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Research Design in Psychology


Course Description

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
  • Single-subject research design
  • Hypothesis testing
  • External validity

Syllabus