Rhode Island College
Department of Psychology
Psychology
375
Research Methods in Social and Personality Psychology
|
Instructor: |
Thomas E. Malloy, Ph.D. Web Page on the Social Psychology Network: |
|
E-mail: |
|
|
Office: |
Horace Mann 058 ( |
|
Psychology Resource Page:___ |
- resources for psychology students including APA format |
|
Trochim Research Methodology Internet Site___ |
|
|
|
|
Required Text and
Rosnow R. L. & Rosenthal, R. (2006), Beginning Behavioral Research. Prentice Hall. (Available in the University Bookstore)
In addition to the textbook, there will be assigned reading from internet
websites. A website focused on research methodology that will be very useful to
you is maintained by Professor William Trochim at
Nature of the Course
This course focuses on philosophy of science, research methods, the structure of designs, and statistical analysis strategies used in research on personality and social psychology. Foundation knowledge in personality and social psychology, research methods, and statistics is assumed. The lecture portion of the course will be organized into three major sections that integrate specific topics within each section. The sections are:
|
I. Philosophy and Theory of Research |
Topics of the Lecture Portion of the Course:
I. Philosophy, Theory, and Measurement
in Research
|
Week |
Topic |
|
|
1 |
Epistemology, Discovery, and Justification in Science |
chapter 1 of Rosnow and
Rosenthal |
|
2 |
Logic of Research Design and Statistical Models |
Chapters 2 and 3 of Rosnow and
Rosenthal |
|
3 & 4 |
Measurement Theory |
Chapter 6 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
5 |
Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix |
Trochim site |
II. Research Design and Statistical
Analysis
|
6 |
Descriptive Research and Analysis |
Chapter 10 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
7 |
Relational Research and Analysis |
Chapter 11 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
8 |
Pre-Experimental and Experimental Design |
Chapter 7 Rosnow & Rosenthal
|
|
9 |
Quasi-Experimental Design |
Chapter 8 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
10 |
Comparing Two Means |
Chapter 13 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
11 |
Comparing Three or More Means |
Chapter 14 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
12 |
Factorial Design |
Chapter 14 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
III. Intermediate Issues in Design and
Analysis
|
13 |
Interactions in Factorial |
Chapter 14 Rosnow & Rosenthal |
|
14 |
Power Analysis, Meta-Analysis, and Missing Data |
Chapter 12 Rosnow &
Rosenthal |
The outline above represents the sequence of topics that will be addressed in the lecture portion of the course. Students are encouraged to read the assigned material prior to the lecture. Lectures will overlap with reading, however, material not in the reading will regularly be discussed in class.
Topics of the Laboratory Portion of the Course:
The laboratory portion will provide practical experience in the ethics of research, using APA format, the sections of a formal laboratory report, use of SPSS a software package for statistical analysis, as well as experience conducting research on behavior. The following objectives will be met in the laboratory section of the course. The student will:
|
1. |
___ |
review a research literature and suggest testable hypotheses based upon the review |
|
2. |
___ |
use laboratory procedures to collect data |
|
3. |
___ |
organize a data set |
|
4. |
___ |
enter data using the SPSS editor |
|
5. |
___ |
analyze data using SPSS |
|
6. |
___ |
write an integrated lab report in APA format |
|
8. |
___ |
Understand the ethnics of psychological research |
Course Requirements and Expectations:
1. Attendance is essential. Material will be presented in class that is not in the textbook. It is impossible to make-up laboratory work. For these reasons please plan to regularly attend class and laboratory sessions. Attendance will be taken in the laboratory and for each laboratory session missed the final grade will be reduced by 2 points.
2. Examinations. There will be two examinations in this course. Examinations will include objectively (multiple choice and true/false) evaluated questions. Exams will measure: memory for important information from the readings, lectures, and the laboratory; application of this information in new ways; and relationships among the information presented in the course.
Exams will be taken at the scheduled class period. Make-up exams will only be given in the rarest of circumstances (e.g., illness verified by a doctor's note). If you must miss an exam, it is your responsibility to contact me before the exam. Unexcused absence from an exam will result in zero points for that exam.
Examination I will cover topics from weeks 1-7. Examination II will cover topics from weeks 8-14. The professor retains the option of adjusting the material to be included on an exam. Exams will not be cumulative. Exam dates will be announced in class.
3. In the laboratory portion of the course students are expected to write a complete research paper in APA format appropriate for submission to a scientific journal in psychology such as JPSP (papers will not actually be submitted). Details for the paper will be given in class and in the laboratory.
Students are required to submit this manuscript to the professor at the time and date agreed upon in class. Students must keep a copy of all written material submitted to the professor on a diskette or in some other permanent form.
Course Grades
Examinations I and II will each be worth 50 points for a total of 100 possible points. The research paper will be worth 50 points. Thus, there will be a total of 150 possible points in the course. Thus, two-thirds of your grade is based on exams and one-third is based on your research project. Point totals and their associated letter grade range are as follows:
|
A = 90 - 100 percent of possible points |
|
B = 80 - 89 percent of possible points |
|
C = 70 - 79 percent of possible points |
|
D = 60 - 69 percent of possible points |
|
F < 60 percent of possible points |
Note that + and - will be used when assigning final grades.