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PSYCH 301W Basic Research Methods in Psychology (4) Introduction to methods of psychological research, with special attention to hypothesis formation and testing, threats to validity, and data presentation.
Prerequisite: PSYCH 100, PSYCH 200 orSTAT 200
Overview |
Objectives |
Course Components |
Materials |
Library Resources |
Technical Requirements | Course Schedule |
Grading |
Course Policies |
Academic Integrity |
Accommodating Disabilities |
Additional Policies
Overview
As you can see in the course description above that comes from the PSU Undergraduate Bulletin this course is described as, “Introduction to methods of psychological research, with special attention to hypothesis formation and testing, threats to validity, and data presentation.” In order to achieve these goals we will discuss the process of research from idea conception, to experimental design, to data collection, to the presentation of results. At the end of this course you will have a basic knowledge of how psychologists go about conducting research, and knowledge of how to interpret the findings presented in psychology journals. This course involves both a lesson component and a laboratory component. The basic knowledge and theoretical background of psychology research will be presented in the textbook and in the lesson commentaries. You will have the opportunity for more “hands-on” experiences in the labs, where you will be able to apply the concepts from the textbook and lessons to work with actual data. This course is designed to prepare you for more advanced undergraduate courses, and possibly graduate level work.
Objectives
By the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Describe how psychologists go about conducting research
2. Interpret findings presented in psychology journals
3. Discuss the process of research in the following stages:
- idea conception
- experimental design
- data collection
- presentation of results
Course Components
This course has two distinct components:
Lessons
14 Lessons – Each week you will be required to read a chapter in the textbook, and then read through the instructor’s
commentary. The commentary is designed to highlight important concepts from the book, and to provide clarification. After
you have read each commentary you will be asked to complete a brief assignment designed to help you integrate the concepts from the
chapter. The details of these graded assignments are discussed below.
Labs
11 Labs – After each lesson (with the exception of lessons 1 and 3) you will be required to complete several tasks during the Lab
portion of the course. The lab will involve taking the theoretical topics discussed in the textbook and apply them to hands-on
work. In some Labs you will be analyzing data (some of which I will provide, and some of which you will collect yourself).
In other Labs you will be doing other things that social scientists do (are you curious?)
Grading Your grades are based on several different things.
- 4 Exams - They will be multiple-choice and each will be worth 70 points. You must take all 4 exams. The exams will be available through ANGEL.
- Paper Assignments – As capstone assignments for the course, you will apply what you have learned to a hands-on
project of your own design. Ultimately you will produce a proposal for a research study. This final project is
designed to integrate all aspects of the course, and it should be of sufficient quality that a research psychologist could take your
paper and conduct your experiment. There are four steps to this process:
- RESEARCH TOPIC IDEA PAPER (25 points) identify an original research question as you form hypotheses,
- LITERATURE REVIEW PAPER (60 points) review and describe previously published research that is relevant to your topic,
- POSTER PRESENTATION (35 points) present your idea to the class (in the form of a poster presentation, posted on-line),
- FINAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL PROJECT PAPER (150 points) write a final APA style paper expressing the concepts and limitations of your
design in written form. To make this assignment more reasonable, you will not need to conduct your proposed study. Although
this project is time and work intensive, the ability to communicate your research ideas clearly and efficiently is the key to doing
good research. Several of the Labs are designed to help you achieve these goals. (Trust me this isn’t as bad as it
sounds. It might even be fun.)
- The papers are required for the course, and you can not pass the class without turning in ALL paper assignments
- 4 Homework Assignments – At various times you will be asked to complete a brief homework assignment (e.g. analyzing a published article, creating questions for an attitude scale, reviewing other student’s attitude questions, collecting data, and reviewing other student’s poster presentations).
- 14 Lesson Assignments – After each Lesson you will be asked to write a brief response to the material that was covered. In most cases I will ask you to read a statement that I have provided, and then write a one page response to that statement. The lesson will provide the information that you need to respond.
- 11 In-Lab Assignments – these will be completed during the lab component of the course.
Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
| Lesson 1: Introduction to Research | |
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| Readings: |
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Complete Lesson 1 Assignment - 5 points |
| Lesson 2: Hypothesis Generation | |
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| Lesson 3: Ethics in Research | |
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| Assignments: | Complete Lesson 3 Assignment- 5 points; |
| Lesson 4: Paper Writing | |
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| Lesson 5: Measurement of Variables | |
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| Lesson 6: Reliability and Validity | |
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| Lesson 7: Surveys and Sampling | |
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| Lesson 8: Hypothesis Testing | |
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| Lesson 9: One-way Experimental Design | |
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| Lesson 10: Factorial Experimental Design | |
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| Lesson 11: Correlational Design | |
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| Lesson 12: Naturalistic Observation Methods | |
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| Lesson 13: Internal and External Validity | |
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| WEEK 14: Final Research Proposal Project Due | |
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| Week 15 (Lesson 14): Quasi-Experimental Design | |
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NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
Your final grade will be based on completion of the Quizzes, Web-Assignments, Journal Assignments, and Exams.
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Assignment
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Points
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4 Exams @ 70 points each
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280 points
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Research Topic Idea Paper
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25 points
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Literature Review Paper
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60 points
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Poster Presentation
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35 points
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Final Research Proposal Project Paper
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150 points
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4 Homework (@ 10 each)
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40 points
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14 Lesson Assignments (@5 each)
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70 points
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11 Lab Assignments(@ 10 each)
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110 points
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TOTAL POINTS
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770
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Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Policies
The Order of Materials: This course is presented in a specific order, and you must complete the work in that order. See the Course Schedule for a complete list of readings and assignments.
Late Work: Late work is NOT accepted unless approved by the instructor prior to the due date. Turning in something late without informing the instructor that it was going to be late will result in a zero for that assignment. If you make arrangements to turn something in late (i.e. tell me prior to the due date that you are turning in something late) it will result in a loss of 5% per day after the due date. In other words, you will lose one entire grade level for every 2 days late.
Academic Dishonesty: All work must be your own. Do not work on paper assignments with others, unless you are instructed to do so. Cheating on exams will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to University policies (See policy at http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/). It may result in failing the course. The University views academic integrity and dishonesty as follows: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception and is an educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students.
Accommodations for Special Needs: The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation in this course or have questions about physical access, please tell the instructor as soon as possible.
A note about your responsibilities for this course…
- This is a writing course, and as such you are required to write (big surprise). The field of Psychology in the Western Hemisphere (and in fact most of the world) uses a particular writing format that has been designed and approved by the American Psychological Association (APA). Just about any published work in Psychology follows this format, and you will be required to follow it too. We will spend some time going over the particular requirements of APA style, but it is your responsibility to become familiar with the APA Publication Manual and apply the appropriate material.
- Final Grade point cut-offs are listed below. These are “set in stone”. If you are a point away from the next highest grade, then you are a point away from the next highest grade. No rounding will take place.
| Letter Grade | Points | Percentage |
| A | 731.5-770 | 95-100% |
| A- | 693-731.4 | 94.9-90% |
| B+ | 677.6-692.9 | 88-89.9% |
| B | 639.1-677.5 | 83-87.9% |
| B- | 616-639.0 | 80-82.9% |
| C+ | 600.6-615.9 | 78-79.9% |
| C | 539-600.5 | 70-77.9% |
| D | 462-538.9 | 60-69.9% |
| F | 0-461.9 | 0-59.9% |
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.