Required Texts: Trochim, M. K., Research Methods - The Concise Knowledge Base. Cincinnati, Ohio: Atomicdog Publishing
Trochim, M. K., Research Methods - The Concise Knowledge Base Workbook. Cincinnati, Ohio: Atomicdog Publishing
Course Objective and Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course students will have:
1. Developed a sophisticated understanding concerning the use and application of key research methods employed in social psychology;
2. Developed a set of skills that will enable her/him to conduct advanced literature searches resulting in the accumulation of precedents and evidence necessary to justify social psychological research studies;
3. Learned how to generate and critically evaluate a testable research hypothesis;
4. Developed expertise in the design and execution of research studies in the area of social psychology;
5. Gained an advanced understanding and pragmatic competence in the use and interpretation of both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques;
6. Developed and demonstrated advanced competencies in the structuring, organization, and execution of an original research project;
7. Demonstrated and individual capacity to analyze and interpret finding obtained from a study;
8. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of APA standards concerning ethical issues in research;
9. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of APA proper reporting standards as set fourth in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association;
10. Develop a clear understanding of the issues surrounding academic integrity and plagiarism; and
11. Develop the capacity to correctly cite primary and secondary sources of information.
PSYCHOLOGY 412.01 and 02 Research Seminar in Social Psychology
Spring 2011 Syllabus (continued)
This is an advanced upper division course in the study of research methods in social psychology with an emphasis on research that supports contemporary theories and concepts. Since this is an advanced course in research methodology it is assumed that students are, minimally, familiar with how to:
Operate and function in Blackboard
Access the Library from remote locations
Conduct advance literature searches using sophisticated algorithms
Electronically save articles that you want to keep
Structure and conduct a research study using a 2 X 2 factorial design
Analyze and interpret the results of an SPSS analysis
Prepare a research report employing APA formatting and reporting conventions
If for some reason the above is not true you will either need to get some coaching to survive in this course or delay your enrollment until such time as you do have the requisite skills. Remember, that I am expecting something considerable more that an introduction to the topics described above.
Instruction will focus on identifying and constructing theoretical frameworks that explain the behavior of individuals as they function in a social context. Course work will concentrate on research that helps to clarify the behaviors, concepts, theories, and constructs we will be discussing in class. This course will be synchronized with Psychology 411 and both of these classes will concern themselves with selected social psychological topics that encourage a richer understanding of those dynamics functioning in the social world we inhabit. In addition to the text (listed above) there will be other readings as assigned.
The course materials will be delivered through a combination of lecture, reading, discussions, activities, and experiential exercises. Review the course outline attached to this document to ascertain what information will be covered at a specific class meeting. Small groups or teams will be formed in the labs and will function as the organizational unit for planned activities and/or exercises. It is expected that you will regularly attend class and be prepared to discuss and explore the material assigned for that session. It is also anticipated that you will be an active and enthusiastic participant in team (group) activities and exercises.
Classroom Conduct
As an upper division student (in most cases nearing graduation), it is my expectation that you will act in a professional, conscientious, and civil manner at all times. Professional behavior includes arriving to class on time (you will be considered absent if you are 15 or more minutes late), actively engaging in all class activities, and listening when others are presenting information to the class. All cell phones and pagers must be turned off or set to vibrate when in class. Unprofessional conduct is totally unacceptable and will be met with appropriate consequences.
PSYCHOLOGY 412.01 and 02 Research Seminar in Social Psychology
Spring 2011 Syllabus (continued)
Course Grading Activities - Description and Points Awarded
There will be no formal examinations given in this course. There will be three major project areas assigned during the term from which your course grade will be derived. Details regarding these projects can be found below. Your grade will therefore be determined from the points earned from the major class projects, class participation, team participation/contribution, and attendance. Effort and conscientious behavior are viewed as persuasive indicators of your competence
Research Project
The Research Project is comprised of four sequential components; the Initial Proposal (idea statement), the Class Demonstration, the completed Research Paper written in APA approved style and format, and the Final Presentation.
The Initial Proposal (worth 10 points) is to be submitted by each course team and should contain the information detailed in a document located in Blackboard.
