Psychology 3500: Industrial/Organizational Psychology

PSYCH 6210 Fall 2016

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PSYCHOLOGY 6210

Advanced Research Methods in I-O Psychology

Fall 2016

Note: This syllabus establishes rules and procedures for this course. Your decision to remain enrolled in the class indicates that you agree to follow these rules.

Required Text:

Various Readings and Chapters will be assigned to go along with the different topics. While no textbooks are required, there are several textbooks included which may be useful to obtain.

Required Materials:

A web-cam may be required for some assignments. An internal webcam should be sufficient for most assignments.

Useful Texts:

APA (2009). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 6th Edition

Rogelberg, S. G. (Ed.) 2002). Handbook of research methods in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Blackwell.

Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Note: Relevant readings from academic journals and other sources will be assigned throughout the semester. When assigned, you will be expected to obtain and read the material for class participation and the exams. If you do not receive a document that was handed out during scheduled class time, it is your responsibility to obtain a copy of the material. All syllabus content is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Always check the Blackboard website just prior to coming to class for important announcements (e.g., class cancellations, reading assignment changes, etc.). All announcements and changes to the syllabus will be made in class and via Blackboard.

Course Description/Objectives:

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and critique advanced research methods commonly used in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. As part of this course, an introductory level description of several advanced methodological techniques will be covered. While students are not expected to be able to demonstrate their ability to apply these methods, they are expected to have a thorough understanding of how these methods are applied. Additionally students should be able to appropriately critique studies that utilize advanced methodology in this and future classes in the I-O MS program.

Course Description/Objectives (Continued):

1. Apply Concepts of Reliability and Validity to Novel Situations— This course will address major conceptualizations of reliability and validity. An emphasis will be placed on understanding and applying these concepts in new or unique situations.

1. Reading and Understanding of Advanced Research Methods Papers— In this course, we will read and discussing current research articles that utilize Meta-Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM), Item Response Theory (IRT), Multi-level, and cross-cultural methods of analysis.

1. Evaluative and Critical Thinking Skills— Students will need to demonstrate the ability to apply theories and principles discussed in class to offer insightful and detailed critique and analysis of current research projects and articles.

1. Understanding Ethical Principles — Students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of ethical concerns associated with psychological research. Additional emphasis will be placed on understanding ethical concerns associated with research in organizations.

Class sessions will often include discussions of issues not covered in the readings. Additionally, topics that are covered sufficiently in the readings may not be discussed in class. Advanced readings from I-O journals will be assigned along with each topic. Thus, the best strategy for learning the class material is: (1) regular attendance at class sessions, (2) advanced preparation by reading assigned materials before class, and (3) thoroughly reviewing material after class discussions and before exams.

Prerequisites and Expectations

This is a graduate psychology course. As such, students will be expected to be able to obtain and read journal articles on their own. Students may also be required to demonstrate a sufficient understanding and use of APA style writing at the graduate level. Having a basic understanding of research methods and statistics used in psychological research will be helpful for this course.

My Role as the Instructor:

1.) To ASSIST students in learning material relevant to this class through activities, lectures, and assignments. To maintain a learning environment within the classroom where students can focus, learn, and productively contribute to the learning of their fellow students.

2.) To ASSESS student performance through activities, projects, and examinations. To ensure that grades reflect knowledge and application of Research Methods concepts as well as participation and contribution to the learning environment of the class.

Course Requirements and Evaluation:

Graduate Examinations

There will be two exams in this course. Graduate examinations will be given online through Blackboard. They will contain short-answer, multiple-choice, and essay portions. The specific length and format of bothexams may vary as needed. Exams will all be cumulative covering predominantly the most recent information, but also relating back to previous lessons.

Exams will cover:

1. Assigned readings
2. Class lectures and class discussions
3. Any supplementary materials distributed, assigned or presented in class

You must have an approved (by the instructor) excuse documented prior to the exam date to miss an exam. If you miss an exam and do not have an approved excuse, you will receive a zero for that exam.

Graduate Writing Assignments:

One of the principal forms of assessment at the graduate level is writing assignments. This class will seek to assess and develop your ability to reasonably assess and articulate arguments through your writing. Graduate students are expected to be able to write at a highly proficient level. All graduate level assignments should be in APA format. Page length describes the body of the paper only. References can/should be included on a separate page. APA style title pages including your name, the date, and the title of your paper should be included with each assignment. Three types of writing assignments may be given throughout this course:

1. Large Writing Assignments These are typically research based assignments. They will be 5-7 pages in length and may require researching a specific topic.

1. Medium Writing Assignments  These are typically 3-4 pages in length. They may involve critical thinking or application. Citations can and should be included, but research is often less thorough than in the large writing assignment.

1. Small Writing Assignments These are typically 1-2 pages in length. Do not be fooled, the short nature of these papers may make them more difficult. You must thoroughly and clearly present your arguments, opinions, or descriptions in a short and concise manner.

Writing assignments will be given in class and posted on Blackboard. Assignments will typically be submitted through Blackboard using the Turnitin program to check for originality and plagiarism. Each specific paper may vary in how many “points” it is worth when graded. .

Activities:

Various brief activities will be assigned as needed throughout the semester. Graduate level activities may involve the use of case studies, statistical data analysis, and discussion questions about readings which will be handled outside of the classroom. These assignments will vary in the points that they are worth No make-up activities will be given. Students who do not complete an activity by the due date will not be allowed to make up the activity points. It is considered reasonable that a distance assignment may be given during one class period and be due before the next class period. While students are allowed to participate asynchronously, they are expected to reasonably keep up with class assignments and activities.

Cheating and Academic Integrity

Of course, I have no expectation of encountering plagiarism or cheating of any kind in this class, and would be truly disappointed should it be discovered. On occasion, ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism can lead to unintended offenses. Thus, a brief discussion of the topic may be useful.

Appropriate conduct is discussed in section 200.010 (pg 30-31) of the 2010-2012 Student Academic Regulations ( You should familiarize yourself with the university definitions of Academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism, sabotage, and forgery.

In short, plagiarism and cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Instructors have a wide range of options when cheating or other academic integrity violations are discovered. At a minimum, the exam, quiz, or paper/presentation in question will be counted as a zero. Other possible consequences include academic probation, and failure of the course.

Students with disabilities

Students with certifiable disabilities that require any type of accommodation are responsible for contacting me prior to exams or in-class projects so that appropriate accommodations may be made.

Emergency egress route

Please familiarize yourself with the emergency egress route for this classroom:

Request for reconsidering a grade

If you feel that a paper or other work you submitted was improperly evaluated, you can ask to have it reviewed and the grade reconsidered. To do this, prepare a written statement (one or two paragraphs) explaining what you believe to be erroneous about the grade. While I am decidedly unreceptive to being asked to review work simply because a poor grade was received, I truly appreciate the opportunity to correct a mistake. Please recognize that a new grade could be lower or higher than the original grade.

Professor Weidner’s Pregnant Wife Clause:

My wife and I are expecting a baby girl that is due to be born on November 1st.  As with any birth, there is the potential for complications or issues unforeseen. The schedule, material covered, activities, assignments, and general course requirements may shift as a result of these circumstances. Please be flexible and understanding. I will do my best to make sure that you receive quality instruction on Advanced Research Methods and that you are all treated fairly. It is likely that at the very least some classes may be cancelled and/or that some lectures will be recorded and posted online.

Tentative Course Calendar (Subject to Change at Instructor's Discretion):

*Note: I reserve the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. By remaining registered in this class, you agree to abide by the terms in this syllabus.