveys and survey modes |
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Lab—evaluating surveys/correlations |
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Mar 30 |
Exam 2 |
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Experiments |
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Read
JCCL Chapter 5 |
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Experiments |
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Lab—doing experiments |
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Advanced experiments |
·
Read
JCCL Chapter 9 ·
Introduction
(literature review) due along with annotated bibliography |
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Advanced experiments |
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Advanced experiments |
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Lab—evaluating research ·
Visit
the INSPIRE conference this afternoon or tomorrow and write up a summary and
critique of two research talks or posters (due on Wed.) |
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Basics of ethics |
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Read
JCCL Chapter 3 |
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More on ethics |
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Animal research |
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Lab—understanding ethical dilemmas |
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Other ethical issues |
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Method
and expected results sections due |
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Apr 22 |
Exam 3 |
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Quasi-experiments |
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Read
JCCL Chapter 8 ·
Lab—working on the paper, pulling it
together |
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Quasi-experiments |
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Quasi-experiments |
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Last
day to participate in extra credit or turn in extra credit papers |
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Small n designs |
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Lab—providing peer review (bring an electronic copy of your proposal
to exchange with a peer) ·
Read
JCCL Chapter 10 |
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Honest graphs and tables |
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Recap and review |
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Proposal
due along with final annotated bibliography and list of changes you made in
response to peer review |
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May 10 |
Tuesday, 10-11:50 Final exam |
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FAQs
How can I do well in this course?
The most important thing to do if you want to do well in this course is
to come to class and pay attention. Keep up with assignments, especially for
the paper, and read the extra information I put online for that and the other
assignments. Start on the paper assignments early. Talk to me and/or the TA
about anything you don’t understand, and meet with me about your paper. Read
the book and other assigned readings.
I’ve heard this is a hard class and
a lot of work. I’m scared.
Not technically a question, but yes, this is a challenging class, but one
that you can totally do well in if you try. Use the resources (e.g., readings,
information in Bb), instructor, and TA to help you. It’s a 4
credit class and writing intensive, so you should expect to spend about
12 hours a week on the class on average. You’ve got this.
What is this “lab” thing?
There are two main types of labs we’ll do during the semester. One is paper
related—we’ll work on exercises and workshop ideas to help you improve your
paper. The other involves practice the with types of research we’re learning
about in class—e.g., designing a survey or taking part in an experiment and
discussing your experiences.
Why are there so many assignments?
I’ve been teaching research methods for a long time, and I don’t assign
things just for the thrill of grading them. Every assignment has a purpose—to
help you become a better critical thinker, writer, and consumer of research and
prepare you for later assignments and test. The rationale for each assignment,
how many points it is worth, and its grading criteria are detailed below.
What if I can’t make it to class
because I’m sick or for other reasons?
If you email me by 10am the day of class, I can send you a zoom link for
class. I don’t recommend doing this regularly, as it’s harder to pay attention
online and people who’ve done this in the past have tended to do poorly in the
class. If you let me know before class, you can also make up any in-class or
lab activities we do that day in class. You’ll need to turn those in by the
next class period. If your absence is or may be COVID-related, you should also fill
out the Panther
Health survey.
What if the weather is bad?
If UNI cancels face-to-face classes, we’ll move class online to zoom at
the regular time. If they don’t cancel, I will be here as usual, but if it’s
dangerous for you to get in, you can email me and get the zoom link.
Can I turn things in late?
You get two “free” late passes, that is, you can turn in up to 2
assignments up to 48 hours late with no penalty and no need for a rationale.
Turning things in late may delay you getting feedback on them. The “free
passes” do not apply to the final
paper or extra credit. Any additional late assignments, or ones later than 48
hours, will have half a letter grade (5 points) taken off per day. If illness
or other things become an issue for you, talk to me.
What if I’m sick and can’t take the
test on time?
If you are too sick, are isolating, or have a family emergency, etc.
(vacations are not a good excuse), let me know before the test and we will
discuss options. Your test may be different from that given to the rest of the
class in that case.
Can I use a paper I wrote or am
writing for another class to fill the requirements for this one?
No. You should write an original paper for this course. If you’re doing a
research project or other project and want to do this paper on a similar (but
not the same) topic, that might be possible. Talk to me.
What’s the deal with plagiarism and
cheating?
They are bad. Make sure you read and follow the UNI Academics
Ethics Policy (http://www.uni.edu/policies/301).
We’ll also talk about plagiarism and ways to avoid it in class. Cheating and plagiarism
of any kind or amount will result in lowered grades, including a possible 0 on
the assignment in question and/or F in the class, regardless of intentions. If you have any questions about what is
acceptable, ask. Note that it is not acceptable to use secondary sources in
scientific writing—you should cite and
read the primary source.
How do I find materials for class?
The syllabus is online and can be accessed directly from my home page,
but it is also linked in Blackboard. Many resources are linked directly from
the syllabus, including the PowerPoint slides. If the slides don’t open when
you click on them, then right click on the link and choose “open in another
window.” You should then be able to hit return on that page and download the
slides. Slides will be posted sometime before each class session (usually but
not always the day before). They will also eventually be shared in Blackboard.
Other resources, such as sample papers, are only available in Blackboard. The
textbook for the class is online and free and linked from the syllabus.
How will you get in contact with me
or share class information?
There is a class listserv that will be used to contact you with
additional information about assignments, notices if class goes online, etc.
Make sure to check your UNI email so you get those notices. I may also post
them in Blackboard, but the default and first place they will show up is in
email, so check there first.
What is the best way to reach you
or the TA?
The best way to meet with me is to talk to me before class (after works
too, but I have class in another building right after this, so it would have to
be quick) or email me to set up a time to meet. We can meet over zoom or
face-to-face, depending on your preference. You can also stop by my office
hours, but you may have to wait if there is another student ahead of you.
You can email Lacie at hineslac@uni.edu.
You can also find her in her office during her office hour, Tuesday 1-2,
Bartlett 2069.
Are there any opportunities for
extra credit?
Yes! You can get up to 8 points of extra credit on your final exam by
participating in research projects through the department’s SONA system and/or
attending research-relevant talks (only those announced in class or via email
will count). One hour of research or talk is equivalent to a maximum of 2
points, depending on the quality of the paper turned in. For both talks and
research participation, to receive any credit, you must turn in a 1-2 page
informal summary and analysis of the experience (i.e., relating it to class
topics, critiquing it based on knowledge of research methods) within a week of
participating. See further information
on assignments for more information.
What if I’m having other issues I
need help with?
I’m happy to help you with class or psychology (as a field, e.g.,
graduate school, research) questions. I can also help direct you to other
places to get help, such as the UNI Counseling Center, The Learning Center @
Rod Library, or the Panther Pantry (food bank on campus).
Are there other things you or the university want me to know?
You can find more information on university policies related to free speech, nondiscrimination, accessibility, the learning center, and absences due to COVID-related health issues here.