Instructor: James R. Nevitt, Ph.D. Syllabus Fall 2015 PSYC 330 Research Methods Office Hours: My office is located in T.J. Majors (Room 240). I am readily accessible by email, which I check daily. I will attempt to answer all emails within 24 hrs. Office Telephone: 402 872 2293 Email Address: jnevitt@peru.edu Course Meets: 2:00 3:15 pm MW Required Textbook: Research Methods in Psychology by Shaughnessy, Zechmeister and Zechmeister, (10 th edition), McGraw Hill Education, 2015. ISBN : 978-0-07-782536-2 Recommended Textbook: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed., publisher American Psychological Association ISBN 13: 9781433805615 Required Software: Microsoft Word and PSYCHmate 2.0 (Provided) Course Description & Objectives This introductory course concentrates on research methods and designs and statistical analysis procedures used in research projects. PSYC 330 features reading research, research interpretation, and how research methods are utilized in the social and behavioral science. Prerequisites: PSYC 121 Intro. To Psychology required; (MATH 210 Statistics recommended) Upon completion of this course you should be able to: 1. Assist in a professional research study using appropriate methods. 2. Know the protocol involved with conducting professional research studies. 3. Conduct a search for published research articles regarding topics of study using on-line data bases or utilize professional journals in a collegiate library.
4. Read and understand the findings of a scientific research article that have been published in a professional journal. 5. Summarize and synthesize findings of published research studies. Other Course Objectives: 1. To introduce students to the scientific method. 2. Learn how to become better consumers of research data. 3. Investigate and learn the principle components of research design, both quantitative and qualitative, and analysis methods. 4. Learn research strategies used to examine relationships between variables under study. 5. To learn the ethical issues involved with research: particularly the review and use of human subjects. 6. Learn how to search for and read professional journals through a review of literature. 7. Learn how to search for and interpret published research results. 8. Learn how to use data analysis software, using existing databases. At the beginning of the course, we will discuss how these objectives fit into the College s and School s mission and goals. The instructor reserves the right to modify any aspect of the course syllabus or content. Any modifications will be communicated to students in advance. Expectations & Instructional Approach Attendance and Course Participation Class participation: Compared with other psychology courses, research methods tends to be more abstract in terms of basic concepts and requires pooling knowledge and skills from different sources (including statistics). This makes class participation an even more important component to a student s learning. Below are a few basic elements that go into class participation. 1. Maintain good attendance. This course moves rapidly. 2. It is important that you attend each class as scheduled. Class time is important. Attendance will be taken and will count as a significant part of your grade. Attendance is validated daily with 3 points added onto a student s overall cumulative points for this course. Attending a lecture or PSYCHmate lab experience is defined as being present throughout the entire period, as such attendance will generally be taken during the first ten minutes of class. Late arrivals will be counted on the attendance roster at the discretion of the instructor if the reason seems valid. Students that are absent will not receive 3 points per attendance on the day of absence.
3. In cases of illness, students must alert the instructor ahead of class time if they are absent due to sickness and provide medical documentation to avoid the loss of points. 4. While anyone can be late on rare occasions, habitual lateness is unacceptable. Also once in class, be prepared to stay for the entire class period. Attendance will be taken daily and is defined as a student being present for the entire class period. 5. Be attentive. Make frequent, and preferably intelligent, contributions to the class discussions. 6. Participate and collaborate constructively during in-class activities. 7. Be respectful toward all members of the class and their views. 8. Be POSITIVE toward the challenges you are facing in this course. Disruptive behavior or disrespect toward other students or the instructor will not be tolerated. At the very least, it will cost a letter grade. Additionally it can be subject to further penalty. 9. No texting or use of cell phones use in class (this means zero use). Violation of this policy will lower a student s final grade 5% (roughly one letter) per violation and warrant a meeting with the Dean of Profession Studies before the student may return back to the classroom. Course Overview and Grading The major requirements of this course will include weekly quizzes, major exams, frequent lab-related, in-class experiences, a literature review written in APA Writing Style, related presentation (done with partner) and a cumulative final exam. The total point distribution is as follows: 3 Major Exams @ 50 points each. 150 points 5-8 Quizzes (will use best 5) @ 10 points each. 50 points 1 Team Paper (Lit. Review)/Presentation @ 50 points..50 points 1 Cumulative Final Exam @ 100 points...100 points Attendance/Participation/Lab or other assignments...100 points Total.....450 points Quizzes: Quizzes will be given in class roughly every one or two weeks. They will consist of true/false, multiple-choice, completion, and matching questions related to the
