Request for Designation as a Writing Reinforcement (WR) Course in Explorations
Name______Lynne Trench______
Course number and title______PY 304 Research Methods in Psychology______
Departmental endorsement_____Yes______
Has this course been submitted for any other Explorations designation? ____Yes, SM__
If so, which one? ______
Please list which of your course assignments or activities addresses each of the guidelines, state briefly how this is accomplished, and attach a syllabus for the course.
Criteria for writing reinforcement courses include the following:
- Class time given to instruction on writing, with particular attention to discipline-specific forms of writing, research methods, and documentation
The whole lecture class is all about Research Methods in psychology. But we also spend time in lecture and especially in lab on how to write papers in American Psychological Association style. The paper assignments, and some shorter assignments, all use APA style and techniques. For instance, one assignment gives students some reference information and asks them to write up a references page in proper APA style.
- Multiple writing assignments, including some use of questions on examinations which require substantial writing
Usually, there are 4 papers. Two papers are on the first class-conducted experiment, and two are on the second experiment. The first paper is usually just half a paper (a title page, an introduction and method section, and references), and the rest of the papers are full (title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references). Exams all have some essay questions.
- Required drafts of at least one assignment submitted for review subsequent to revision
As stated above, the second paper is a rewrite of the introduction and method, with the addition of the rest of the sections. The third paper is a peer-reviewed paper that is exchanged with another student’s in the class and the student is asked to comment on the paper they get and give suggestions for improvement. There are a series of questions that need to be addressed. Then based on these, the student will revise the paper and turn it in to the professor (the fourth paper). In addition, for all of the papers, students are given an opportunity to turn in a draft to the professor prior to the due date in order to get comments and make improvements.
Return this form as one electronic file with a syllabus appended to by 30 May 2011.
Py 304A – Research Methods for Psychology
TTH 9:30-10:50, 302 Harbert
Lab 1 W 2:00-3:20, 007 SSC
Lab 2 W 3:30-4:50, 007 SSC
Professor: Lynne Trench, Ph.D.T. A.: Linda Amaya
Office: Harbert 309, SSC 020e-mail:
Phone: 226-4835Phone: 601-466-5365
e-mail:
Office Hours: MF 2-3:30; or by appointment
Required Texts:
Goodwin, C. J. (2010). Research in Psychology: Methods and design (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Optional:
Szuchman, L. T. (2008). Writing with style: APA style made easy (4th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth.
Course Description:
This course will teach you how to design and carry out experiments, how to evaluate scientific and nonscientific data, and how to write scientific research papers (in APA style). Therefore, there are essentially two parts to this course, learning the methodology behind psychological research, and learning how to write a scientific paper (in APA style). In the laboratory component of this course, we will conduct experiments to enable better understanding of principles discussed in class. This course is required for psychology majors. Prerequisites are PY 101 and PY 204 (Statistics).
Class Period:
The class period will be used to present material (including, but not limited to material from the textbook), to discuss material from readings, and to employ demonstrations and small group discussion to promote better understanding of the class material. I expect you to complete the assigned reading before class and to be prepared to discuss the material and ask questions. I will not automatically cover all the text material in class. You are responsible for all material covered in class and in the assigned readings. Be aware, however, that some lecture time will be used to discuss laboratory projects, and some laboratory time may be used for lecture.
Attendance:
Attendance at lecture is not officially required, however, each day that you attend class, on time, you will earn 2 attendance points. Absence in order to attend a college-sponsored event will result in loss of 1 point instead of 2. Absence for any other reason will result in the loss of attendance points. If you are not in class when I take attendance, but arrive late, you will get 1 point. The reason for this is that I consider lateness very disruptive to me and to the class, and I frequently give important announcements at the beginning of class.
