P767 Graduate Methods

(PSY 767) GRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS

Texts:

Beins, B.C. (2004) Research Methods: A Tool for Live. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Patten, M.L. (2002) Educational and Psychological Research (3rd Ed.) Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing
Sweeney, D. (2006) Study Guide for Research Methods in Psychology (Psy 767)

Reserve:

Babbie, E. (2004) The Practice of Social Research 10th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth

Electronic Reserve:

There are a number of articles on electronic reserve. These are indicated with an ER in the syllabus and Study Guide.

Optional:

Galvin, J. L. (1999) Writing Literature Reviews. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing

EXPECTATIONS
Content	This is an advanced course in applied and laboratory research techniques. The emphasis will be on the evaluation, design, implementation, and documentation of psychological research. The main goal will be for students to be able to identify and evaluate various research techniques.
Materials	The course consists of reading, lectures, demonstrations, written assignments, and discussion. It is your responsibility to keep current on these materials.
Attendance	I do not take attendance in graduate classes. If you miss a class I assume that you will learn the material.
Assignments	There are assignments to be completed prior to class. Most of these are identified in the syllabus and included in the study guide. articles will be posted on line through the CUP library electronic reserve. This is the link to the library: http://www.library.cup.edu/. Scroll down to Course Reserves and select Electronic Reserve, then select the Psychology Department and our course. The password is Psy 767.
Honesty	Cases of cheating or plagiarism will result in no credit (0) for the assignment or test and an overall failing grade for the course.
Participation	I do expect you to have completed at least a brief review of the reading(s) prior to class. Frequent participation in class discussions will assure me that your are awake, alert, involved, and are familiar with the material. I will take participation into account when grading borderline cases.
Papers	There will be one paper. This paper will represent approximately 40% of your course grade. This paper must be typed and formatted in standard APA format. All work on papers must be your own.
Quizzes	There will be eight to ten quizzes. The topics and relevant reading are shown in the syllabus. In computing your overall grade I will drop your lowest quiz score. The quizzes will be mostly short essay with some multiple choice and True-False items. The quizzes will be based on materials in the study guide, lecture notes, and the assigned readings.
Make Ups	Your first missed quiz will count as your lowest grade and will be dropped. You may make-up any subsequent test, quiz, homework assignment, or paper, but you will loose one point per day for makeups unless you have a University-approved excuse justifying the delay. Make-ups must be completed the week you return to class.
Final Exam	There is NO FINAL EXAMINATION in this course.
Grades	Your grades will be computed as follows: Literature Review: 70 points Quizzes: 100-125 points Assignments: 40-60 points
Grade Scale	Grades will be calculated on the following scale: A 90% and above B 80 - 89% F less than 80%
Office Hours	Hours I will be available to discuss the course, the weather, or any topic of mutual interest at the hours posted above. If these are not convenient, please see me to make an appointment at another time.
Extra Credit	None
Special Needs	If you have special learning needs, please let me know. Students requiring special considerations should get in touch with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. This office will notify me in writing of the accommodations you need in compliance with 504/ADA. If you have special learning needs, please let me know.

TOPIC

ASSIGNMENT

Introduction and the Scientific Method

What is science?
Theories and research.
Hypotheses

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 1

Research Strategies Power Point

Purposes of Research
Research Strategies
Literature Reviews
Meta-analysis

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 4, pps 91-96

Article Review:

Most Women Deny Gender Discrimination in Their Pay

Quiz #1

Research Ethics Power Point

Risk
Informed Consent
Deception

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 3, pps 87-93
Chapter 6

Complete the on-line ethics training found at Ethics Training

Quiz #2

Variables & Measurement Power Point

Variables
Measurement
Reliability
Validity
Scales

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 4, pps 81-91, 106-111
Stangor, Chapter 4 & 5 (ER)
Mitchell & Jolley 3 (ER)

Article Review:

Chapman-Cook Speed of Reading Test: Performance of College Students.

Quiz #3

Observational Research Power Point

Types
Issues and Concerns

Study Guide

Beins, Chapters 10
Babbie, Chapter 6 (ER)

Article Review:

Ethnic Representation in a Sample of the Literature of Applied Psychology.

Quiz #4

Survey Research Power Point

Questionnaires
Interviews
Sampling

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 4, pps 97-106, Chapter 8
Cozby, Chapter 7 (ER)

Article Review:

I�m Lonely and Apprehensive: the Presentation of Stigmatizing Information in Personal Ads.

Young Children�s Perceptions of Time Out

Quiz #5

Correlational Research Power Point

Overview
Simple
Partial Correlation
Multiple Regression
Factor Analysis
Interpretation

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 9

Article Review:

Understanding Shame in Adults: Retrospective Perceptions of Parental Bonding During Childhood.

Quiz #6

Internal & External Validity Power Point

Confounding
Threats
Reactivity
Demand Characteristics
Experimenter Bias

Study Guide

Beins, Chapters 5

Experimental Design Power Point
Experimental Flow Chart

Design
Control
Multiple Group Designs
Factorial Designs

Study Guide

Beins, Chapters 6 & 7

Article Review:

Drinking Glucose Improves Listening Span in Students Who Miss Breakfast.

