Psychology 2800E-002 (Online for 2020-21)

Research Methods in Psychology

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    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.

Prerequisite: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level.

 

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.

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. 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.

2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours; 1.0 course 

2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

Instructors:                                 Dr. Samantha Joel (Fall Semester)

                                                  samantha.joel@uwo.ca

                                                  Office hours: Book on calendly

 

                                                  Dr. Corey Isaacs (Winter Semester)

                                                  cisaacs3@uwo.ca

                                                  Office hours: TBA

 

Time and Location of Classes:               Lectures will be provided asynchronously via our OWL course website.
Labs will be conducted synchronously via Zoom.                                                                                   

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western

http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ 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

This class uses an open textbook that is free to download:

 

Price, P. C., Jhangiani, R. S., & Chiang, I. A. (2015). Research Methods in Psychology (2nd Canadian edition). Simple Book Production.

 

A PDF of the book is available on OWL. Alternatively, you can read it or download it in your preferred digital format from this website: https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/

 

If you prefer to read your textbooks in hardcopy, you can print the book at one of Western’s libraries for 10 cents a page, or $32 (https://www.lib.uwo.ca/services/printingandphotocopying.html).

 

Please note that weeks 7, 10, and 16 include additional readings that can be found on the OWL course website 

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course introduces 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 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, it is recommended that you read Chapters 12 and 13 of the Price text early in the school year

   4.1    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES 

Outcome

Learning Activities

Assessment

Find, interpret, and critically evaluate original empirical research

Lectures, readings, lab activities, lecture poll questions, and discussion forums

Generate research questions assignments, theory assignment, peer review assignment, term papers, and exams

Generate your own research ideas and hypotheses

Generating research questions assignment, constructing hypotheses assignment, term papers

Ensure that research adheres to ethical standards

Term papers, poster, exams

Evaluate the appropriateness of different methodological approaches for specific research questions

Methods assignment, peer review assignment, term papers, exams

Apply relevant quantitative skills to the analysis and interpretation of empirical data

Working with JASP I assignment, working with JASP II assignment, Testing own hypotheses in JASP assignment, exams

Communicate accurately, clearly and logically, using the discourse of the discipline of psychology

Term papers, poster presentation

 

5.0     EVALUATION

The course requirements, along with relative weightings in the determination of final grades, are:

  • Exams             42%
  • Lecture Activities 8%
  • Laboratory Activities 25%
  • Term Papers 25%

 

       5.1   EXAMS (42% of Course Grade)

 

The exams will be based on all of the relevant readings/listenings and lecture material, and will contain multiple-choice questions only. Exams will be open book, but students must work independently to complete them. To minimize the possibility of collaboration during the exam, students will not have the option of returning to questions that have already been presented.

 

Tests and examinations in this course will be conducted using Zoom. You will be required to keep your camera on for the entire session, hold up your student card for identification purposes, and share your screen with the invigilator if asked to do so at any time during the exam. The exam session will not be recorded. Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination.

 

More information about the use of Zoom for exam invigilation is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf


Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the system requirements for Zoom. Information about the system requirements are available at the following link: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us

 

For students who miss a midterm with a legitimate absence, the weight of that midterm will be reassigned to the relevant exam. Specifically, for students who miss the fall midterm for a legitimate reason, the mid-year exam will be worth 21% instead of 13%. Similarly, for students who miss the winter midterm, the final exam will be worth 21%. Because the exams are cumulative, this structure will ensure that the missed material will still be covered.

 

Students who miss a Registrar-scheduled (i.e., mid-year or final) exam with a legitimate absence will be given an opportunity to write a makeup exam. The makeup may adhere to a different format from the original exam.

 

       5.2   LECTURE ACTIVITIES (8% of Course Grade)

 

Each lecture will be accompanied by a series of online activities, such as poll questions, short answer questions, and discussion forums. Your thoughtful completion of these activities will constitute your participation grade, which will be worth 8% of your total grade (4% per semester).