The Class Demonstration (worth 15 points) is an opportunity to administer your research in a friendly environment in advance of the actual study. Peer feedback and constructive suggestion from fellow students has proved to be very helpful in remedying problems and clarifying intentions in past classes. Course team must have minimally completed preliminary versions of the Informed Consent form, stimulus materials, dependent measure, and the Debriefing sheet. Each of the items must have been review and approved in the Preliminary Proposal prior to the Class Demonstration.
The Class Presentation (worth 50 points) is a group project and all members of the team will receive the score achieve by the team. Scheduled for the last week of the course, each team is expected to present the results of their research efforts to the class in any format or manner they deem appropriate. The use of PowerPoint slides and handouts are encouraged but are not mandatory. A grading rubric for the presentation will be placed in Blackboard at least one month in advance of the scheduled dates.
The Research Paper (worth 150 points) must:
? Requires a paper that adheres to APA style and format guidelines (see the resource materials located in Blackboard) and therefore will include:
? A title page;
? An Abstract (to be complete separately by each student);
? An Introduction that presents the evidence in support of your hypothesis (to be complete separately by each student);
? A methodology section - be sure to include all stimulus materials and dependent variables;
? A Results section;
? A Discussion section - this section should articulate the implications of the study results for future research in the area and discuss the caveats to your findings (to be complete separately by each student);
? A References section; and
? Appendixes (optional)
PSYCHOLOGY 412.01 and 02 Research Seminar in Social Psychology
Spring 2011 Syllabus (continued)
? Employ a factorial design in which at least one of the independent variables has three levels
? Cover a topic area discussed in the book or class and approved by the instructor;
? Contain references to at least ten clearly relevant articles found in peer reviewed journals or other professional publications
? Include copies of (one team member can be designated to provide this information):
? Each article referenced in the Research Paper
? Any stimulus materials used in the experiment
? A copy of the raw data
? A copy of all computer analyses.
To achieve a high score on the Research Paper you should employ the following tactics:
? Choose a team that you can work with effectively
? Review the Grading Rubric and the beginning of the term to ensure you understand what standards are associated with excellence
? Ensure that your team has:
? Selected a workable and interesting project in which you can be engaged;
? Met all the prescribed deadlines;
? Formulated logical and well conceived set of hypotheses
? Structured an experiment that will satisfy the criteria for excellence established by the instructor
? Made every effort to control for potential validity threats in the design and structure of your research
? Work independently to:
? To identify and secure the relevant journal articles that support your research logic
? Write an elegant and well thought-out Introduction Section
? Draft a comprehensive and incisive Discussion Section.
? Turn your work in on the stipulated deadlines.
? Include the necessary citations and synopses for the articles that support your conceptual premise(s) and hypotheses.
? Produce a thorough and complete document that fully communicates all the information necessary to understand your interpretation of the data (if you are concerned about your paper, please see the instructor or teaching assistant for assistance)
Due Dates
Initial Proposal: February 17
Class Demonstrations: March 8 and 10
Research Project Presentation: May 10 and 12
Final draft of the Research Paper: May 18 - 11:59
Workbook Assignments and Lab Exercises(125 Points)-
For each assigned chapter in Trochim, you will be assigned a series of workbook problems to complete after the information has been covered in class (specific assignments and exercises are found in the Course Assignments handout). The number of assigned problems and exercises are dependent on the material covered in the assigned chapter. Please treat the workbook assignments and exercises seriously as they will constitute a significant proportion of your grade.
PSYCHOLOGY 411 Advanced Research Methods in Social Psychology
Spring 2011 Syllabus (continued)
Course Grading Activities - Description and Points Awarded
There will be no formal examinations given in this course. There will be three major projects assigned during the term; details regarding these projects can be found below. Your grade will be derived from the points earned from the major class projects as defined in this syllabus (be sure to review the paragraph on class participation). Effort and conscientious behavior are viewed as persuasive indicators of your competence. Pay special attention to the deadlines as they have been carefully scheduled to accommodate both the course and student concerns.
