Syllabus for PSY-322
RESEARCH IN EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Research in Experimental Psychology provides an introduction to the research methods used by experimental psychologists as they attempt to understand human behavior. Examples of research studies, chosen from a variety of areas of experimental psychology, demonstrate these methods and provide students with an understanding of the knowledge these studies have produced.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
CO 1 Explain why the scientific thinking used in psychological research is better than common sense as a means of acquiring knowledge about behavior.
CO 2 Explain the logic of the psychology experiment and describe the features of experimental methodology intended to satisfy that logic.
CO 3 Compare and contrast predictive and causal relations between variables.
CO 4 Compare and contrast manipulated and non-manipulated variables.
CO 5 Explain the problem of confounding in psychological experiments and describe methods used to minimize the problem.
CO 6 Describe ways of summarizing patterns of data.
CO 7 Explain the principle of drawing inferences from patterns of data and describe ways of measuring the confidence that should be attached to these inferences.
CO 8 Describe factors that limit the generalizing of experimental findings in psychology.
CO 9 Describe the analysis required to determine whether experimental findings are accidental.
CO 10 Describe the format for reporting research findings.
You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. To purchase course materials, please visit the University's textbook supplier.
ISBN-13: 978-0495602316
Throughout the course, you are required to read articles hosted in various databases. Articles can be accessed through the New Jersey State Library, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest, which you can find through the myEdison portal under the Research Resources tab.
You will need a library card to access the NJ State Library, which is free for TESU students. Be sure to apply early in the semester, as it may take several weeks to receive your card.
Research in Experimental Psychology is a three-credit online course consisting of ten modules. Modules include learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
One or more of the assignments in this course may involve original research. Research on persons other than yourself may require approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Thomas Edison State University prior to beginning your research. Examples of research types that may need IRB review are questionnaires, surveys, passive observation of individuals, interviews, and experimental procedures. Research involving vulnerable populations will always need IRB review. An IRB review is designed to protect research subjects from potential harm.
The following links fully explain the purpose of the Institutional Research Board as well as how to determine if your research requires IRB review. If you are in doubt, always ask for guidance from the University.
For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in three graded online discussion forums, complete and submit six written assignments in which you analyze research studies, submit a research project (completed in five progressive steps and culminating in a Research Project Report), and take two proctored examinations—a midterm and a final. See below for more details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in SafeAssign.
You are required to introduce yourself and participate in three graded online class discussion forums.
Your first posting, "Introductions," will give you a chance to tell your mentor and classmates something about yourself and to find out who they are. You should post your introduction in the Introductions Forum and respond to at least two of your classmates' responses.
Deadlines for posting initial discussion threads and follow-up comments are given in the Course Calendar.
You are required to complete six written assignments in which you analyze research studies. These assignments build toward your research project and Research Project Report. (See next section.)
Five research project assignments (Steps 1–5) all build toward the culminating Research Project Report. Their goal is to guide you through to completion of the experimental design of your research project and to its implementation.
The completed Research Project Report must be presented in the proper format. Your report must be free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Handwritten reports will not be accepted.
The directions for the Research Project Report can be found within the Module 10. (See also the Course Calendar.)
You are required to take two proctored online examinations: a midterm exam and a final exam. Both exams require that you use the University's Online Proctor Service (OPS). Please refer to the Examinations and Proctors section of the Online Student Handbook (see General Information area of the course website) for further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to schedule your exams within the first week of the semester.
Online exams are administered through the course website. Consult the Course Calendar for the official dates of exam weeks.
The midterm is a closed-book, proctored online exam. It is two hours long and covers material from Modules 1 through 5 of the course. It consists of multiple-choice and short-essay questions. The exam is drawn from the textbook and assigned readings. You will not be asked to do any statistical calculations on the exam.
The final is a closed-book, proctored online exam. It is two hours long and covers material in Modules 6 through 10. Like the midterm exam, it consists of multiple-choice and short-essay questions. The exam is drawn from the textbook and assigned readings. You will not be asked to do any statistical calculations on the exam.
You are on your honor not to cheat during an exam. Cheating means:
If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in an exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
A | = | 93–100 | C+ | = | 78–79 | |
A– | = | 90–92 | C | = | 73–77 | |
B+ | = | 88–89 | C– | = | 70–72 | |
B | = | 83–87 | D | = | 60–69 | |
B– | = | 80–82 | F | = | Below 60 |
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings).
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
To ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University, familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies including those related to academic integrity, course late submissions, course extensions, and grading policies.
For more, see:
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