Psychology 2800E

Calendar Description
Course Information
Textbooks (required)
Course Objectives
Evaluation
Test and Exam Schedule
Student Responsibilities
Accessibility
Other Information
Lecture and Reading Schedule
Instructions for Completing Readings

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.  (2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours per week; 1.0 course)

Antirequisites: Psychology 2820E, 2840F/G, 2855F/G, and 2856F/G
Prerequisites: At least 60% in a 1000-level Psychology course.

Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So, 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.

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll 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.
 

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor:    Dr. Doug Hazlewood
Office:     6330 SSC
Phone:     519 661-2111 (ext. 84663)
Email:     hazlewoo@uwo.ca
Office Hours:     Fall:  Mondays and Tuesdays, 5:30 - 6:30 pm (or by appointment)
Winter: Tuesdays, 5:30 - 6:30 pm (or by appointment)

Course website:     https://owl.uwo.ca
Textbook website:     http://www.wadsworth.com  (follow links to White & McBurney, 9th edition)

Lectures:     Thursdays, 1:30 - 3:30 pm; 2028 SSC

Labs:     Labs will meet for two hours each week in room 3120 (or 3133) SSC.  Check your registration materials for the day and time of your lab.
Lab website:     https://owl.uwo.ca
Lab Coordinator:     Gillian Tohver (gtohver@uwo.ca)

TEXTBOOKS (required)

(1) White, T. L. &  McBurney, D. H (2013).  Research methods (9th ed.). Belmont CA: Wadsworth. [Be sure to purchase the 9th edition; used copies might be available].

(2) Stanovich, K. E. (2013). How to think straight about psychology (10th ed.).  Toronto: Pearson. [Be sure to purchase the 11th  edition; used copies might be available].

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course provides an introduction to the ways in which scientific research is conducted in psychology. We will consider a wide range of research methods, including observation, archival research, surveys, case studies, and (especially) experiments.  We will also consider topics closely associated with scientific research including measurement, 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 2800 will contribute significantly to the development of scientific thinking skills that students can apply in their future careers and in their everyday life.

Although this is a course in research methods rather than statistical analyses, you will analyze data collected in the laboratory component of the course, which requires an understanding of basic statistical concepts.  If you do not have credit in Psychology 2810, it is recommended that you read Chapter 15 of the White & McBurney textbook (we will also cover some of that material in lectures).

EVALUATION

Course grades will be based on a Lecture component and a Laboratory component, each worth 50% of the final grade.  Note: To earn credit in this course, you must achieve at least a passing grade (50%) in both
components.

(1) The Lecture  component  (50%) is based on two tests and two exams.  Students are responsible for material assigned in the textbooks, as well as material covered in lectures.  The Fall Midterm and Winter Midterm tests (each worth 10%) will consist of multiple-choice questions. The Midyear and Final exams (each worth 15%) will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer essay questions. A summary of the test and examination schedule is provided below.  Note: You must attend your assigned lecture section.

(2) The Laboratory Component (50%) is based on several written assignments, as well as student attendance and participation. These requirements (along with their weights and the assignment due dates) will be discussed at the first lab meeting.  For now, it is important to note that if you fail the lab component of the course, then you will fail the entire course, regardless of your performance on exams.  Note: You must attend your assigned lab section.

The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading  guidelines, which are as
follows:    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.

Note that the Psychology Department expects 2100-2990 level courses (including this course) to have final grade averages near 72%.

SUMMARY OF TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

Fall Midterm Test     October 22, 2015 (in class; rooms TBA)     10%
Material: W & M Chapters 1 - 5, 14 (exclude Stanovich)

Midyear  Exam     Date, Time, and Location to be announced    15%
Material: W & M Chapters 8, 9, & 15 (p. 387 - 389)
Stanovich Chapters 1 - 5, 8, 10, & 11

Winter  Midterm Test     February 11, 2016 (in class; rooms TBA)     10%
Material: January 7 - February 4 (W & M and Stanovich)

Final Exam     Date, Time, and Location to be announced    15%
Material: February 25 - March 31 (W & M and Stanovich)

Note 1:  “Material” also includes “lecture material”.

Note 2: You must go to your assigned room.  Room assignments will be announced in class and posted on
OWL.

Note 3: Electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, dictionaries, ipods/earphones) are NOT permitted during tests and exams.   Please leave these devices at home or in your book bag.


STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) Lecture  Attendance: Lecture material covered in Section 001 (Hazlewood) will not be the same as material covered in Section 002 (Brown). Therefore, students must attend their assigned lecture sections.  In addition, material covered in lectures will not always be the same as material covered in the textbooks.  As such, students who wish to do well in this course are strongly encouraged to keep up with the readings and attend their assigned lecture section on a regular basis.

(2) Lab Attendance: 50% of your final grade will be based on performance in the laboratory component of this course.  Please note that lab attendance is mandatory.  Students who miss eight or more lab classes will automatically receive a failing grade in the lab portion of the course, which will result in failing the entire course.  As such, it is important that you regularly attend your assigned lab section each week.

(3) Policy regarding Makeup  Exams and Extensions of Deadlines:

Students will be allowed to write makeup exams and will be given extensions of lab assignment deadlines only under special circumstances.  These include medical or compassionate reasons and must be substantiated with proper documentation. Please note that documentation must be submitted to (and approved by) an academic counsellor in your Dean’s office.

A student who misses an exam or assignment deadline for any other reason (or who is unable to substantiate a claim) will be assigned a grade of zero for the exam and a penalty each day that the assignment is late (weekends automatically count as two days).  In fairness to all students, no exceptions to this policy will be allowed.

Please see the POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS - UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS at http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2015/pg117.html for additional information on medical accommodation.  Additional information on appropriate medical documentation can be found at http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html.

(4) Policy Regarding Illness:

If you feel that you have a medical or personal problem that is interfering with your work, then you should contact your Faculty Academic Counselling Office as soon as possible.  Problems may then be documented and possible arrangements to assist you can be discussed at the time of occurrence, rather than retroactively. In general, retroactive requests for grade revisions on medical or compassionate grounds will not be considered.

(5) 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: Scholastic Offences at Western.

As of September 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses.

Cheating:  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 positions in all tests and exams.  If a similar pattern of responses is detected, students will be reported to the Dean’s office for further investigation and possible disciplinary action.

To avoid any suspicion of cheating, please take the following steps:

(i) If you studied with another student, then do not sit near this person during  the tests/exams.  Students who study together are more likely to have similar answers.

(ii) Keep your answers covered so students sitting near you do not have the opportunity to cheat from your exam.

(iii) If you suspect that someone is cheating from your exam, then immediately  notify the course instructor or one of the proctors. That way, a record can be made of the incident, and alternative seating arrangements can be provided.

Plagiarism:  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 betweenWestern University and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).

Students are strongly encouraged to submit a draft of their written assignments to Turnitin at least 24 hours before the due date, so they can examine the plagiarism report and make necessary corrections if matches are detected.

Possible penalties for scholastic offenses include failure of the assignment; failure of the course; suspension from the University; and expulsion from the University.

(6) Minimizing Distractions During Classes:

To avoid unnecessary distractions, please keep these simple rules in mind:

(a) Arrive to each class on time (if you must arrive late, please find a seat at the back or side of the room, not in the middle of the room);

(b) Do not leave the room during  the lecture unless it’s an emergency.  Wait until the break, or you might miss some important exam material;

(c) Ensure that your cell phone is off!;

(d) Avoid “private” conversations with the person sitting next to you!  This can be a very serious problem that must be avoided.  Please note that private conversations can be distracting to other students even if you are discussing the lecture material!

Be forewarned: In the interest of minimizing distractions to other students, I will not hesitate to ban students from lectures if they appear unable to control their private conversations.

(7) Instructions for Completing  the Readings:

The Appendix (see below) provides some guidelines for completing the assigned readings. Please read it over and see me if anything is unclear.

(8) Organizing Your Schedule:

In this course, it is possible that Lab Assignments will be due the same week (or even the same day) as Term Tests.  Moreover, it is possible that you will have tests and assignments in other courses that are due at the same time as tests/assignments in this course.  This problem cannot be avoided (e.g., by asking for extensions of deadlines).  However, the problem can be minimized by carefully organizing your schedule at the beginning of the term, to ensure that all of your responsibilities are met in a timely (and stress free!) manner. Clearly, studying for a test and trying to finish an assignment a few days before they are due will be a lot more stressful than spreading your preparations out (e.g., finishing the assignment one week before it is due, so you can focus your attention on preparing for the test).  Remember that professors have control over the deadlines, but you have control over when these deadlines are met.  Developing a schedule that allows you to finish some requirements early will free-up your time for other obligations, and it will make your life a lot less stressful. I hope this helps!

