Introductions

Why take research methods? “Because it is required” Other good reasons: Psychology is a science You may need to conduct a study Reading and evaluating other studies Making decisions in your daily lives Become a “better thinker”

Your syllabus It is on-line. ReggieNet available through My Illinois State portal Backup: Write down the following address (in a couple of places) and bookmark it. http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/jccutti/psych231/f13/f13syllabus.html

Course Format Large Lecture Sections Given by me (Dr. Cutting) Overview of the main issues in research methodology Exams (3) are in the lecture sections Class research project Labs on Thursday, or Friday (depending on your section) Given by your TAs Angela Conte (sections 03 & 05) Andrew Eichler (sections 02 & 04) “Hands on” experiences with research In-lab exercises Group research project

Textbooks Required Lab Manual for Psychological Research, 3rd Edition (McBride & Cutting) The Process of Research in Psychology, 2nd Edition (McBride)

Course Objectives Basically the "nuts and bolts" of putting together and completing a research project in psychology. Learning to review the primary literature Getting a research idea Development and execution of a research plan Basic analysis of research results. Presentation of the results

Course Requirements 3 Exams (35%) Homework exercises (10%) Each is cumulative. First two are each worth 10% of your final grade. The final exam is worth 15% of your final grade. Homework exercises (10%) CITI ethics training (2%) 2 Journal article summary assignments (4% each) research participation alternative for second On-line Quizzes May take each up to 5 times, best score counts Lab Assignments (30%) Lab exercises (15%) Lab Group research project (15%) Class Research project (15%) Project Proposal (5%) Final APA style manuscript(10%)

Topics The research process, from start to finish Get an idea Formulate a testable hypothesis Review the literature Design the study Collect data Analyze the data Interpret the results Present the results

Experiments can be fun! Are elephants afraid of mice? Mythbusters: long (~8 min, dead link, use DVD) | short (3 mins) Testable hypotheses Control groups Replication http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpTSA_25wGE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXiMs65ZAeU

Next time Ways of knowing The Scientific Method Psychology as a Science Chapter 1