Psychology 5130-0
Advanced Research Techniques
Spring 2015
PSY 5130 – 0
21917
Advanced Research Techniques
Tuesdays, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
3 hours graduate credit
Michael Biderman
Holt 350J
423-425-4268 / 423-316-9504 (Cell) / 423-267-2289 (Home: 9 AM – 9 PM)
By appointment
Michael-Biderman@utc.edu
ADA STATEMENT: Attention: If you are a student with a disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision,
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adversely affecting your successful progress at UTC, please contact the Counseling and Career Planning
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This course is a graduate course designed to present an overview of reliability analysis, validity
analysis, scale construction, and survey and sampling methods along with an extended introduction to
multiple regression analysis. Students should be familiar with basic descriptive and inferential statistical
principles and techniques including applications of those techniques in simple regression analysis, single
factor designs and factorial designs. An understanding of basic principles of research methods in
psychology is also assumed. Familiarity with common nonparametric tests for comparisons of groups is
assumed. The prerequisite information for this course is presented in PSY 5100 or PSY 5110 at UTC.
Much of the prerequisite material must be understood at a level beyond that covered in undergraduate
courses. Understanding and using the material presented in this course is requires a level of intellectual
capability, maturity, and interest in data analysis that is beyond that expected in undergraduate courses.
Required Texts:
Spector, P. (1992). Summated Rating Scale construction: An introduction. (Sage University Series on
Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, 07-082). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN 0-80394341-5 (from my original copy of the text).
DeVellis, R. F. (2012). Scale Development: Theory and Applications. Latest Ed. (Sage Applied Social
Research Methods Series, Volume 26). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Patten, M. L. (2011). Questionnaire Research: A Practical Guide. Latest Edition. Glendale CA:
Pyrczak.
Miles, J. & Shevlin, M. (2001). Applying Regression & Correlation: A Guide for Students and
Researchers. Latest Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Prerequisites: Psychology 5100/5110 or equivalent.
Basic knowledge of SPSS
3/9/2016
1
Week
Dates are
approximate
1: 1/6
2: 1/13
3: 1/20
4: 1/27
5: 2/3
6: 2/10
7: 2/17
8: 2/24
9: 3/3
10: 3/17
11: 3/24
12: 3/31
13: 4/7
14: 4/14
Topic
Text
Reliability; Validity
Validity; Scale Construction
Scale Construction
Scale construction / Surveys
Surveys
Test 1 - About 50 points. 5:30-7:00;
Regression Intro.
Regression Involving 1 IV
Regression with 2 IVs
More than 2 IVs
Qualitative IVs
Test 2: About 50 points. Thru previous lecture
Qual and Quant IVs; Using GLM
Analyses Using Product Variables
ANCOVA, Dominance
CrossValidation, Analysis Examples
DeVellis (3, 4)
DeVellis (4, 5) Spector
Spector
Spector / Patten
Patten
Miles & Shevlin appropriate chapters
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Miles & Shevlin
Final Exam: Tuesday, April 28 6-8 PM.
About 75 points.
Mostly, if not all multiple choice.
Comprehensive with emphasis on the material covered since the last midterm.
Last day to drop with a W is March 8.
Grading Scale: A: 90-100%; B: 80-90%; C: 65-80%; D: 50-65%; F: 0-50%
Graded Material:
Extra Credit:
Tests (About 175 points)
Homework (30- 40 points)
No more than 10 points, total.
One, perhaps two, homework assignments might be data entry projects.
I will attempt to record the lectures and put the recordings on my web site.
Lecture handouts will be available. They will be finalized at about 4 PM on the day of class.
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PSY 5130-0 Syllabus continued.
Homework assignments and tests must be identified with PIN's only on the back of the last page.
Put no identifying information on the front of any page of homework - put only your PIN on the back of the
last page.
Assignments submitted not following the above rules may lose points
Assignments are due by the end of class on the assigned due date. Those turned in after the due date will
lose 1/2 point per school day.
The first late homework will be accepted without penalty if submitted before graded homework is returned.
Written submissions must be created by you. Plagiarized submissions will not be given credit and will be
dealt with appropriately.
Homework assignments must be submitted on paper at the designated time.
All submissions must use “portrait” mode, as opposed to “landscape” mode.
Emailed submissions will be accepted but will be penalized ½ point except in extraordinary circumstances.
No more than 10 points may be earned from extra credit projects. (Test EC points, if available, don’t count
toward this maximum.)
The semester ends when the final exam period is over. Nothing will be accepted after that time.
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