Where and When? Main lecture: MW 1-1:50 in DeGarmo rm 206 Lab/Discussion Sections Section 02: Th 3:30-5:20 in DeGarmo rm 19 Section 03: Th 3:30-5:20 in DeGarmo rm 48 Section 04: Friday 12 - 1:50 in DeGarmo rm 19 Section 05: Friday 12 - 1:50 in DeGarmo rm 48

Sections 02 & 04 Sections 03 & 05 Graduate Assistants: Chris Wahlheim Andrew Monroe e-mail: cnwahlh@ilstu.edu aemonro@ilstu.edu webpage: Chris's page none (yet?) office hours: Thurs: 1-2 Wed: 2-3 office hour location: Desk outside of DeGarmo 443

Required Optional Gravetter, F. & Forzano, L. (2003). Research Methods For the Behavioral Sciences. Wadsworth. (required) American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5thEdition.).Washington, DC: Author. (recommended). Publisher's textbook companion webpage: here There is also a REQUIRED Lab Manual - available at PIP Printing in the Bone Student Center. Remember to take your lab manual with you to each lab meeting during the semester.

Catalog Copy

Philosophy of science and inquiry with emphasis on experimental methodology and some application of principles through laboratory expermentation and demonstration.

This course is designed to introduce students to philosophy of science and inquiry with an emphasis on experimental methodology. This will be accomplished by combining traditional lectures with application of principles through laboratory experimentation and demonstration. The main course objectives include:
• Learning to review the primary literature (improving library research skills, increase familiarity with scientific writing and reading scientific journals)
  
• Getting a research idea (specification of a testable research idea, develop hypotheses on several topics in psychology)
  
• Development and execution of a research plan (choosing the appropriate research method to test specific hypotheses, ethical guidelines, how to collect data)
  
• Basic analysis of research results.
  
• Presentation of the results (including both a verbal and written presentation).
  

  Department objectives

Roughly we will cover the "nuts and bolts" of putting together and completing a research project in psychology. To this end we will cover all fourteen chapters of the textbook. Classes will consist of both lectures and discussions and/or exercises related to the assigned readings. So it is critical that students read the assigned chapters prior to class. Homework and/or on-line quizzes will be assigned to facilitate learning and in-class discussions.

Course Requirements.

Each student will be evaluated based on several exercises, exams, and the planning, execution, and presentation of a research project. The grading is broken down below. A straight scale for grading will be applied (e.g., 90% A, 80% B, 70% C, 60% D, other F)
• Exams (45%) - There will be three exams. Each is cumulative. Each exam will be worth 15% of your final grade.

• Homework exercises (10%)
  • 2 journal article summary assignments

• Lab Assignments (30%)
  • Lab exercises and participation (15%)
  • Lab Group research project (15%)
  
  
• Research project (15%)
  • Project Proposal (5%) - includes literature review, the design of the experiment(s) hypotheses/predictions, and the references.
    
  • Final APA style manuscript(10%) - A complete write-up of the class research project using APA format.

  Extra-credit policy