Unit 1 – History and Approaches, Research Methods (Introduction and Chapter 1)
Day
Wednesday,
Aug. 13
Thursday,
Aug. 14
Objectives: Be able to…
1. Demonstrate an example of
hindsight bias.
2. Understand the guidelines and
expectations for this course.
3. Give examples of the types of
topics studied in psychology and
1. Define confirmation bias.
2. Identify the contributions of select
pioneers in psychology.
3. Distinguish between seven
different psychological perspectives.
4. Identify the independent and
dependent variables in an experiment.
5. Operationally define variables.
Friday,
1. Explain why small samples are less
August 15
likely to be representative of a
population.
2. Design a scientific experiment
including various methods to control
for confounding variables and
confirmation bias.
Monday,
1. Describe the false consensus effect
August 18
and its implications for decisionmaking.
2. Recognize confounding variables in
experimental design and identify
specific ways to reduce them.
Tuesday,
1. Discuss the fallacy of
Aug. 19
overconfidence.
1. Calculate mean, median, mode, and
range.
2. Describe standard deviation and
identify the percentage of a normally
distributed sample falling within 1, 2,
or 3 standard deviations of the mean.
3. Differentiate between positively
and negatively skewed distributions
given either a graph or the mean and
median of a sample.
4. Describe statistical significance
(including p value) and name at least
one statistical test.
Wednesday, 1. Understand how wording can
August 20
affect the way we behave or respond.
Lesson
* Psych misconceptions (Psych
quiz): 1) Psychology is the study
of mental illness and its
treatment, and 2) psychology is
common sense. Hindsight bias
(common sayings)
* Administrative stuff
(handouts)
* Motivation exercise?
* Share placebo stories
* Word of the day: confirmation
bias
* People and subfields practice
* Independent vs. dependent
overhead
* Practice Identifying Variables
WS (#1-3)
* Word of the day: sample size
* Trade and grade homework
using Designing an Experiment
Notes
Homework
* Read pp. 1-11. Focus on
pioneers, perspectives (see
table 1), and research vs.
clinical psychology).
* Read Cultural Diversity: Use
of Placebos and write a ½
page reaction.
* Word of the day: False
Consensus
* Finish experimental design
* Practice Identifying Variables
WS (#4-7)
*Read pp. 34-38 and
complete Basic Statistics WS
*Word of the day:
Overconfidence
* Notes on central tendency and
basic statistics (available online)
* Practice in Identifying
Variables II.
*Word of the day – Wording
effect
Read pp. 20-30. Complete
“Choosing research methods
Design an experiment to test
the effectiveness of a new
Alzheimer’s drug on human
subjects. Include a description
of how you will evaluate your
results. You will be scored on
both on accuracy and
thoroughness, so be explicit.
Read pp. 13-20 and 31-34.
Thursday,
August 21
Friday,
August 22
Monday,
August 25
2. List the four APA guidelines for
ethical human research and use them
to evaluate a specific experimental
proposal.
1. Explain the values and limitations
of correlation research and discuss the
difference between positive, negative,
and no correlation.
3. Estimate r values.
4. Define illusory correlation.
* Ethics notes/activity
WS”.
* Introduce correlation and
correlation web activity.
* Complete Correlation WS
* Word of the day: Illusory
Correlation
* If time, go over homework.
Read pp. 39-45.
Begin reviewing for test (see
review sheet online)
1. Describe the four research methods
and predict which is appropriate for a
particular study question.
2. Distinguish between an experiment
and an ex-post facto experiment.
2. Review correlation.
* Word of the day: Correlation
does not imply causation.
* Go over Choosing methods
ws.
* Discuss “Gay Men Show Cell
Distinction”.
* Correlational and research
methods worksheet.
* Exp, Correlation, or Ex post
facto
Research Methods Test
Study for test
TBA