Submitting Projects
Submit all drafts or completed projects to my email address; [email protected] (this will be fully explained in class).
Seminar Presentations
Each team will be responsible for making two seminar presentations during the semester which will be worth 150 points. All presentations are scheduled and the calendar of presentations may be found in the Assignment Document. Each team will make a commitment to a topic area after consultation with fellow team members and the instructor. A decision regarding the choice of topic area must be confirmed no later than February 10th at the close of class. If a team has not selected a topic area after that date, one will be assigned by the instructor. Presentation will take three class periods so each team has 3 hours of time that must be covered. The instructor will end each session by emphasizing the key concepts discussed in the preceding hour. Presentations must include the following:
An articulation of the goals and subordinate goals for your seminar presentation;
A full discussion of the key concepts, theories, and research for that topic area;
Examples of the material being covered;
Applications of the topic area to contemporary social situations;
Research studies not covered in the text or research that expands on the material in the text; and
Any material, personal or otherwise that helps explicate the major goals associated with the team presentation.
When discussion research studies be sure to incorporate the following:
The constructs associated with the research;
Studies that were cited as crucial evidence in the formulation of the research hypotheses;
The research hypotheses and independent variables;
Key elements of the methodology including notable stimulus materials, manipulations, and measures (dependent variables);
A very general summary of the results section;
Interpretation of the findings (found in the discussion);
Key scholars associated with this area of research being presented; and
The lasting impact of the research and its contribution to the constructs or issues being studied.
General Format
Summary: APA (American Psychological Association) is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 6th edition, second printing of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page. For more information, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition, second printing.
Contributors:Elizabeth Angeli, Jodi Wagner, Elena Lawrick, Kristen Moore, Michael Anderson, Lars Soderlund, Allen Brizee, Russell Keck
Last Edited: 2010-12-02 01:45:24
Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in APA.
General APA Guidelines
Your essay should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. You should use 10-12 pt. Times New Roman font or a similar font.
Include a page header at the top of every page. To create a page header, insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left.
Major Paper Sections
Your essay should include four major sections: the Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.
Title Page
The title page should contain the title of the paper, the author's name, and the institutional affiliation. Include the page header (described above) flush left with the page number flush right at the top of the page. Please note that on the title page, your page header should look like this:
Running head: TITLE OF YOUR PAPER
Pages after the title page should have a running head that looks like this:
TITLE OF YOUR PAPER
After consulting with publication specialists at the APA, OWL staff learned that the APA 6th edition sample papers have incorrect examples of Running heads on pages after the title page. This link will take to you the APA site where you can find a complete list of all the errors in the APA's 6th edition style guide.
Type your title in upper and lowercase letters centered in the upper half of the page. APA recommends that your title be no more than 12 words in length and that it should not contain abbreviations or words that serve no purpose. Your title may take up one or two lines. All text on the title page, and throughout your paper, should be double-spaced.
Beneath the title, type the author's name: first name, middle initial(s), and last name. Do not use titles (Dr.) or degrees (Ph.D.).
Beneath the author's name, type the institutional affiliation, which should indicate the location where the author(s) conducted the research.
Image Caption: APA Title Page
Abstract
Begin a new page. Your abstract page should already include the page header (described above). On the first line of the abstract page, center the word "Abstract" (no bold, formatting, italics, underlining, or quotation marks).
Beginning with the next line, write a concise summary of the key points of your research. (Do not indent.) Your abstract should contain at least your research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. You may also include possible implications of your research and future work you see connected with your findings. Your abstract should be a single paragraph double-spaced. Your abstract should be between 150 and 250 words.
You may also want to list keywords from your paper in your abstract. To do this, center the text and type Keywords: (italicized) and then list your keywords. Listing your keywords will help researchers find your work in databases.
Image Caption: APA Abstract Page
Please see our Sample APA Paper resource to see an example of an APA paper. You may also visit our Additional Resources page for more examples of APA papers.
How to Cite the Purdue OWL in APA
Individual Resources
Contributors' names and the last edited date can be found in the orange boxes at the top of every page on the OWL.