 

       5.3   LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (25% of Course Grade)

 

Homework assignments (HWs) will be assigned during lab sessions, and due in advance of the following lab session. This means you have ~2 weeks to complete each HW. In-class assignments (ICAs) will build off of the homework, to be completed during the lab session. However, you have until the Sunday following your lab session to submit your ICA, giving you a small grace period. The HWs and ICAs will be worth 1.25% each. Each lab assignment must be submitted to Gradebook by 11:59pm on your lab section’s respective due date.

 

Late HWAs and ICAs will not be accepted. However, with official accommodation, the weight of a missed HWA or ICA will be reassigned to the remaining ones within that semester.

       5.3   TERM PAPERS (25% of Course Grade)

 

At the end of each semester, students will submit a term paper as part of the laboratory course component. In the Fall semester, this paper will be a research proposal (worth 15% of your course grade), and in the Winter semester you will write a research report (worth 10% of your course grade). More information about the papers and a grading rubric can be found on our OWL course website.

 

       5.4   IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT COURSE GRADES

 

Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. The laboratory component counts as the essay component of the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments in the lab (including the term papers) must be at least 50% for you to pass the course. This is a formal policy of the University, not a matter of the instructor’s discretion.

Note that, per departmental policy, course grades will NOT be rounded. 

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 and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
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

Please note that all times indicated in the course outline and on the course website are local to London, Ontario (i.e., Eastern time zone).

 

Assessment

Worth

Date/Time

Relevant Material

Fall Midterm

8%

Thursday, Oct. 22
@ 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Lectures and readings up to and including October 15

Mid-Year Exam

13%

TBA (Dec. 11 – 22 )

Lectures and readings up to December 3, emphasizing material not covered in Fall midterm

Winter Midterm

8%

Thursday, Feb. 11
@ 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Lectures and readings from January 7 – February 4, inclusive

Final Exam

13%

TBA (April 8 – 30)

Lectures and readings from Winter semester, emphasizing material not covered in Winter midterm

 

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

FALL SEMESTER

 

Dates

Lesson

Readings/ Listenings

Lab Session

Sept. 10

1: Introduction

---

---

Sept. 17

2: Psych as a Science

Chapter 1

1: Introduction & Writing a Research Proposal

 

Sept. 24

3: Your Own Research I

Chapter 2

Oct. 1

4: Your Own Research II

Chapter 2

2: Generating Research Questions

Oct. 8

5: Research Ethics

Chapter 3

Oct. 15

6: Theory

Chapter 4

3: Theory

Oct. 22

FALL MIDTERM EXAM (Lessons 1 – 6)

Oct. 29

7: Open Science

Ep. 4 of Four Beers Podcast

3: Theory

Nov. 5

READING WEEK (NO CLASSES)

Nov. 12

8: Measurement

Chapter 5

4: Methods & Data Visualization

Nov. 19

9: Interpreting Graphs

Graphs

Nov. 26

10: Survey Research

Chapter 9

5. Peer Review

Dec. 3

11: Professional Development

---

TBA (Dec. 11 – 22)

MID-YEAR EXAM (Lessons 7 – 11)

 

WINTER SEMESTER

 

Dates

Lesson

Readings/ Listenings

Lab Session

Jan. 7

12: Experimental Research I

Chapter 6

 

Jan. 14

13: Experimental Research II

Chapter 7

6: Hypothesis Generation

Jan. 21

14: Non-Experimental Research

Navarro Ch. 3

Jan. 28

15: Complex Research Designs I

Chapter 8

7: Working with JASP I

Feb. 4

16: Complex Research Designs II

Chapter 8

Feb. 11

WINTER MIDTERM EXAM (Lessons 12 – 16)

Feb. 18

READING WEEK (NO CLASSES)

Feb. 25

17: Data Wrangling

 

8: Working with JASP II

March 4

18: Interpreting Your Results

Chapter 12

March 11

19: Communicating Your Results

Chapter 13

9: Testing Hypotheses in JASP

March 18

20: Designing Your Study (Which Method is Best?)

