UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
LONDON
CANADA
Department of Psychology
Psychology 2800E – Summer 2013
Research Methods in Psychology
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
Using selected examples, this course introduces students to the variety of ways to conduct research in
Psychology. Topics to be covered include: the scientific approach; ethical issues in human and animal
research; designing, running, analyzing, and writing up research projects; and observational,
correlational, and experimental research strategies.
(2 lecture hours, 2 lab hours per week.)
Anti-requisite:
Pre-requisite:
Administrative Studies 285
At least 60% in a 020-level Psychology course
Note: Psychology 2800E is a mandatory course for students taking an Honors program or an Area of
Concentration in Psychology, and replaces the laboratory requirement fulfilled by Psychology 210E,
211E, 221a/222G, 233E, 239E.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office hours:
Lectures:
Labs:
Dr. Patrick Brown
SSC 7328
661-2111, Ext. 84680
brown5@uwo.ca
Tuesdays 6:00 – 7:00 pm & by appointment
Tuesday 7:00 – 10:00 pm, SSC 2020
Thursday 7:00 – 10:00 pm, SSC 2020
3.0 TEXTBOOK
McBurney, D.H. & White, T.L.. (2007) Research Methods, Eighth Edition. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course provides an introduction to the ways in which research is conducted in psychology. We shall
consider a wide range of alternative research methods, including observation, archival research,
questionnaire surveys, case studies, and experimentation. We’ll also consider topics closely allied to
research design, such as ethics, report writing, and data presentation. In addition to providing training in
research techniques needed for third- and fourth-year psychology courses (e.g., Psychology 4850), it is
expected that Psychology 2800E will contribute significantly to the development of scientific thinking
skills that students can apply to their future careers and in everyday life.
Although this is a course in research design rather than statistical analysis, you will analyze data
collected in the laboratory component of the course, and that requires an understanding of
fundamental statistical concepts. If you do not have credit in Psychology 2810 (or are not taking it this
summer), it is recommended that you read Appendix A of the McBurney text.
5.0 EVALUATION
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as
follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+
A
B
C
D
F
90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
< 50 Fail
The course requirements, along with relative weightings in the determination of final grades, are listed
below. The midterm and the final exam will use multiple-choice questions, and will be based on both the
textbook and lecture material. Details of the evaluation for the lab will be given in the lab outline in the
first lab meeting.
Midterm
25%
Final Exam
25%
Laboratory Component
50%
NOTE: to earn credit in Psychology 2800E, you must achieve a passing grade on both the laboratory and
classroom (lecture) components of the course. If you fail either, you fail the course.
6.0 TEST AND EXAM SCHEDULE
Midterm #1
Final Exam
Thursday June 20, 2013
Scheduled by Registrar’s Office (during Final Exam Period, July 29 - 30, 2013)
7.0 LECTURE SCHEDULE
Date
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 28
June 4
June 11
June 18
Topic
Introduction – Psychology as a Science
Ethics
Correlational Research & Surveys
Developing a Question / Communication
Variables / Tables & Graphs
Validity of argument
Control
McBurney
1
3
10
2/4
5/6
7
8
June 20 NOTE – THURSDAY CLASS – MIDTERM
1 – 7, 10
June 25
July 2
July 9
July 16
July 23
Observational & Archival Methods
True Experiments – One-way designs
True Experiments – Factorial Designs
Single Subject Designs
Quasi-Experiments
9
11
12
13
14
July 29 or 30
Final Exam
8, 9, 11 – 14
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and
other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they
undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are
described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic
offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses
using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All
written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by
comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s
databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the
reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the
system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of
Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course,
suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0
OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/index.cfm
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergradresponsibilities.htm
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2011 Calendar References
NOTE: You are not allowed to have electronic devices of any kind, including cell phones, on your person
during exams.