Langston, Research Methods Lab Syllabus

Research Methods Laboratory Spring, 2012
11:30-12:25 M, COE 247 (9:10 section)
11:30-12:25 W, COE 247 (10:20 section)
[Syllabus] [Lab Syllabus]

Instructor: Dr. William Langston
Office: JH 348
Phone: 898-5489 (office)
email: william.langston@mtsu.edu
Office Hours: 12-1 T, 3-4 W, drop in anytime, calling first is a good idea.
[Text] [Description] [Responsibilities] [Grading] [Policies] [Calendar]
Required Text:

Langston, W. (2011). Research Methods Laboratory Manual for Psychology (3rd Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth.

Detailed table of contents:

Part One: Single-Subject, Observation, Survey, and Correlation Research

Chapter 1: Single-Subject Designs
The elevator comes faster if I turn my back to it
Introduction: Single-Subject Designs
Target Article: Superstition

Chapter 2: Observation Research
Stop looking at me like that
Introduction: Observing Behavior
Target Article: Staring Detection

Chapter 3: Survey Research
Tell me something (vaguely) good
Introduction: Conducting a Survey
Target Article: The Forer Effect (or Barnum effect)

Chapter 4: Correlation Research 1
Pseudoscience is for people who are bad at math
Introduction: Finding Relationships
Target Article: Reasoning and Paranormal Belief

Chapter 5: Correlation Research 2
The “paranormal” personality
Introduction: Finding Relationships
Target Article: The Personality of Paranormal Believers

Chapter 6: Correlation Research 3
My hand is no good at keeping secrets
Introduction: Finding Relationships
Target Article: Graphology and Personality

Part II: Experimental designs

Chapter 7: Two Group Experiments
I’ll believe it if you see it
Introduction: What Is an Experiment?
Target Article: Social Enhancement of Pyramid Power

Chapter 8: One-Way Designs
I remember reading this chapter before
Introduction: Experiments with More Than Two Groups and One Independent Variable
Target Article: Misremembering the Paranormal

Chapter 9: Factorial Designs 1
?siht daer uoy naC
Introduction: Experiments with Two or More Independent Variables
Target Article: Hearing Backwards Messages

Chapter 10: Factorial Designs 2
It gets sticky when I rub it
Introduction: Experiments with Two or More Independent Variables
Target Article: The Ideomotor Effect

Chapter 11: Field Experiments
It’s almost as good as making the team
Introduction: Field Experiments
Target Article: Magical Thinking

Appendixes

Appendix A
Institutional Review Boards

Appendix B
Writing Results Sections

Appendix C
Presenting Your Work

Appendix D
Evaluating Sources

Appendix E
Discriminating Science from Pseudoscience

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Course Description:

We will discuss issues related to the lecture portion of the class, conduct experiments, discuss and complete writing assignments, and carry out an independent research project.

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Course Responsibilities:

1. Attendance/participation. Every unexcused absence will drop you 5%. In other words, every two absences = a decrease of one letter grade.

2. Project. You will conduct a research project. This will be conducted with a group.

3. Project presentation. You will present your independent project as a poster at the Middle Tennessee Psychological Association meeting at MTSU in April. You must make this presentation, plan accordingly: MTPA, Saturday, April 21st, 8:30 AM, MTSU.

4. Oral research presentation. At the end of the semester, you will present your independent project to the class.

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Grading Procedure:

Grading procedure: Satisfactory performance is: Unsatisfactory performance is:

1. Outstanding work on assignments: A
1. Active participation in discussions and assignments
1. Failing to attend class/Not participating

2. High commitment to assignments: B
2. Carrying out an interesting project
2. Failing to complete your responsibilities for your project (especially if you let your group down)

3. Loafing: C
3. Preparing a well-designed poster and presenting it well
3. A sloppy poster presentation/Failing to present

4. Failure to complete assignments: F 4. Making a well thought out presentation to the class 4. A sloppy oral presentation/Failing to present

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General Policies:

1. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. I will pass around a sign-up sheet every meeting.

