Design of research in psychology. Experimental and quasi-experimental design, as well as the general principles of the scientific method. Direct experience with the formulation of hypotheses, collection of data, and description of research findings is required.
Athena Title
Research Design in Psychology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in PSYC 3980E
Prerequisite
PSYC 1101 or PSYC 1101E and [(BIOL 1103 or BIOL 1103E) and BIOL 1103L) or (BIOL 1104 and BIOL 1104L) or (BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E and BIOL 1107L) or (BIOL 1108 and BIOL 1108L)] and (STAT 2000 or MATH 2200 or MATH 2250 or MATH 2250E or BIOS 2010)
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should have learned how to formulate meaningful scientific hypotheses.
By the end of this course, students should have learned how to carry out research to test hypotheses.
By the end of this course, students should have learned how to design research free of confounds.
By the end of this course, students should have learned how to identify variables that threaten the validity of research.
By the end of this course, students should have learned how to assess the degree to which laboratory experiments generalize to real world situations.
Topical Outline
Defining science and research
Descriptive research approaches
Experimental research approach
Problem identification and hypothesis formation
Variables used in experimentation
Control in experimentation
Techniques for achieving constancy
Quasi-experimental design and experimental research