lecture/readings. You will be able to use (your own) notes/textbook on an in-class quiz. Exams must be taken without the use of text/notes or other study aids. In-class quizzes may not be made up. Students will automatically receive a zero as a score for a missed quiz. The instructor will use the best five quiz scores of the semester when calculating the final grade. Exams: There will be three exams plus a comprehensive final during the Fall 2015 semester. They will be offered at approximately three to four week intervals. Each will usually cover several chapters in your textbook (except for the final exam, it is comprehensive covering all of the course materials. The exams will be approximately from 50 to 60 questions, specifically multiple-choice, completion, or true/false items, drawn from the lectures and readings in your textbook. Term Paper: A ten page literature review utilizing electronic and conventional library resources will be required as a portion of the evaluation process. The paper must be written in APA style. There are many other styles of writing reports and term papers. However, APA style is the most frequently used writing style in the fields of psychology, counseling, criminal justice, sociology, social work, and many other areas in social sciences and business. I will not read a paper that is submitted in a style other than APA writing style. Useful overviews for those that need assistance writing a paper for this course can be found in the course document section but they are no substitution for the APA Publication Manual (recommended reading for this course). Term Paper Outline and Instructor Approval Process: Student teams will construct and write a literature review consistent with the guidelines set forth in the APA Publication Manual with a body 10 pages long (using 12 point font, and double spacing see APA Publication Manual for other writing specifications). The required ten pages do not include a reference section and cover/title page. These are in addition to the ten- page body of the paper. Students teams (two students) will be expected to submit a topic of interest and an outline for instructor approval prior to beginning their research. The formal outline of the paper and a topic approval by the instructor is required prior to the end of the third week of the semester before a student will be granted permission to begin his or her research. Papers that have not been pre-approved during this time period will not be read or evaluated by the instructor. The instructor does not simply regard the paper as an exercise in writing. It is a chance to learn about APA style (for those that don't yet know it) and an opportunity to research a special area of interest. The team will be responsible for a class presentation. Guidelines for the presentation will be provided in class sometime during the first two weeks. Both students will be assigned the same grade for their cooperative project. Students are expected to use the
PSC library and its conventional resources (books, hard copies of journal articles) as well as new psychology data bases to complete this project. The final project (term paper) must be done in Microsoft Word format. If you do not have this software available to you, please acquire it! I will not accept papers in any other form. Term Paper Topics: The primary point is to familiarize the student with a researcher or line of research using the experimental techniques that this class revolves around. Papers should focus upon human or animal learning, perception/sensation, memory, attention, physiological psychology and related subareas. Most of your paper should focus upon recent research. A general introduction to an area may include references/research older than the year 2000 to bring the reader up to speed historically but most references (defined as 90%) used in this paper should be fairly current (defined as nothing older than the year 2000). Term Paper Rubric A general rubric associated with the evaluation of the term paper. A (50-45 points) = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas. Superior knowledge of APA writing style. B (44-40 points) = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality. Above average knowledge of APA writing style. C (39-35 points) = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts in paper. Adequate knowledge of APA writing style. D (34-30 points) = Quality of written work is poor overall. Inadequate ability to communicate in writing. Poor understanding of chosen topic. Inadequate knowledge of APA writing style. F (Below 30 points) = Quality of work completely unacceptable. The term paper itself is due on Monday December 2nd, 2015. Participation/Lab Assignments: Students will be evaluated in terms of their participation and timely completion and responses to PSYCHmate lab homework or other assignments. PSYCHmate In-class experiences may be made up by students within
one week of the scheduled experience with permission of the instructor, else student forfeits the points associated with the lab. Late Assignment Policy: It is very important that students turn in their work in a timely fashion. Assignments that are submitted after the deadline will not be scored unless a student has made arrangements with me. I also reserve the right to impose a late penalty of as much as 25% of the total possible points. Deducting points from well-done work is painful for both of us. Please make it a priority to submit your work in on time. Grading Scale Final course grades will be assigned as follows: Course grade Percentage of points earned A 100 90% B+ 89 88% B 87 80% C+ 79 78% C 77 70% D+ 69 68% D 67 60% F Below 60% Extra Credit: There is no provision for extra credit this semester in PSYC330 College s Incomplete Coursework Policy To designate a student s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, the instructor records the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed substantially all of the course s major requirements. Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filling out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the signature of the student, instructor, and Dean. The Incomplete Grade Completion contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. The date by which the student agrees to complete required work must appear in the contract. The Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract. Even if the student does not attend Peru State College, all incomplete course work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. Unless the appropriate Dean
approves an extension and if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an F. College s Academic Integrity Policy The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is ultimately the student s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy. Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run data base and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Dean. In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work. Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend for two semesters students found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student s transcript. A faculty member need present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grades appeals.