Participation:
Class participation will also contribute to your grade. This portion of your grade will be subjective, and will be assigned by me, based on how often and how well you participate in class. Be aware that quality of participation is more important than quantity. For example, allow others to speak if you have already spoken, and do not dominate the discussion; listen to others’ opinions respectfully, even if you don’t agree with them; minimize anecdotal and personal reports; and just in general treat your classmates, and me, with respect. If you contribute relevant information on average once a class period, without dominating discussion or engaging in excessive anecdotes, you will get an “A” for participation. If you contribute relevant information at least once a week, you will get a “B” for participation. If you occasionally contribute relevant information, but less than once a week, you will get a “C” for participation. If you rarely or never participate in class, you will get a “D” for participation. I expect everyone to take part in class discussion. It is a great way to see how much you really know the material, and to remember it better for the test. If anyone is extremely shy and thinks that they will have a difficult time participating on a regular basis in class, please contact me.
Laboratory:
There are two laboratory sections. Both sections will meet in SSC 007, NOT in Harbert. Attendance at laboratory is required, unless I tell you otherwise. You will lose 4 points from your attendance grade for every unexcused laboratory absence. In the laboratory section of the course we will carry out two experiments.. More details will be given regarding these experiments in the laboratory sections. Be aware that the purpose of the laboratory for this course is to enable you to learn how to carry out an experiment and how to write it up in APA style. Therefore, lab sections may sometimes be treated as lecture time to discuss APA style or to work on writing papers.
Exams:
There will be three exams worth 75 points each. The final exam is not cumulative.
Exams may consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, true/false, and essay questions. Anyone wishing to take the Final exam early must make arrangements with me before spring break!
Papers:
You will be required to turn in three papers and one revision in APA style format throughout the semester. These papers will be turned in at the beginning of the class period in which they are due, typed, double-spaced, in hard copy, stapled. The topic of these papers will be experiments conducted in the laboratory portion of this course. More details regarding these papers will be discussed in the laboratory section of the course.
Assignments and quizzes:
There will be some assignments given throughout the course of the semester. These will be used to help further your understanding of the class material. I also reserve the right to give pop quizzes if people do not seem to be keeping up with their reading.
Absences:
If you must miss a laboratory or a paper deadline, notify me as soon as possible. I will determine if the absence is excused, and what, if anything, you can do to make it up. If you miss an exam for any reason, you must make it up at my discretion or during the last week of classes. It is your responsibility to set a time with me to make up the exam during the last week of classes and you cannot make up an exam during finals week.
Late Policy for assignments and papers:
I take deadlines very seriously. It is important to work and plan ahead. That way, if something happens at the last minute (the printer is out of paper, there is a traffic jam), you can still get your assignment in on time. There is NO penalty for turning something in early . Therefore, if an assignment or paper is turned in late, it is subject to the following penalties: 2% deduction if it is turned in up to ten minutes after the time it is due. 5% deduction if it is turned in 10 min to 1 hour after the time it is due. 10% deduction from one hour to one day after it is due. 10% deduction per day thereafter.
Classroom Conduct, Cheating, and Plagiarism:
I expect you to treat this class as you would a job. I expect you to show up on time, be prepared for class, treat me and your classmates with respect, and not get up in the middle of class to get a coke or go to the bathroom. I also expect you to do your own work on the papers. Although you will be running the experiments in groups, you will write the papers by yourself, using your own words. During exams, I expect you to show up at the beginning of the exam period, put away your cell phones and notes/books, do your own work, not to talk, and not to look at others’ papers. You are under the Honor Code of BSC. If any student is suspected or caught cheating or plagiarizing, or violating what is written above, they will be reported to the Honor Council, and will be subject to a zero on that paper/assignment. NO EXCEPTIONS! Also remember that you are obligated by the Honor Code to report someone else who you see cheating.
Some notes on plagiarism: this is the attempt to represent another’s work as your own, whether the work is published or unpublished, from the internet, or simply the work of another student.
It is considered plagiarism to use a paper that others have written or even to use one that you have written for another course.
It is also plagiarism to use other people’s ideas without properly citing them as a source. Thus, you should give proper credit for every idea in a paper that is not your own. For every sentence in your paper, a reader should be able to easily tell whether it is your idea or whether it is from another source. Be aware that any idea in the paper that does not have a citation to another source is one that you are essentially claiming as your own.
Finally, note that you should rarely, or never, use direct quotes. You should paraphrase in your own words the research, opinions, and findings of others. Make sure that you truly use your own words though, because using the same sentence structure and replacing a few words here and there still constitutes plagiarism.
