1. Advanced Research Methods Unit 1 Seminar The Syllabus

2. We will discuss the syllabus at some length, as well as the Unit Two Project We will discuss the syllabus at some length, as well as the Unit Two Project You should review the syllabus and, if you have questions arise after the seminar is over, post them to the Course Questions discussion board under the Course Home menu. You should review the syllabus and, if you have questions arise after the seminar is over, post them to the Course Questions discussion board under the Course Home menu.

3. The Syllabus Instructor Name and Credentials: Peter W. Lenz, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Instructor Contact Information: Kaplan Email Address: plenz@kaplan.edu AIM Instant Messenger Name: PlenzOfKaplan Yahoo: plenz; Google Talk: peter.lenz@gmail.competer.lenz@gmail.com MSN Messenger: plenzOfTau@hotmail.complenzOfTau@hotmail.com Course/Seminar Days and Times: Thursday, 8.00 pm ET (section 1) Monday, 10.00 pm ET (section 2)

4. The Syllabus Start/End Dates: July 6, 2011 – September 13, 2011 [Note: Final Projects are due at the end of Unit 9: Tuesday September 6, 2011] Holiday Dates: This term contains one holiday that affects our class: Labor Day: Monday, September 5 No Unit 9 seminar on Monday, Sept. 5

5. The Syllabus Course Materials Software: Microsoft Word - All papers MUST be submitted in MS-Word format (.doc or.docx) AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) Texts: Research Design and Methods: A Process Approach by Bordens & Abbott, 7th edition Publication Manual of the APA, 6th Edition

6. The Syllabus Grading Criteria/Course Evaluation: Unit 2 Project (an annotated bibliography)200 points Unit 2 Project (an annotated bibliography)200 points Unit 9 Project (a research proposal)350 points Unit 9 Project (a research proposal)350 points Discussion (Units 1-9, 50 points each)450 points Discussion (Units 1-9, 50 points each)450 points Total:1000 points

7. The Syllabus Late policies: Projects and discussion boards must be completed by 11.59pm ET Tuesday of the unit they are assigned Projects or discussion boards that are late are subject to a 10% per unit penalty (to a maximum of 30%). If handed in very late, they may not be graded at all (see next slides or syllabus) If there are verifiable extenuating circumstances, a late penalty might be waived once.

8. The Syllabus Late projects (syllabus, page 6): Late unit 2 projects will NOT be accepted after the end of unit 5. Late unit 9 projects will NOT be accepted after Saturday of Unit 10. Late penalties apply in all cases

9. The Syllabus Late discussion boards (page 6): Late postings for units 1-4 will NOT be accepted after Tuesday, 11.59 pm ET of Unit 5. Late postings for units 5-8 will NOT be accepted after Tuesday, 11.59 pm ET of Unit 9. Late postings for unit 9 will NOT be accepted after 11.59 ET on the Saturday of Unit 10. Late penalties apply These deadlines are NOT negotiable PLEASE NOTE: The default time-stamp on the DB is in Mountain Time, not Eastern Time. If your time-stamp for a post is after 9.59 pm MT Tuesday, that post is late.

10. The Syllabus Rubrics: The syllabus contains grading rubrics for every graded element of the course: Unit 2 Project Unit 9 Final Project Discussion Boards USE these rubrics to make sure that your work satisfies all of the requirements, I use these rubrics to grade your work.

11. Rubric for Weekly Discussion Threads Grading Criteria % - Points Makes one primary post for each discussion topic (there may be more than one topic) answering each of the questions in a timely fashion, fully with substance, and meeting length requirements (350 words for each primary post). References readings in main post. 0 - 34 Makes two or more thoughtful responses to other students on each thread contributing to the quality of the discussion and meets length requirements (100 words for each peer response). 0 - 8 Primary responses make at least 1 reference to the unit material, text, or other academic source. 0 - 4 Responses are clearly written. 0 - 4 TOTAL 50 An explanation of the points earned, as well as where the assignment could be strengthened will be included with your grade.

12. The Syllabus Other things to review Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is a breach of academic ethics and will not be tolerated at Kaplan. If a student is caught plagiarizing: 1st offense - zero on the assignment 2nd offense - failure in the course where the plagiarism occurred 3rd offense - expulsion from the university This applies across ALL classes at Kaplan: the first offense can be in one class, the second in a different class, and the third in yet another class.

13. The Syllabus Other things to review Plagiarism Policy The Kaplan Writing Center has information on what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, how to paraphrase and when to use quotes I strongly recommend that you review these pages and ask me questions if you don’t understand something. Self-plagiarism I do not like turning students in for plagiarism, but I will not hesitate to do so.

14. Questions? Are there questions? Make sure you understand what is required of you in the course, your grade depends upon it.

