PSYC 3130 Experimental Psychology * Welcome *

Welcome to PSYC 3130 Experimental Psychology w/ Mike Hoerger Grab a syllabus Skim it over so you can ask questions later Start working on completing the last page If you have any enrollment issues (e.g., you’re not enrolled, you’re trying to switch something), come talk to me right away

Overview My Info Rationale for Experimental Psychology Syllabus Exp. Psych Trivia Game Lab 1

My Info Hoerger rhymes with burger, but call me Mike From Michigan by way of Rochester, NY (URMC) Moved to New Orleans in August Translational Psychological Science

Using basic psychology research to enhance decision-making in high-stakes contexts –Basic research: Personality, emotion, and psychopathology –Applied emphasis: Predominantly cancer, and open to any area emphasizing public health and well-being Currently recruiting RAs for a psychosocial needs assessment at the Tulane Cancer Center

Values interdisciplinary team science Supports diversity (e.g., Tulane LS-LAMP, Newcomb College Institute) Clinical psychologist by training –Settings: Outpatient, inpatient, prison, schools, cancer centers –Populations: Mostly adults, mainly for depression, predominantly financially distressed, racially and ethnically diverse –Formats: Individual therapy, group therapy, psychological evaluations, patient care Interests: Sports, politics, comedy

Informal Advising: Any student –Since new to Tulane, better with career- trajectory questions than supplying concrete information Recommendations: “A” in the course Mentoring: “A” in the course, shared research interests, and planning to attend graduate school Questions?

Why do I have to take this class? (Rationale for Experimental Psychology)

Why do I have to take this? Why are more than 1 in 3 of the world’s psychologists in the U.S.? Why is China surpassing the U.S. in technologies like solar panels and high speed rail? Why did Kodak go bankrupt?

Scientific Infrastructure Scientific infrastructure provides the building blocks that produce generativity and innovation By YOU understanding psychology research, they entire nation becomes more immersed in psychology and able to understand and benefit from its science This is why the U.S. leads in training psychology research methods

That’s a little over my head. Can you make it more concrete?

Why else do I have to take this? Research and statistics provide the basis for drawing conclusions about human behavior You may be interested in… –Conducting research –Consuming research –Applying research to daily life

Conduct Research Curiosity Add to knowledge base “I want to help people” Instrumental goals, like getting a job or going to grad school Fame and money

What if conducting research sounds boring or unfulfilling?

Consume Research Valuable to society Needed for most jobs Help friends, family, and co-workers Curious

What if I’m the hedonistic, narcissistic, individualistic type?

Daily Life Sports Persuasion Personality assessment Improved interpersonal functioning

Syllabus Order the book online ($5)  Course details Questions?

The immediate priorities of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) suggest a potential influx of jobs for people with skills in what area of psychology? Therapy Survey Design Political Persuasion 1 of 15: Employment

Which of the following is related to negative outcomes after a traumatic event? Crisis Hotlines Lack of Treatment Critical Incident Stress Debriefing 2 of 15: Scientific Evaluation

Which of the following professional fields was last to ban its members from facilitating torture? Music Psych Medicine 3 of 15: Ethics

Contrary to the “scientific method,” this psychologist argued that… Science does not progress through carefully designed steps called ‘experiments,’ each of which has a well- defined beginning and end. 4 of 15: Generating Ideas

Which of the following techniques has the best predictive validity of job performance? Personality survey IQ test Structured interview 5 of 15: Measurement

On Being Sane in Insane Places showed that pseudopatients faking schizophrenia were hospitalized for how many additional days after again behaving normally? of 15: Observational Research

How many times per year does the average year old have sex? of 15: Descriptive Survey

Which of the following tests is most accurate? Home pregnancy test Neuropsych testing for dementia Dental X-ray for cavity 8 of 15: Correlation Magnitudes

To whom do we attribute the exciting statistical discovery of the t-test? 9 of 15: Statistics

In recent years, brief social psychology “belongingness” interventions for college freshmen have been shown to dramatically reduce what? Obesity Binge drinking Racial disparities 10 of 15: Experiments

Compared to developed countries, people with schizophrenia in developing nations are ________ likely to have a complete recovery. 25% more equally 25% less 11 of 15: Quasi-Experiments

In 1985, a researcher intentionally developed this condition in order to demonstrate its cause and potential cure, later winning a Nobel prize. Obesity Chlamydia Peptic ulcer 12 of 15: Self-Experiments

Using standard medical procedures in the U.S., which type of cancer do we screen for most effectively? Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Prostate Cancer 13 of 15: Public Policy

Who is Tulane meeting with this month to pursue research funding? 14 of 15: Local Research Funding

Which of the following symptoms are most people able to accurately report? Bipolar Disorder Inattention Insomnia 15 of 15: Measurement

Lab 1 Go to course web site and click on the “Course Calendar” link In the right column, click on the “Lab 1” link Review it soon, so you can ask me questions in lecture Due at the start of your first lab session, Week 3 (1/27-1/29)