Instructor :
Email:
Office
Office Hours :
PSY 501: Research Methods Course Syllabus
Fall 2012 Section -44758-001
Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-2:47 PRY Conference Room
Dr. J. Vonk vonk@oakland.edu
211 Pryale Hall
Website : www.jennifervonk.com
3:00 – 4:00pm Tues and Thurs or by appointment
Required Texts : 1. The Psychology Research Handbook 2 nd
Edition
Leong & Austin (eds)
2. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches
7 th Edition, Neuman
It is highly recommended that students possess the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th Ed). American Psychological Association
Course topics may be supplemented with additional readings, which will be made available on jennifervonk.com
Evaluation : 2 exams based on lecture and assigned reading material (25% of final mark each, not cumulative)
2 research project proposals worth 20% of final mark each
Class participation worth 10% of final mark
Objectives : The main objectives of this course will be to introduce the scientific methods of research as employed in the discipline of psychology and other social sciences, the planning and design of research projects, and to develop the skills necessary to evaluate, summarize and extract critical information from the research of others. Topics include advanced research methods used in non-experimental and quasi-experimental research, variable definition and measurement, surveying and sampling, internal and external validity, as well as the principles of ethical research. Designs covered include observational, archival, applied and qualitative, nonexperimental, and quasi-experimental, as well as true experimental designs. At the end of this course, students should have a good grasp of experimental methodology and be competent in designing and evaluating studies using a range of methodologies.
Course Content
NB: Topics and dates subject to change
Sept 6:
Sept 11
Introductions
NO CLASS
CITI training, overview of course and expectations
Take assessment quiz (please leave in my mailbox)
Complete online plagiarism tutorial http://library.oakland.edu/tutorials/plagiarism/index.htm
Neuman Chapt 1
L&A Chapter 1

Sept 13:
Sept 18:
Sept 20:
Sept 25
Sept 27:
& Oct 2.
Oct. 4
Oct. 9
Oct. 11
Oct. 16
Oct. 18
Oct. 23
Oct. 25
Oct. 30
Nov. 1
Nov. 6
Complete key word search tutorial http://library.oakland.edu/tutorials/Keyword_Searching/keyword_searching.htm
complete CITI training www.citiprogram.org
Intro cont.
Types of Research
Types of Research
Theory and Research
Ethics
Neuman Chapt 1
Neuman Chapter 2
Neuman Chapter 2
Neuman Chapter 3
L&A Chapter 32
Neuman Chapter 5
L&A Chapter 12
Nachmias Chapter 4
Nestory Chapter 3
Strategies of Design
Measurement
Validity and Reliability
Measurement and Validity cont.
Sampling
EXAM 1
Neuman Chapter 6
L&A Chapter 6
Neuman Chapter 7
L&A Chapter 7
Nestor Chapter 4
Neuman Chapter 8
L&A Chapter 10
All material prior
NO CLASS DAWKINS TALK
Experimental Research
Experimental Research
PAPER 1 DUE
Experimental Research
Quasi Experimental Designs
Survey Research
Survey Research
Neuman Chapter 9
Nestor Chapter 7
Neuman Chapter 9
Neuman Chapter 9
Nestor Chapter 8
L&A Chapter 8
Neuman Chapter 10