Chapter 11

March 25

21: Being a Critical Consumer of Science

Chapter 11

10: Poster Presentations

 

April 1

[No New Material this week]

---

TBA (April 8 - 30)

FINAL EXAM (Lessons 17 – 21)

 

 


       7.1   LABORATORY SCHEDULE

 

FALL SEMESTER

 

Lab

Topic

Worth

GROUP A

GROUP B

 

ICA Due

HW Due

ICA Due

HW Due

 

1

Introduction

 

None

HW 1: Sept 27

None

HW 1: Oct 4

 

2

Generating Research Questions

2.5%

ICA 1: Oct 4

HW 2: Oct 11

ICA 1: Oct 11

HW 2: Oct 25

 

3

Theory

2.5%

ICA 2: Oct 18

HW 3: Nov 8

ICA 2: Nov 1

HW 3: Nov 15

 

4

Methods & Data Visualization

2.5%

ICA 3: Nov 15

HW 4: Nov 22

ICA 3: Nov 22

HW 4: Nov 29

 

5

Peer Review

2.5%

ICA 4: Nov 29

None

ICA 4: Dec 6

None

 

 

Research Proposal

15%

DUE Dec 2

DUE Dec 9

 

WINTER SEMESTER

 

Lab

Topic

Worth

GROUP A

GROUP B

 

ICA Due

HW Due

ICA Due

HW Due

 

6

Constructing Hypotheses

2.5%

ICA 1: Jan 17

HW 1: Jan 24

ICA 1: Jan 24

HW 1: Jan 31

 

7

Descriptive Stats in JASP

2.5%

ICA 2: Jan 31

HW 2: Feb 7

ICA 2: Feb 7

HW 2: Feb 28

 

8

Inferential Stats in JASP

2.5%

ICA 3: Feb 28

HW 3: Mar 7

ICA 3: Mar 7

HW 3: Mar 14

 

9

Testing Hypotheses

2.5%

ICA 4: Mar 14

HW 4: Mar 21

ICA 4: Mar 21

HW 4: Mar 28

 

10

Poster Presentation

5%

None

None

None

None

 

 

Research Report

10%

DUE Mar 29

DUE Apr 5

 

 


 

8.0  CLASS POLICIES & EXPECTATIONS

 

This course is being offered online this year, with some required synchronous components, that will use Western’s learning platform, OWL (Sakai), and other educational resources based on the needs of the course. This class is designed to have both synchronous components, meaning there will be activities that will occur at a specific date and time that you are required to attend, and asynchronous components, meaning aspects of the course will be done on your schedule at the time most convenient to you.

 

Throughout the course you are expected to interact regularly with other students, your professors, and/or your TAs. The course is designed to structure and guide some self-paced elements as well as offer interactive opportunities for community learning. This work may happen in smaller groups, or through activities that include the entire class. Each student brings their own knowledge, experience, and interests to our learning community, which we will build on and use our course material (readings, discussions, lessons, etc.) to amplify learning for everyone.

 

We will all be responsible for our own learning progress and also for contributing to the growth of our learning community through our participation in all course activities and assessments. We will be ready to engage and connect meaningfully. We will be present, professional, respectful and ready to contribute to our group. Welcome to our class!

 

All students are expected to engage online in a professional and respectful manner. This includes all interactions with peers, as well as communication with TAs or your professors. Failure to do so will result in academic discipline.

 

Technology Requirements

 

This course will require the following:

  • Desktop or laptop computer
  • Stable high-speed Internet connection
  • Webcam
  • Microphone

 

Intellectual Property Statement

 

Course content created by a faculty member is considered the faculty member’s intellectual property; it should not be distributed, shared in any public domain, or sold by a student or other third party without prior written consent of the faculty member. Recording of lectures or tutorials without the explicit consent of the Professor or TA is grounds for academic discipline.

 

 

9.0  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.

 

 

10.0 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:

  1. Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
  2. 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 hoursafter the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence

 

 

 

11.0      Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown

 

In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence during the course 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.

 

 

12.0      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
  • 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.

 

 

13.0 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
  • 2020-2021 Calendar References

 

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.