Dr. Cutting's PSY231 Course Syllabi |
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Course Catalog description
PSY 231 RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 110 or 111 required. Formerly EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY.
Philosophy of science and inquiry with emphasis on experimental methodology and some
application of principles through laboratory experimentation and demonstration.
Course Description & Objective.
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).
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.
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