Introductions

Your syllabus It is on-line. Write down the following address (in a couple of places) and bookmark it. Blackboard ( also available through iCampus portal)

Course Format Lectures on Monday and Wednesday 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 Thursday or Friday (depending on your section) Given by your TAs Derek Herrmann (sections 02 & 04) Allison Bock (sections 03 & 05) “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 (35%) Each is cumulative. Exams 1&2 will be worth 10% of your final grade. The Final exam is worth 15%. Homework exercises (20%) 2 journal article summary assignments (5% each) research participation alternative for JS2 10 Reading Quizzes (1% each) Lab Assignments (30%) Lab exercises (15%) Lab Group research project (15%) Research project (15%) Project Proposal (5%) Final APA style manuscript(10%)

Textbooks Research Methods For the Behavioral Sciences, 3 rd edition (Gravetter & Forzano) 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 video

Next time Getting an idea for an experiment Chapter’s 1 & 2