Psychology 2800E 001
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON CANADA
Department of Psychology
2021
Psychology 2800E Section 001
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Summer Evening (May 3 – July 23, 2021)
- CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
Using selected examples, this course will introduce 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 a research project; experimental, observational and correlational research strategies.
Antirequisite(s): Psychology 2855F/G and Psychology 2856F/G, Psychology 2820E, Psychology 2840F/G.
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. If you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
Prerequisite(s): A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level.
2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours.
Course Weight: 1.0
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Krista Macpherson, PhD
Office Hours: By Appointment via Zoom
Email: kmacphe6@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00pm-9:00pm
This course is ONLINE and SYNCHRONOUS
Lectures presented online via Zoom
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Gorvine, Rosengren, Stein, Biolsi & Rusticus (2020). Research Methods in Psychology: From Theory to Practice (Canadian Edition). Oxford.
This text is Mandatory for the course
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course introduces the ways in which research is conducted in psychology. We will consider a wide range of research methods, including observation, surveys, case studies, and experiments. We will also consider topics relevant to research, such as ethics, report writing, and data presentation.
The major objective of the Psychology 2800E lab is to teach students the logic of research designs used in psychology and the mechanics of conducting and communicating research. Throughout the course, students will collaborate to design a research project and will present that research in a written report and in class presentations.
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge. Access, interpret, and critically evaluate research in psychology |
Lecture and Readings |
Exams Mini assignments |
|
Knowledge of Methodologies. Evaluate the appropriateness of different methodological approaches to address a specific psychological question |
Lecture and Readings |
Exams Mini assignments |
|
Application of Knowledge. Formulate a research hypothesis to address a psychological question and design a research project to test that hypothesis; Apply ethical standards to the practice of their own research |
Research Project |
Final Paper |
|
Communication Skills. Use evidence to support claims |
Research Project Group Presentation |
Final Paper Group Presentation |
|
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge. Communicate in writing accurately, clearly, and logically, using the discourse of the discipline of psychology |
Research Project Group Presentation |
Final Paper Group Presentation |
|
Autonomy and Professional Capacity. Communicate orally accurately, clearly, and logically, using the discourse of the discipline of psychology |
Research Project and Group Presentation |
Final Paper Group Presentation |
5.0 EVALUATION
Lecture Component
Midterm Exam (25%)
Final exam (25%)
Lab Component
Group Project (10%)
Final Paper (30%)
Participation--Mini Assignments/Quizzes (10%)
Exams will be given online via OWL, and will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, and other close-ended question types. The midterm will take place during class hours, and the final exam will take place during the final exam period. Exams will not be proctored. If an exam is missed, students must go through the appropriate procedures for accommodation (see section 9.0), and a makeup exam will be scheduled. Participation marks will be awarded via the completion of short activities or pop quizzes in class (no more than 1 per week). Each mini assignment/quiz is worth 1% of the final mark, and there are no makeups for missed mini assignments/quizzes.
Groups will work together to design a research project, and will present this project together as a group at the end of the semester. They will also write up their project INDIVIDUALLY as a full length APA style paper. This paper will be submitted for marking to OWL, and Turnitin will be used.
Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
Grades will not be rounded up.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf)
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Lecture Component
Midterm Exam (25%) May 31st
Final exam (25%) During Final Exam Period (July 26th & 27th)
Lab Component
Group Projects (10%) July 14th, 19th and/or 21st
Final Paper (30%) Due July 23rd @ 11:59pm
Mini Assignments/Quizzes (10%) See Section 5.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Schedule is tentative and subject to change
|
Week: |
Dates: |
Readings |
Topic |
|
1 |
May 3rd May 5th |
Chapter 1 Chapter 3 |
Introduction & Ethics Developing Research Questions |
|
2 |
May 10th May 12th |
Chapter 4 Chapter 5 |
Developing Research Questions Research Proposals |
|
3 |
May 17th May 19th |
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 |
Surveys Experimental Designs |
|
4 |
May 24th (no class) May 26th |
Chapter 8 |
Experimental Designs 2 |
|
5 |
May 31st June 2nd |
None |
Midterm Exam Introduction to the Group Project; APA Style |
|
6 |
June 7th June 9th |
Chapter 9 Chapter 10 |
Observational Methods |
|
7 |
June 14th June 16th |
Chapter 11
|
Data Analysis 1 |
|
8 |
June 21st June 23rd |
Chapter 12 |
Data Analysis 2 |
|
9 |
June 28th June 30th (no class) |
None |
Group Project Work |
|
10 |
July 5th July 7th |
Chapter 13 |
Scientific Writing Group Project Work |
|
11 |
July 12th July 14th |
None
|
Group Project Work
|
|
12 |
July 19th July 21st |
None |
Group Presentations |
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offences. 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 Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
- For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
- must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
10.0 CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR RETURN TO LOCKDOWN: IN-PERSON & BLENDED CLASSES
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence during the term that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.
11.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
12.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- 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
- 2021-2022 Calendar References
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf
Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
