2020-2021 Catalog 
    
    Apr 25, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog [PREVIOUS CATALOG YEAR]

PSY 290 - Research Methods

PSY 2290.
Description: Planning, execution, analysis, and written reporting of psychological research. Surveys the literature, procedures, and instruments in representative areas of psychological research.

Prerequisites: PSY 101  

Credits: 4
Lecture: 4
Course Content:
  1. Scientific Method
  2. Formulation of the Hypothesis
  3. Methods of Research
    1. Observational Studies
    2. Surveys
    3. Case Studies
    4. Correlational Studies
    5. The Experiment
  4. Research Designs
    1. Between subjects (independent samples) designs
    2. Within subjects designs
      1. Repeated measures
      2. Matched subjects
    3. Factorial designs
    4. Single subject (N = 1) designs
    5.  Quasi-Experimental designs
  5. Writing research reports
    1. Locating journals/resources in the library
    2. Looking at and summarizing scientific articles
    3. Literature review of topic or researcher
    4. Writing in a scientific style
    5. Major sections of a report
    6. Evaluating journals or scientific material
  6. Research ethics
  7. Explain the basic assumptions of science

Learning Outcomes:
  1. Develop an operationally defined hypothesis.
  2. Identify and classify research methods.
  3. Identify independent and dependent variables.
  4. Identify confounding variables.
  5. Design and analyze a basic research project and generate a scientific report describing the study's results.
  6. Summarize a basic scientific report.
  7. Analyze scientific reports and suggest rival hypotheses.
  8. Identify and explain ethical concerns associated with research.

Required Assessment:
  1. Demonstrate thoughtful and precise writing skills by completing at least 1500 words of monitored writing.