15. Unit 2 Project Annotated bibliography An annotated bibliography contains citations followed by summaries and explanations of each referenced item describing what elements are of import for the paper/research that the bibliography is for

16. Unit 2 Project Annotated bibliography It can aid the author of a paper in remembering why they selected certain sources Imagine writing a dissertation or thesis with dozens to over a hundred sources… An annotated bibliography will help you organize them and remember how and why they are to be used

17. Unit 2 Project Annotated bibliography Elements included Full APA style citation Author name(s), publication date, article title, periodical name, volume, pages or book name, publisher, etc. You should be used to doing this part Use the APA Quick Reference Guide in the Course Home menu, the APA Publication Manual, or even the bibliography from your textbook for examples

18. Unit 2 Project Annotated bibliography Elements included Full APA style citation A summary of the article (like an abstract) Describing what the item is about: the theories or problems it investigates, method used, possibly stating the conclusions drawn It’s like writing your own abstract for the item DON’T use their abstract (if there is one)

19. Unit 2 Project Annotated bibliography Elements included Full APA style citation A summary of the article (like an abstract) Critical analysis of article Note strengths and potential weaknesses that you see in the research Note what aspects of it apply to the research you are engaging in or how it will be worked into the paper you are writing

20. Unit 2 Project Example Waite, L. J., Goldschneider, F. K., & Witsberger, C. (1986). Nonfamily living and the erosion of traditional family orientations among young adults. American Sociological Review, 51 (4), 541- 554. The authors, researchers at the Rand Corporation and Brown University, use data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Young Men to test their hypothesis that nonfamily living by young adults alters their attitudes, values, plans, and expectations, moving them away from their belief in traditional sex roles. They find their hypothesis strongly supported in young females, while the effects were fewer in studies of young males. Increasing the time away from parents before marrying increased individualism, self-sufficiency, and changes in attitudes about families. In contrast, an earlier study by Williams cited below shows no significant gender differences in sex role attitudes as a result of nonfamily living. From: http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm#sample

21. Unit 2 Project Your project The example is shorter than what you should provide In your annotated bibliography I want you to have each citation followed by two “paragraphs” The first is the summary The second is evaluative and also connects this article to the others you are using for the project See the rubric (next slide)

22. Unit 2 Project Your project It must be three to four pages! That’s at least a page per item A formal introduction is not necessary At the top of the first page give me a brief explanation of what concept or theory you are researching Then do the three (to five) annotated citations After the last annotation, put in a couple paragraphs talking about how such a bibliography can help a researcher or writer better develop their research question as well as organize their material

23. Unit 2 Project Use the rubric! Grading Criteria Unit 2 Project% - Points200 Course Content Provides a minimum of three and no more than five different research reports on a relevant topic of interest in the field of psychology. Ensures that sources are current (within the last 5 years). Publication dates no earlier than 2005 0-10 Immediately after each full text citation, provides the following details: a. A brief description of the research questions and hypotheses b. The method and any criticisms c. A summary of the results d. The conclusions and any concerns that you may have 0-60 Immediately after each full text citation, provides the following details: a. A critical analysis of the quality and credibility of the study and author(s) b. How this study connects to or contrasts with other studies on this subject c. An explanation of how this study will shed new light on your topic 0-60 Describe how the process of putting together an annotated bibliography helps researchers to develop quality research questions and hypotheses. 0-50

24. Unit 2 Project Use the rubric! 0-10Mechanics: Uses correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, Free of typographical errors, double-spaced, APA format, 3-4 pages in length. 0-10Structure: complete paragraphs, clear and logical organization throughout, moves fluidly between sections. Primarily student’s own words with quotes used very sparingly, includes several references to support conclusions. This part of the rubric does not really apply. Writing

25. Unit 2 Project Your project You must have at least three sources (no more than five) Research studies, not reviews or meta-analyses Published between 2005 and 2011 I strongly urge you to begin considering what you want to do for the unit 9 project (we’ll discuss this briefly in a bit) and find articles that you will use for that

26. Unit 2 Project The project will be outlined like this: Statement of what is being researched that connects these articles together (not graded, but a courtesy for your instructor) Article 1 reference Summary Evaluation Article 2 reference Summary Evaluation Article 3 reference Summary Evaluation Discussion of how annotated bibliographies help researchers This last item is worth 50 points… it should be a couple paragraphs in length

27. Unit 2 Project Questions about this project? In the past students have lost points for NOT doing all of the sections asked for in the rubric

28. Unit 9 Project A research proposal This should be a formal research proposal for research that you might like to do Actual research, using the methods we’re going to go over in this course 10 - 15 pages in length Three to five research reports as background references (as well as other necessary references) APA Format using the 6th edition of the APA Publication Manual

29. Unit 9 Project This project will form part of your MSP Portfolio The MSP (Master of Psychology) Portfolio is a collection of your written work, something that you can use to show potential employers or doctoral programs just how good you are! That means that this project must reflect your very best effort and best work

30. Unit 9 Project I urge you to start doing the research now for this project. I recommend using the Unit 2 project to start off this project. The articles you use for the Unit 2 project can be the research articles used for the Unit 9 project. While I recommend doing this, it is not required Think about what you would want to research. Make notes to yourself, really get into it.

31. Unit 9 Project In my introductory email I included the assignment pdf files for both projects. They are also available in the class on the appropriate project’s page. Take this seriously, your portfolio can be a very useful and important part of your academic and professional life, illustrating your writing ability, knowledge of psychology, and professionalism! ~fin