2. Course notes are available on the web at www.mtsu.edu/~wlangsto/RM.html

3. Drop deadlines: The last day to drop without a grade is January 25. The last day to drop is March 23 (you will receive some sort of grade). If you stay in the class after March 23, you will not be able to drop unless you experience a major tragedy or emergency. I am not the person who makes that determination. Incompletes will only be given if you have successfully completed the majority of the coursework and were prevented from finishing by a major tragedy or emergency.

4. If you experience problems in the course, see me. You're welcome in my office anytime.

5. Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities: If you require assistance or accommodation (e.g., testing, note-taking, etc.) due to a disability, or you have questions related to such accommodations, speak to me as soon as possible. Also, the office of Disabled Student Services (898-2783) can provide information about such accommodations.

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Schedule of events:

Week of: Topic: Lab Manual Lab Notes/Links:

1/9
No labs

1/16
No labs, complete assignment

1/23
First experiment discussion

1/30
Writing (Method and results)
App C (and App B) 1

2/6
Writing (Introduction)

2

2/13
Article summaries

Start to think about a topic for independent project
See table of contents

2/20 Writing (Discussion, the rest of the paper)
1, 2, 3

Assign paper 1

Choose an independent project topic/Form groups
Choose chapter to work from

Assign independent project design

2/27
Discuss independent project design
Read your chapter and target article before this date

3/5 S P R I N G B R E A K

3/12
Discuss IRB approval for independent project App A
Sample Experiment Consent Form
Sample Experiment Debriefing Form

Assign independent project IRB forms

3/19
Bring in IRB draft to discuss and submit as soon as possible

Paper due Wednesday, 3/21

3/26
Turn in independent project IRB forms by now at the latest

Begin collecting data as soon as approved

If you are waiting for approval, get ready to collect data and skip lab

4/2
Collect data

4/9
Discuss project data

4/16
Finalize analysis and research
App D

Present poster at Middle Tennessee Psychological Association Conference, MTPA, Saturday, April 21st, 8:30 AM, MTSU BAS

4/23
Oral presentations

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Research Methods Laboratory Syllabus Will Langston
Back to Langston's Research Methods Page

Grading procedure:	Satisfactory performance is:	Unsatisfactory performance is:
1. Outstanding work on assignments: A	1. Active participation in discussions and assignments	1. Failing to attend class/Not participating
2. High commitment to assignments: B	2. Carrying out an interesting project	2. Failing to complete your responsibilities for your project (especially if you let your group down)
3. Loafing: C	3. Preparing a well-designed poster and presenting it well	3. A sloppy poster presentation/Failing to present
4. Failure to complete assignments: F	4. Making a well thought out presentation to the class	4. A sloppy oral presentation/Failing to present

Week of:	Topic:	Lab Manual	Lab Notes/Links:
1/9	No labs
1/16	No labs, complete assignment
1/23	First experiment discussion
1/30	Writing (Method and results)	App C (and App B)	1
2/6	Writing (Introduction)		2
2/13	Article summaries
	Start to think about a topic for independent project	See table of contents
2/20	Writing (Discussion, the rest of the paper)		1, 2, 3
	Assign paper 1
	Choose an independent project topic/Form groups	Choose chapter to work from
	Assign independent project design
2/27	Discuss independent project design	Read your chapter and target article before this date
3/5	S P R I N G B R E A K
3/12	Discuss IRB approval for independent project	App A	Sample Experiment Consent Form Sample Experiment Debriefing Form
	Assign independent project IRB forms
3/19	Bring in IRB draft to discuss and submit as soon as possible
	Paper due Wednesday, 3/21
3/26	Turn in independent project IRB forms by now at the latest
	Begin collecting data as soon as approved
	If you are waiting for approval, get ready to collect data and skip lab
4/2	Collect data
4/9	Discuss project data
4/16	Finalize analysis and research	App D
	Present poster at Middle Tennessee Psychological Association Conference, MTPA, Saturday, April 21st, 8:30 AM, MTSU BAS
4/23	Oral presentations