1. To understand and apply standard methods of empirical research to questions in the field of psychology.
2. To comprehend strategic and tactical decisions in research, and evaluate them for utility and ethical responsibility.

1. Understand published research and analyze it to identify the methods used
2. Critically evaluate research, considering the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology
3. Design and condict studies that use available methodolgies in an appropriate fashion
4. Statistically analyze research data and draw data-based conclusions
5. Write a research report in APA format.

Review sheet 1 2 3

PowerPoint slides:

Set one: Introduction, science, epistemology, and experiments

Set two: Descriptive research methods, including archival research, naturalistic observation, and correlational studies

Set three: The experimental approach

Set four: Problems and hypotheses, sources and ideas

Set five: Research design I; Mill's canons; manipulating the independent variable

Set six: Kinds of variables, manipulation strategies and tactics, kinds of data (Q, R, and L), procedures for increasing the validity and reliability of dependent variable measures.

Set seven: Research ethics

Set eight: Controlling extraneous variables. Campbell & Stanley's threats to validity. Participant and experimenter variables. Sequencing effects.

Set nine: Matching methods, randomized blocks designs, and counterbalancing tactics. Latin Squares.

Set ten: Pre-experimental (faulty) designs. True experimental designs.

Set eleven: Quasi-experimental designs.

Set twelve: Correlational designs

Set thirteen: Single-participant designs.

Set fourteen: Field experiments.

Assignments:

Class activities/laboratory reports, due weekly on Wednesday........30%

Ten article analysis reports, due on Fridays........10%

Three content examinations

Wednesday, February 6............10%

Wednesday, March 13..............15%

Thursday, May 2.......................15%

Research project

Research proposal due February 27

Data report due April 12...............................................5%

Written report in APA format due April 24...................10%

Conference presentation Monday, May 6, 1 - 3 p.m.......5%

Shared folder: A shared folder has been added to your e-mail account. It should show up in the left panel of your screen as a folder labeled Experimental02 under Public Folders. I intend to use the shared folder to distribute class project and reading assignments, as well as other newsworthy items. I encourage you to use the shared folder to continue class discussions or to raise questions not covered in class.

To find the shared folder for the class, open Outlook. Then, go to the folder list on the left side of your screen. (If it is missing, click the File menu and select Folder list. Scroll to the bottom of the folder list to find Public Folders, and click the plus sign. Click the plus signs beside each of the following, in order: All Public Folders...Academic...Classes...Young P. Click on Experimental02, and you are into the folder. Please read the first message from me, and reply. To read any message in the folder, double-click it. To reply, click the Post Reply button; type your message; and click the Post button. To post a new message rather than a reply, click on the folder. Then click New on the Outlook toolbar at the top of the page, type your message, and click Post. Helpful hint: Click on Experimental02 and drag it up the folder list to Favorites, to eliminate most of the above searching steps in the future. But don't drag it anywhere else. Remember that items you post to the discussion group may be read by any member of the class, including the teacher. However, nobody outside the class has access to your contributions.

First published January 11, 2002

Last updated April 26, 2002