Course Grading:
Exam 175
Exam 275
Final75
Assignments/quizzes up to 50
Attendance50
Participation50
Paper 130
Paper 275
Paper 3 50
Paper 3 revision 100
Total points possible up to 630
Grades will be assigned based on a standard percentage (93-100 is an A, 90-92 is an A-, etc.). Grades will be posted on Moodle. Extra Credit point opportunities will be given on exams, therefore, I will not round up when I calculate final grades at the end of the semester. Because many grades do not get entered until the end of the semester (attendance, participation, final exam, final paper), some previous students have seemed surprised by their final grade. Please keep this in mind and talk to me during the semester if you want to know how you are doing on attendance or participation or if you have questions on test or paper grading. I am a stickler for being consistent on grading, as well as making sure I add up and enter scores correctly. Therefore, unless there is an extremely compelling reason, consider final grades as final, and do not call me or email me with questions about your grade after the course is completed.
Moodle:
I will maintain a course site on Moodle. I will post the syllabus, assignments, study guides, paper instructions, etc. so be sure to check it frequently. I also use the sending email option quite a bit, so be aware of that and make sure your entered email address is the one you actually use, and that you check your email frequently.
Special Needs:
If you have any special needs, please notify me as soon as possible so we can make the appropriate arrangements.
Teaching Fellow:
Linda Amaya is the teaching fellow for this class. Please take advantage of her help, but keep in mind that she is also a student with other classes, so please be respectful of her time. Please see her and contact her only during reasonable times, be prepared with specific questions, do not monopolize her time when others need her help, and cancel in advance if you can’t make it. Also, don’t expect help from her or me if you have waited until the last minute. Try to set meetings several days in advance.
Important Note:
As stated on the next page, the course schedule is subject to change. In fact, I can almost guarantee that some chapters will take longer or shorter than I anticipate. In addition, the points given to a test or paper may also change during the semester. Therefore you will need to check Moodle frequently for changes. I will try not to move exam dates, and paper deadlines would only be moved to a later date. Please expect changes and don’t worry about them – we will get to the most important stuff!
Course Schedule (subject to change!)
DateTopicReading due that day
T Feb 1Introduction to course and APA manualsyllabus
R Feb 3Scientific thinking in PsychologyG 1(first half)
T Feb 8Scientific thinking in PsychologyG 1(second half)
R Feb 10Developing ideas for researchG 3
T Feb 15Observational ResearchG 12
R Feb 17Introduction to experimental researchG 5
T Feb 22Introduction to experimental researchG 5; PAPER 1 DUE
RFeb 24Control Problems in experimental researchG 6
T Mar 1EXAM 1
R Mar 3Control Problems in experimental researchG 6
T Mar 8Measurement and data analysisG 4
R Mar 10Measurement and data analysisG 4
March 12-March 20Spring Break
T Mar 22Single factor experimental designsG 7
R Mar 24Single factor experimental designsG 7PAPER 2 DUE
T Mar 29Factorial designsG 8
R Mar 31Factorial designsG 8
TApr 5Factorial designsG 8
R Apr 7EXAM 2
T Apr 12Correlational researchG 9
R Apr 14continuedG 9; PAPER 3 DUE
T Apr 19Quasi-experimental designs and applied resG 10; peer revision Pap 3 due
T Apr 21Survey researchG 12
T Apr 26Ethics in Psychological ResearchG 2
T May 3Ethics continuedG 2, PAPER 3 Revision DUE
Tues MAY 10, 9:00FINAL EXAM
Laboratory Schedule (also subject to change)
Week of:Topic/Assignment:
Feb 2Introductory meeting, Bring APA manual!
Feb 9Evaluate Journal Article, discuss sections of APA paper
Feb 16Discuss Paper 1 and Exp. 1
Feb 23Run Experiment 1
Mar 2Run Experiment 1 / Analyze results
Mar 9Discuss Results / Discussion section
Mar 16SPRING BREAK
Mar 23Discuss Experiment 2 Ideas
Mar 30Plan Experiment 2
Apr 6Run Experiment 2
Apr 13Discuss statistics and Results section; Analyze Results
Apr 20Catch up
Apr 27Optional paper work session