1. Introductions

2. 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”

3. 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.

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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%)

8. 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

9. 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

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