Time: Tues, Thurs 2:30-3:45pm
Instructor: Carole S. Slotterback, Ph.D.
Office and Office Hours: AMH 218
Tues 12-12:50pm, Thurs 1-1:50pm, 4-4:50pm
(or by appointment)
Contact Information: You may leave
voice-mail messages at 941-7895 (office phone)
or e-mail me at slotterbacc1@uofs.edu
Required Text:
Shaughnessy, J. J., & Zechmeister, E. B. (2000). Research methods in psychology (5th edition). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Helpful Resources:
Check out the text’s website at http://www.mhhe.com/shaughnessy
There are many resources for students, including an Online Learning Center (which has chapter outlines and practice tests), Web Links (for psychology), a Statistics Primer (this has detailed examples of how to do various statistics and gives you practice problems, with detailed answers), an Internet Primer, Electronic Chapters (they have chapter 1 online), and an SPSS Tutorial. Please note that the SPSS Tutorial is for version 8.0, and we have version 10.0 on our computers. Thus, the information about data entry is no longer applicable. The rest of it, however, is still useful.
Course Description:
A survey of scientific method and research design in the behavioral sciences. Topics include single subject, survey, correlational and experimental research. Lecture and lab involve computerized data analyses. Lab also includes supervised research and scientific writing. Three credits lecture, two credits laboratory. Lab fee; spring only. The laboratory is writing intensive.
Objectives. Students will be able to:
(1) Describe elements of scientific method and contrast that method
with other
ways of knowing.
(2) Describe ethical principles applicable to the research
enterprise, including
APA guidelines and federal and University
regulations governing use of
human and animal subjects.
(3) For each of the research methods covered in class,
recognize
(a) major characteristics and
appropriate applicability,
(b) standard terminology employed
with, and
(c) strengths and weaknesses of
the methods
Grading:
Exams: There will be a total of three multiple-choice exams (100 points each) for the course. The chapters each exam covers, as well as tentative exam dates, are on the attached schedule. Please note that the third exam (given during finals week) will not be comprehensive. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE UP EXAMS. If the student is absent, he/she will receive a score of zero for that exam, unless a sufficiently compelling reason for the absence is presented (e.g., a doctor’s note or copy of a police report for an accident). In such a case, the student will be allowed to take a cumulative essay exam at the same time as the final. The grade on the cumulative test will be allowed as a replacement for the exam that was missed. If you do not present a sufficiently compelling reason for your absence from the test, you will NOT be allowed to take the cumulative exam. NOTE: Anyone caught cheating on a test will receive a score of zero for that test, and other actions may be taken (I will follow the university’s policy on academic dishonesty).
Quizzes: There will be eight quizzes based on pre-reading of chapters. Each quiz will contain ten multiple-choice questions derived from the review questions at the end of each chapter. The attached course schedule outlines when each quiz will be given. THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped; thus, only seven quizzes will count toward your grade. If you are diligent about reading the chapters and working the review questions you will be able to do well on these quizzes. The practice tests on the text’s website may also be useful in preparing for the quizzes and exams.
Participation: Students can earn up to 10 points for discussion. The points will be awarded as follows: at the end of the semester, every class member will rate the entire class’s quality and quantity of discussion on a scale of zero to five. I will average across everyone’s ratings; thus, your rating counts for half of your discussion points. I will also rate the class’s discussion, on the same scale; thus, my evaluation counts for the other half of your discussion points. Discussion is a two-way street: we can’t have any if you won’t talk! I guarantee that I can fill the time with lecture, so if you want discussion, OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND CONTRIBUTE!!
Attendance:
Class attendance is expected and normally essential for learning the
material. You are responsible for knowing all announcements made
during class, including those related to any changes in the attached schedule.
If you are absent more than three times, your participation points will
be docked (you cannot participate if you are not here).
Grading Scale
There are 380 total points that can be earned.
Grade Points Needed
Grade Points Needed
A
353+
C+
293-303
A-
342-352
C
277-292
B+
331-341
C-
266-276
B
315-330
D+
255-265
B-
304-314
D
228-254
Tentative Course Schedule
Dates
Topics
Chapters
January 29, 31 Scientific
Method
1, Appendix C
Quiz on chapter 2—Tuesday, Feb 5
February 5, 7 Ethical Issues 2, Appendix A
Quiz on chapter 3—Tuesday, Feb 12
February 12, 14 Observation Methods 3
Exam 1, February 19: Chapters 1-3, Appendices A & C
February 21 Surveys 4
Quiz on chapter 4—Tuesday, Feb 26
February 26, 28 Questionnaire Construction Appendix B
March 5, 7 Multivariate Methods Notes
Quiz on chapter 5—Tuesday, March 12
March 12, 14 Unobtrusive Methods 5
Quiz on chapter 6—Tuesday, March 19
March 19, 21 Experimental Methods—Classic Design 6
March 23-April 1 Spring/Easter Break
Quiz on Chapter 7—Tuesday, April 2
April 2, 4 Repeated Measures Design 7
Exam 2, April 9: Chapters 4-6, Appendix B
April 11 Complex Designs 8
April 16, 18 Complex Designs, cont. 8
Quiz on Chapter 9—Tuesday, April 23
April 23, 25 Case Studies 9
Quiz on Chapter 10—Tuesday, April 30
April 30, May 2 Quasi-experimental Design 10
May 7, 9 Presenting Results Notes
Finals begin May 11, 2001. Your third exam will be taken during
the final exam slot for this course. The third exam will cover chapters
7-10.