[Outline][Objective][Requirements] [Test & Readings][Grading][Policy]
The Department of Psychology at WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
presents:

Experimental Psychology II
PSY-203

IMPORTANT LINKS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will review and build upon knowledge and skills developed in earlier courses,
particularly in Experimental Psychology I (PSY-202), and basic statistics. It will continue
exposing students to the study of scientific methods particularly to experimental techniques
in the behavioral sciences. Emphasis will be on a wide range of methods for studying human
and animal subjects, including computerized statistical programs, consistent with APA guidelines
for ethical research

Question and Comments, E-mail Professor Tobin tomtob@frontier.wpunj.edu

OBJECTIVES:
Students will
(1) review and improve their understanding of scientific method, experimental procedures, and basicstatistics;
(2) learn how to use this knowledge to design and carry out basic experimental research in psychology;
(3) familiarize themselves with the techniques and procedures outlined in the APA Manual;
(4) be introduced to the use of SPSS computer programs.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
   Textbooks: David W. Martin, Doing Psychology Experiments,
           Fourth Edition. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company; 1996.
                Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 
           Fourth Edition.  Washington, DC: APA; 1994.
        Materials: Spiral notebook (8.5" x 11") Floppy disk (3.5")
TESTS & REPORTS:
There will be no mid-term or final exam. However, there will be 4 quizzes at the end of each of the 4
sections of the course: (1) scientific method; (2) experimental research design; (3) APA __
statistics review and SPSS.. All quizzes will be announced at least one class prior to being given. Class
participation, both active and passive, is essential. If participation has been minimal, or demonstrates
inadequate grasp of topics covered, "pop quizzes" may also be given. Quiz questions/items will be based on
required readings, classroom discussions, lectures, and any materials introduced during the course. Tests will
be "objective" utilizing multiple-choice and/or matching column items, and some true-false or fill-in items, including
analogies. Finally, 3 lab-research reports will be completed during the course. At least one of the reports will be of
a team-project.

GRADING:
Your final grade will be arrived at by averaging your test and report grades together with your classroom
and lab participation, following these percentages: 
                              Quizzes (10% each)           = 40%
                              Reports (15% each)           = 45%     
                              Participation                = 15%
                                                            100%
APPOINTMENTS:
All students are expected to make an appointment to meet with me and review their progress at
least twice during the term. There are no regular office hours due to a lack of office space.
Appointments can be made verbally or by leaving a message in my mail box in the office
of the Psychology Department's secretary, (rm. ).

Preferable meeting times are before and after classes, or between class and lab times, or
during lab hours when the rest of the class is working on individual or group projects.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled class and lab. There is no
automatic penalty for being absent from or late for class/lab. However, absence and chronic
lateness influences a student's overall performance and specifically decreases opportunities
for graded participation. Students who arrive late, leave early, or miss class more than 3
times, are expected to follow the procedures explained by the instructor during the first class meeting.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
If it is necessary to discontinue your participation in the course, be sure to WITHDRAW OFFICIALLY
from the course prior to the official deadline. If you unofficially drop out of the course, you
will receive a failing grade.

CALENDAR: Classes for the spring term begin on Jan 12 and end on May 9.

CLASS OUTLINE:
In summary, the course includes _ class periods, and lab periods, plus a final exam period which
will be used to take the 4th quiz and/or for submitting the final report. The general outline of the course is:

Topics Readings
1. Introduction: Review of syllabus
general expectations, procedures --2 classes, 1 lab 		Handouts: syllabus, success formula, Q's for discussion;
Martin, chap. 1, pp. 1-4,
"Case History", pp. 29-31, and
"Observing", pp. 42-48.
2. Section I: Review of Scientific Method
--induction & deduction --5-6 classes, 3 labs 		Martin, chap. 2, pp. 48-61; chap. 1, pp. 4-36;
handouts; lab exercises.
3. Section II: Experimental Research pages and Design
--variables & groups --6-8 classes, 3-4 labs 		Martin, chaps. 6-9;assigned weekly as topics and discussions develop
4. Section III: APA Manual Review-- overview; ethics and style --4-5 classes, 2-3 labs APA, Content & Authorship, pp. 1-4; Martin, chaps. 3, 4 on fairness and cheating, and 13,
"How to Report Ex- perimental Results"; APA, on "Guidelines to Reduce Bias in Language", pp. 46-53
5. Section IV: Statistics & SPSS-- frequencies, distributions and deviations; data entry and com- puter programs --final classes and labs (6-8) Martin, chap. 12, "How to Interpret Experimental Results", & Appendix A, on Basic Statistics; handouts

Lab Assignment I:

Prepare a comparative analysis of Tobin's 11-step, Inductive-Deductive approach
to Scientific Method, and Edmund's 14 ingredients of S-M. List at least 5
similarities and 5 differences followed by a summary comparison. (Length: 1-3 pages)

Lab Assignment II

The "Research" Research Assignment

General Directions: This is a team-study of an ongoing research study. The general objectives include:
(1) learning to work together as a team; (2) applying the basic principles and steps of scientific method to
the study of others' research, inductive or deductive, or a problem-solving mixture of both; (3) practicing
analytic steps in reviewing others' use of experimental methods and design; (4) understanding others' use of
theory in creating and carrying out research; and (5) increasing awareness of the conditions and limitations
of coming to research conclusions.

Specific Directions:
The following steps must be taken and summarized in the final assignment report due 3 weeks from today, namely
(1) Teams of 3-4 researchers are formed using some method of choice.
(2) Review 3-5 of the ongoing research studies available on the Participate in minimally 3 of the studies and
write up, individually, short reports and recommendations of each for the assignment.
(3) Choose one of the studies for your R-R assignment.
(4) Discuss, as a team, using scientific methodological steps (probably in reverse) in an attempt to understand
this study.
(5) Questions to be answered: What are the variables that are being studied here? What operational definitions
seem to be being used? What hypothesis/ses were deduced and driving this study? What is/are the general theory/ies
behind the hypothetical deductions?
(6) Contact the researchers, if necessary to obtain information about the theoretical underpinnings of their
study. Review at least 2 of the theories/studies that preceded this study.
(7) Produce a final team report that summarizes and outlines the research design that led to this study. Include
a copy of the research instrument (e.g questionnaire) used in the study.
(8) Last question: In conclusion, how well does this research design/technique seem to produce data that will
test the hypothesis and theory being studied?
(Length: 3-5 pages)

Note:
It's not likely that there will be any time remaining after the above topics have been covered. It's more likely that the final topics, dealing with statistical analysis of data, will be less completely covered. However, references will be made to statistical techniques and analysis frequently throughout the course.