Quiz #7

Pre and Quasi Experimental Research Power Point

Quasi-Experimental Design

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 7, pps 182-198

Article Review:

Evaluation of a Brief Intervention for Increasing Seat Belt Use on a College Campus

Quiz #8

Developmental and Single Subject Research Power Point

Introduction
Validity
Design
Experiments
Analysis

Study Guide

Beins, Chapter 11

Article Review:

The Use of Social Stories as a Preventative Behavioral Intervention in a Home Setting with a Child with Autism (ER)

Quiz #9

Evaluation Research Power Point

Study Guide

Whitley, Chapter 15 (ER)

Quiz #10

Description
Length	20 to 30 pages
Format	Standard APA Format
Scoring	Area	Possible Points
	APA Format Abstract Introduction Review Summary References Grammar, Spelling, etc. Overall Evaluation Total	5 5 15 15 10 5 10 10 75
Process
1. Identify a current topic, problem, issue, or concern relating to school psychology. The topic should be selected from among those listed in Thomas & Grimes, Best Practices n School Psychology IV, Volume 1.
2. Check with me once you have chosen your topic on or before Tuesday, September 18, 2007.
3. Do an initial literature search to identify the major issues or research focusing on this topic. Summarize this research in an annotated bibliography. While you may use some secondary sources; the major sources must be primary research reports. Once you have done an initial review prepare a purpose statement for your paper. It should be in the following format. The purpose of my paper is to review the literature on inclusion in the classroom and its effects on social and intellectual development. The purpose of my paper is to review the research on the effectiveness of the Scholastic Aptitude Test in predicting college success. Your purpose statement is due on Tuesday, October 9.
4. Prepare an outline of your literature review and meet with me to discuss it on or before November 6.
5. Write a comprehensive literature review focusing on this topic. Turn your paper in to me on or before 6:00 PM on Tuesday, December 11, 2006.
Outline
1. Abstract Describe the nature of the review.
2. Introduction. A summary of the area you will be reviewing, definitions of key terms, areas you will exclude, and a summary of how the paper is organized.
3. Review. This is the heart of the paper and should represent a critical evaluation and integration, not just a summary of research.
4. Summary. A recapitulation of what you have reviewed together with your recommendations for what additional research should be done.
5. References. List all articles, books, and other works cited in the paper. I will not grade a paper that does not have references listed.

(PSY 767) GRADUATE RESEARCH METHODS

SYLLABUS

EXPECTATIONS

Content

This is an advanced course in applied and laboratory research techniques. The emphasis will be on the evaluation, design, implementation, and documentation of psychological research. The main goal will be for students to be able to identify and evaluate various research techniques.

Materials

The course consists of reading, lectures, demonstrations, written assignments, and discussion. It is your responsibility to keep current on these materials.

Attendance

I do not take attendance in graduate classes. If you miss a class I assume that you will learn the material.

Assignments

Honesty

Cases of cheating or plagiarism will result in no credit (0) for the assignment or test and an overall failing grade for the course.

Participation

I do expect you to have completed at least a brief review of the reading(s) prior to class. Frequent participation in class discussions will assure me that your are awake, alert, involved, and are familiar with the material. I will take participation into account when grading borderline cases.

Papers

There will be one paper. This paper will represent approximately 40% of your course grade. This paper must be typed and formatted in standard APA format. All work on papers must be your own.

Quizzes

Make Ups

Final Exam

There is NO FINAL EXAMINATION in this course.

Grades

Your grades will be computed as follows:

Literature Review: 70 points Quizzes: 100-125 points Assignments: 40-60 points

Grade Scale

Grades will be calculated on the following scale:

A 90% and above B 80 - 89% F less than 80%

Office Hours

Hours I will be available to discuss the course, the weather, or any topic of mutual interest at the hours posted above. If these are not convenient, please see me to make an appointment at another time.

Extra Credit

None

Special Needs

ASSIGNMENTS

Description

Length

20 to 30 pages

Format

Standard APA Format

Scoring

Area

Possible Points

APA Format Abstract Introduction Review Summary References Grammar, Spelling, etc. Overall Evaluation

Total

5 5 15 15 10 5 10 10

75

Outline

1. Abstract

Describe the nature of the review.

2. Introduction.

A summary of the area you will be reviewing, definitions of key terms, areas you will exclude, and a summary of how the paper is organized.

3. Review.

This is the heart of the paper and should represent a critical evaluation and integration, not just a summary of research.

4. Summary.

A recapitulation of what you have reviewed together with your recommendations for what additional research should be done.

5. References.

List all articles, books, and other works cited in the paper. I will not grade a paper that does not have references listed.

Literature Review: 70 points
Quizzes: 100-125 points
Assignments: 40-60 points

APA Format
Abstract
Introduction
Review
Summary
References
Grammar, Spelling, etc.
Overall Evaluation

5
5
15
15
10
5
10
10