ACCESSIBILITY

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 Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding accommodation.

OTHER INFORMATION

(1) Please read carefully the document at psychology student responsibilities  for additional information regarding: Policy on medical notes; Policy on cheating and academic misconduct; Policy regarding makeup exams/extensions of deadlines (including appropriate documentation); Procedures for appealing academic evaluations; and other issues.

In addition, please read carefully the “Psychology 2800E Labs - Course Outline” (provided in your lab section) for additional information regarding:  Missed assignments; Due dates; Extensions; Plagiarism; Submitting independent work; and Attendance requirements.

(2) Exam Room Assignments: Room assignments for tests and exams will be announced in class, posted on my office door, and posted on the course web site.  Therefore, please do not contact the department secretaries for this information.  Also, be sure to go to your assigned room!
 

(3) Asking Questions During Tests/Exams:  To be fair to all students, NO questions will be allowed during  the exams.  I cannot help you define any “concepts” or “words” on the exams.  I cannot discuss what you remember from the textbook or the lectures (because some questions are designed to test your memory of this material).  I cannot tell you whether the “reasoning” behind your chosen answer is correct, because that’s the same as telling you whether or not your answer is correct.  Obviously that’s not
something we should discuss during the exam!  I cannot help you decide what to do if you think two options
are correct (except to tell you to choose the best option).  Note that we CAN discuss these issues AFTER the exams, but we cannot discuss them during the exams.  If a question is so confusing that no one can understand it and answer it correctly, then I will drop the question.  This is the fair thing to do.

(4) Documents on our Course Website (OWL):

* Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
* Test and Exam Dates, Room Assignments (and Material to be covered).
* Sample Midyear Exam Questions (to illustrate format of the Identification and Short Answer questions).
* Tips for Sending Email.
* How I Create Fair Exams.
* Doug Hazlewood’s Teaching and Research Interests.

(5) Other Useful Websites:

Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Having academic problems?  See http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/havingproblems.asp

Having problems with OWL?  Go to http://itshelp.uwo.ca

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you.  Please visit http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information about these resources.
 

LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE

APPENDIX

Instructions for Completing  the Readings

Here are some guidelines that you should follow when completing the assigned readings.

(1) Keep up with the weekly reading assignments.  My lectures will expand on this material, so it will be helpful if you’ve read the assigned chapters in advance.

(2) Although I will not be lecturing on material in chapters 2, 4, and 14 of the White & McBurney textbook, portions of this material are relevant to the labs, and you are responsible for this material on the Fall Midterm Test.

(3) A good way to learn any material is to apply it, because it makes you an “active consumer”, rather than a “passive recipient”.  For this reason, most chapters in the White & McBurney textbook end with sections designed to give you experience applying the material (see Nuts and bolts; Reading between the lines; Cases in point; and Exercises). Some of this material is described as “required”, but this does not mean that it will be emphasized more than any other textbook material on tests and exams.  Instead, you should view any opportunity to apply the material as
“highly recommended”, while keeping in mind that your goal is to learn all of the textbook (and lecture) material.

(4) The White & McBurney textbook contains references to a “Lab Manual” and “Web-Based Workshops”.  We will not be using the Lab Manual in this course, so you are not responsible for this material on tests and exams.  Similarly, although you are not required to participate in
the workshops, feel free to explore the web site if you wish to learn more about topics discussed in the textbook.

(5) The Stanovich textbook provides an interesting and very readable introduction to some important issues and problems we face when developing a scientific/empirical approach to psychology. As such, it serves as an excellent supplement to the White & McBurney textbook (and my lectures).  Each week, I’ve tried to assign Stanovich chapters that compliment the other
material.  However, to “spread the readings out” in the first half of the course, I’ve assigned the Stanovich chapters (1 - 5, 8, 10, & 11) to the Midyear Exam in December. Although these readings will not be covered on the October Midterm Test, you should keep up with the reading schedule (even if it means simply “skimming” the assigned Stanovich chapters prior to
lectures).

Note: Stanovich relies on “real world” examples to illustrate the material.  DO NOT ignore these examples (some of them will appear on tests/exams). I hope this helps!