UNDER CONSTRUCTION |
Instructor: | J. Cooper Cutting |
Office: | De Garmo 421 |
Phone: | 438-2999 |
e-mail: | jccutti@mail.ilstu.edu |
office hours: | Mon. 11-12, Tue. 1-2 & by appointment |
Where and When?
Required | Optional |
Martin, D (1999). Doing Psychology Experiments, 5th Edition. Monterey: Brooks and Cole Publishing. (required) | American Psychological Association. (1994). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (4thEdition.).Washington, DC: Author. (optional). |
Course Description & Objective.
The main course objectives include: reviewing the literature, ethical guidelines, specification of a (testable) research idea, the development and execution of a research plan (including collecting data within the limits imposed by the class format), analysis and presentation of the results (including both a verbal and written presentation).
Roughly the first half of the course we will cover the "nuts and bolts" of putting together a research project. To this end we will cover all thirteen chapters of the textbook (which is what the midterm will be based on). In addition, each student group (roughly two to three students in each group) will design a research project relating to an issue within the domain of cognitive science. Classes for this portion of the course will consist of discussions and/or exercises related to the assigned readings. So it is critical that students read the assigned chapters prior to class. Occasionally, homework maybe assigned to facilitate in-class discussions.
The second half of the course will consist of conducting the research projects, analyzing the results, and presentation of the results (in an oral conference style talk and as a written APA style manuscript). Classes for this portion of the course will be largely geared to assist the groups with their research projects. This includes a large chunk of classes that have been set aside for data collection.
Course Requirements.
Exercises (30%)
Research project (35%) - one of each of these per group
Class Policies
To ensure a smooth flow of discussions, the following policies are established: Students are encouraged to listen with an open mind, respect the contributions of others, and avoid personal attacks. Students will often be faced with alternative viewpoints from the professor or their peers. Thus, students should be prepared to defend their own positions with empirical data, obtained from the assigned readings, and reasoned argument.
You are expected to do your own work. Plagiarism and cheating of any sort will not be tolerated. Either behavior will result in a grade of 'F'. Note that plagiarism includes situations where you meet with other students for group discussions and are asked write a summary. Unless otherwise instructed, this means that each participant in the group must write their own summary. Making up false excuses for absences will also be considered cheating and may result in a grade of 'F' for missed work.
And finally, if you have any questions regarding anything in the syllabus and or the course in general, please feel free to ask. Talk to me in class, via phone, or e-mail. Don't just assume that you know (or should know) the answer, I may not have been clear enough or may have forgotten to mention something.
Grades by code name.
Class Dates | Tentative topic calendar | Readings |
Things due |
WK1 (Jan. 19) | Introductions What are experiments? What is cognitive psychology? |
Chapter 1 | |
WK2 (Jan. 24, 26) | Getting your idea(s) Experiment basics |
Chapters 2 & 3 | Assign groups pick a group topic |
WK3 (Jan. 31, Feb. 2) | Reviewing the literature Annotated bibliography |
Chapter 6 & 7 | APA's PsycInfo site Milner library |
WK4 (Feb. 7, 9) | Ethical issues | Chapters 4 & 5 | Annotated bibliographies due |
WK5 (Feb. 14, 16) | Designing Experiments | Chapters 8 & 9 | Progress reports |
WK6 (Feb. 21, 23) | Designing Experiments cont. Writting APA format reports Common errors |
Chapters 10 & 13 | IRB approval forms due Progress reports |
WK7 (Feb. 27 & Mar. 1) | Peer reviews of proposals Catch up and review |
Chapter 11 | Progress reports |
WK8 (Mar. 6, 8) | Take home exam get it on the 6th |
Exam due on the 8th by end of class time Proposal drafts are due |
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SPRING BREAK | SPRING BREAK | SPRING BREAK | SPRING BREAK |
WK9 (Mar. 20, 22) | How to prepare a research presentation | Experiment materials are due Peer review of proposals due Progress reports |
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WK10 (Mar. 27, 29) | Data collection begins | ||
WK11 (Apr. 3, 5 | Data collection begins | ||
WK12 (Apr. 10, 12) | Data collection begins | ||
WK13 (Apr. 17, 19) | Statistical analysis review SPSS how-to's Reporting your results |
Chapter 12 | Progress reports |
WK14 (Apr. 24, 26) | Catch up and review | ||
WK15 (May 1, 3) | Group Presentations | ||
Finals Week |
FINAL PROJECTS DUE May ?? @ 4:30 PM |
Additional ResourcesWeb Resouces Search engines
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