PSYCH 241: Methods of
Inquiry in Psychology
Prof. Carolyn Davies
cdavies@umass.edu
A Little About Me…
Johns Hopkins University
Los Angeles
University of California
Los Angeles (UCLA)
Introducing our Lecture TA!
Victoria (Tori) Vizzini
• Contact:
•
• Course email: umass.methods@gmail.com
• Individual email: vvizzini@umass.edu
Let’s hear from you!
• Find someone sitting
near you that you don’t
know
•
Introduce yourself –
name and where you’re
from
Key questions
Why is this class important?
• What are the goals of this class?
•
Why is this class important?
•
Tell me: What area are you interested in pursuing after
you graduate?
Clinical/
mental
health
Education/
teaching
Some
other
area
Medicine/
healthcare
Research
Business/
management
Whatever you end up doing Even if you don’t produce research…you will consume
research!
• We are bombarded with information
•
• How do we know what to believe?? Research
“Scared Straight” example
Makes sense intuitively…but actively harmful!
Petrosino et al., 2013
What are the goals of this class?
•
Identify fundamental scientific principles
•
Evaluate scientific claims
•
Conduct research
•
Communicate your ideas
Syllabus Review
Tips for success:
• Come to class!
• Participate, take notes, ask questions
• Class attendance predicts academic performance better than
almost anything! (Crede et al., 2010)
•
Participate fully in your lab section (starting Week 2)
• Complete lab activities each week
• Get to know your Graduate and Undergraduate TA
•
Reach out if you are struggling
• Reach out to me or TAs
• See me during office hours Mon 11-12 (Fri 11-12 *Week 1 only*) or
email to meet another time
Next class
•
Science of psychology