Nov. 8
Nov. 13
Nov. 15
Conducting Surveys
Scale Development
L&A Chapters 13 &14
L&A Chapter 9
Nachmias Chapter 11
Non-reactive Research and Secondary Analysis Neuman Chapter 11
Archival Data L&A Chapter 22,
Nachmias Chapter 13
Nov. 20
Nov. 22
Nov. 27:
Field and Focus Group Research
NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING
Neuman, Chapter 13
PAPER 2 DUE
Observational Research cont. Nachmias Chapter 9
Nov. 29:
Dec. 4
Dec. 6
Historical Comparative Research
Cross Cultural Research
Qualitative Methods
Neuman Chapter 14
L&A Chapter 31
L&A Chapter 17
Nachmias Chapter 12
FINAL EXAM
Add/Drops & Incompletes: The University add/drop and incomplete grade policies will be explicitly followed. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the University deadline dates for adding or dropping the course.
Missed Exams:
According to University Policy, the only legitimate excuse for missing an exam is a serious medical problem. A make-up exam will be offered ONLY for a personal medical problem or a serious personal/family problem (e.g., death in the family). If you must miss an exam, notify me by e-mail at vonk@oakland.edu as soon as possible, and no later than 24 hours after the exam .
Notification received after that time will result in a score of 0 for that exam. A single make-up exam will be arranged at the convenience of the instructor. No other times will be arranged. If you miss the final exam, you will receive a 0 on the final.
Make-up exams will NOT be provided for someone who completes an exam and then says he or she was not feeling well at the time. You must arrive on time for scheduled exams. If you are more than 15 minutes late for the exam you will be deducted 10% of your grade on the exam, with an additional 10% deduction for every 15 minutes late thereafter. Cell phones must be turned OFF during exams.
Late Assignments

Late assignments will not be accepted without a valid medical excuse. With a valid excuse, assignments will be accepted only within a week following the original due date and with a grade deduction of 2% for each day past the due date. So PLEASE hand in your assignments on time.
Your grade for this course will be based on the following scale:
Percentage OU Grade Percentage OU Grade
88
87
86
85
92
91
90
89
84
83
82
81
80
96
95
94
93
100
99
98
97
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.3
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.0
4.0
4.0
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.7
3.7
71
70
<70
75
74
73
72
79
78
77
76
2.1
2.0 fail
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.2
Note: Two or more grades below a B (e.g. 3.0) will result in dismissal from the program.
The first C grade will result in probation.
Cheating and Plagiarism
DON'T DO IT!! The University does not look favorably on cheating of any kind, and the penalties are very harsh for doing so. Become familiar with the rules and regulations regarding cheating/plagiarism:
Policies on Academic Conduct:
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to an environment of academic integrity and respect for the educational process and the safety and well being of all members of the community. Adherence to the Student Code of Conduct will be expected; violations of this code will be reported to the Dean of Students. The Code of Academic and
Student Conduct can be found at http://www.oakland.edu/psychology/grad/. Students found in violation of academic conduct regulations may receive a 0.0 for the course. Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas or work as your own. Proper citation of other’s ideas and work in APA style is a requirement of this course. Both the use of quotation and paraphrasing must be referenced. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about this very important topic. Students committing plagiarism will be subject to disciplinary action. University resources are available

for additional assistance with research or writing. Please talk with the professor if you would like additional assistance.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities who may require special considerations should make an appointment with campus Disability Support Services. Students should also bring their needs to the attention of the instructor as soon as possible.
Additional Notes:
ATTENDANCE: Class attendance, participation, and individual responsibility are necessary for successful mastery of the course material. If you miss class it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and obtain any and all materials should you be absent. You are responsible for all material and notifications covered in class if you are absent! Please arrange to receive notes from another student in the class if you must be absent.
BE COURTEOUS: Be on time and don’t socialize during class. These behaviors are disruptive to me, and the rest of the class. If you cannot abide by these simple rules you will be asked to leave. If you are late you will also miss important announcements. Excessive tardiness will count as an absence. PLEASE make sure that all electronic devices are turned off. If your phone goes off during class I will use your phone to call Canada.
BE PREPARED: Do all of the assigned readings. I will be operating on the assumption that you have completed the assigned readings. In addition to the textbooks you may also receive outside readings. It is expected that you will have read the assigned material
BEFORE class and that you will be fully prepared to discuss and exhibit your critical thinking skills with regard to the assigned readings. It is not possible to present every aspect of every reading in class. If you have questions, comments, concerns about what you have read and these are not addressed in the course of class discussion, please be sure to share your thoughts/insights in class.
PARTICIPATE IN CLASS: Research has clearly demonstrated that those students who are involved in the learning process are more likely to retain the information and have greater success. Class participation can be earned by getting involved in discussions, by responding to my questions, asking questions either in class or via email, and by presenting real world examples of the information we are discussing.