Introductions

Research Methods in PsychologyPsychology 231

Illinois State University

Lecture Sections 01 & 06Lab Sects 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10

Dr. Cutting

Your syllabus

It is on-line. Write down the following address (in a couple of places) and bookmark it.

Blackboard (https://blackboard.ilstu.edu, also available through iCampus portal)

http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/jccutti/psych231/f09/f09syllabus.html

Course Format Large Lecture Sections

Given by me (Dr. Cutting) Overview of the main issues in research methodology Exams (3) are in the lecture sections Class research project

Labs on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (depending on your section) Given by your TAs

• Shuana Summers (sections 02 & 04)• Kelly Wystarczyk (sections 03 & 05)• Jim Clinton (sections 07 & 08)• Jordan Spencer (sections 09 & 10)

“Hands on” experiences with research• In-lab exercises• Group research project

Why take research methods?

“Because it is required”

Other good reasons: Psychology is a science You may need to conduct a study Reading and evaluating other studies Making decisions in your daily lives Become a “better thinker”

Course Objectives

Basically the "nuts and bolts" of putting together and completing a research project in psychology. Learning to review the primary literature Getting a research idea Development and execution of a research plan Basic analysis of research results. Presentation of the results

Course Requirements 3 Exams (45%)

Each is cumulative. Each is worth 15% of your final grade.

Homework exercises (10%) 2 journal article summary assignments (5% each)

• research participation alternative for JS2 Lab Assignments (30%)

Lab exercises (15%) Lab Group research project (15%)

Research project (15%) Project Proposal (5%) Final APA style manuscript(10%)

Textbooks

Conducting Behavioral Research: A step-by-step approach (McBride)

Available at PIP Printing• Packet #107

Required

Lab Manual for Psychological Research (McBride & Cutting)

Topics

The research process, from start to finish Get an idea Formulate a testable hypothesis Review the literature Design the study Collect data Analyze the data Interpret the results Present the results

Experiments can be fun!

Are elephants afraid of mice? Mythbusters: long | short

Testable hypotheses Control groups Replication

Next time Ways of knowing The Scientific Method Psychology as a Science

Chapter 1