Title IX Compliance Notice Peru State is an equal opportunity institution. Peru State College does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title VI, VII, IX, and Section 504. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and practices may be directed to Eulanda Cade, Director of Human Resources, Title VI, VII, IX Compliance Coordinator, Peru State, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230. Students requesting reasonable accommodation and tutoring services should contact the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS). A Final Word: Like a good mattress, these policies are firm, but not rock-hard. I am aware that some individual circumstances may arise warranting a change in some of these procedures or policies, but you should not count on that being the case. If you have any questions regarding where you stand in the course, then I strongly recommend that you come and talk to me. I want to emphasize the importance of consulting with me as soon as possible should any difficulties arise in your life that might interfere with your performance in the course. Waiting until the last two weeks of class or when final grades are distributed to talk to me is altogether too late! Title IX Compliance Notice Peru State is an equal opportunity institution. Peru State College does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title VI, VII, IX, and Section 504. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and practices may be directed to Eulanda Cade, Director of Human Resources, Title VI, VII, IX Compliance Coordinator, Peru State, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230. Students requesting reasonable accommodation and tutoring services should contact the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS).
Tentative Course Schedule The following course schedule includes topics, PowerPoint presentations and reading assignments. However, I do reserve the right to change this course calendar as needed. You will always be notified if our plan deviates from this schedule. WEEKS ONE AND TWO Introduction Reading - Chapter 1 PPT 1 Science and Sciencing PPT 2 Thinking Like a Researcher WEEKS THREE AND FOUR Scientific Method Reading - Chapter 2 PPT 3 Scientific and Every Day Approaches to Knowledge PPT 4 Goals of Science and Psychology Student should read Chapter 13 and view the following PowerPoints during the first two weeks as well - they relate to Report Writing and APA Writing Style PPT 19 Research with the Internet and General Writing Guidelines PPT 20 The Structure of a Research Report Term Paper Topics Due Exam 1 In Class WEEKS FIVE AND SIX Ethical Issues in the Conduct of Psychological Research Reading Chapter 3 PPT 5 Ethical Issues and Risk Assessment PPT 6 Deception Research PPT 7 Publication and Reporting Findings WEEKS SEVEN AND EIGHT Observation Reading Chapter 4 PPT 8 Observation Without Intervention PPT 9 Observation With Intervention PPT 10 Qualitative and Quantitative Measures of Behavior Exam 2 In Class
WEEKS NINE AND TEN Survey Research Chapter 5 PPT 11 Sampling and Survey Methods p 137-154 PPT 12 Survey Designs p 154-178 WEEKS ELEVEN AND TWELVE Single Case Designs and Small n Research PPT13 Case Study PPT 14 Small n Experiments Exam 3 In Class WEEKS THIRTEEN AND FOURTEEN Student Presentations Term Paper (Literature Review) Due WEEKS FIFTEEN AND SIXTEEN Review Course Concept /Student Presentation of Literature Review Cumulative Final Exam
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE FALL SEMESTER 2015 Class Meeting Days Exam Period and Date 0800-0915 am MW 0800-1000 am Wednesday December 16 TR 0800-1000 am Tuesday December 15 WF 0800-1000 am Wednesday December 16 0800-1045 am F 0800-1000 am Friday December 18 0900-1130 am F 0900-1100 am Friday December 18 0930-1045 am MW 1030-1230 pm Wednesday December 16 TR 0800-1000 am Thursday December 17 WF 1030-1230 pm Wednesday December 16 1100-1215 pm MW 1030-1230 pm Thursday December 17 1230-0145 pm MW 0100-0300 pm Wednesday December 16 TR 1030-1230 pm Tuesday December 15 1230-0315 pm F 1130-0130 pm Friday December 18 0200-0315 pm MW TR WF 0330-0530 pm 0100-0300 pm 0330-0530 pm Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday December 16 December 15 December 16 0300-0500 pm F 0300-0500 pm Friday December 18 MW 0100-0300 pm Thursday December 17 0330-0445 pm TR 0330-0530 pm Tuesday December 15 WF 0100-0300 pm Wednesday December 16 0500-0615 pm MW TR 0330-0530 pm 0100-0300 pm Thursday Friday December 17 December 18 FINAL EXAMS FOR EVENING CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED FOR 0630 PM ON THE REGULAR CLASS MEETING DAY.