Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PSYCD002.
Course Title (CB02)
Research Methods in Psychology
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the scientific method and research design as applied to psychological topics, including developing research questions, comprehensive literature review, generating a testable hypothesis, design considerations including ethics, data collection, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings. Students will apply the steps of the scientific method as they design, conduct, analyze and report findings of their own psychological research project.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is a major preparation requirement in Psychology and is CSU and UC transferable. This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSU GE, and IGETC. It belongs on the ADT in Psychology and is a science methodology course and a survey course on experimental and quasi-experimental research. The detailed analysis of the scientific method is applied to both laboratory and real-life settings as it relates to psychology topics. This is the only course offered in the psychology department with a lab.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Course Philosophy
Knowledge of scientific methods and research design is an absolute necessity for a complete preparation in Psychology education in the 21st century.

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
PSYPsychologyApprovedC-ID PSY 205 B

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
6.0
Maximum Credit Units
6.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours5.010.0
Laboratory Hours3.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
60.0
Laboratory
36.0
Total
96.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
120.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
120.0

Prerequisite(s)

PSYC D001.; and PSYC D015., SOC D015., MATH D010. or MATH D010H

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class essays

Homework and extended projects

Field observation

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Laboratory experience which involve students in formal exercises of data collection and analysis

Laboratory discussion sessions and quizzes

Assignments

  1. Required reading assignments from text and outside references.
  2. Written homework assignments: journal article analysis, literature review, and written reports.
  3. Design, execute, and analyze a research project following basic techniques of experimental design.
  4. Write one acceptable experimental report following the format adopted by the American Psychological Association.
  5. Conduct a comprehensive literature review and critically analyze and interpret two journal articles that relate to research project as taken from the professional literature.
  6. Deliver presentations on methodology and design, Institutional Review Board (IRB) simulation, piloting of research project, and APA conference style poster.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. A combination of essay, short answer, and objective type examinations will be used to assess the student's mastery of the didactic aspects of the course content. It is anticipated that several relatively short examinations covering each segment of the course material will be given each week or two depending on the material. The final examination will be cumulative in nature.
  2. Evaluate homework assignments via journal article quiz and classroom activity items. Written reports evaluated by the instructor on a point-based scale using a rubric.
  3. Evaluate the basic design process and execution of each experimental design presented by the student laboratory groups. Research project presentations and reports evaluated by instructor on a point-based scale using a rubric.
  4. Evaluate the final written APA paper and in-class group presentation to determine satisfactory completion as (80% mastery) indexed by the APA style guide.
  5. Completion of a two journal article literature review by writing a formal APA style introduction section. Evaluated by instructor on a point-based scale using a rubric.
  6. Presentations evaluated by instructor on a point-based scale using a rubric.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Laboratory including: subject testing space, operant conditioning apparatus, and lab computer system

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Jhangiani, Rajiv S., Carrie Cuttler, and Dana C. Leighton, "Research Methods in Psychology," 4th American ed. https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/psychmethods4e/, 2019.
McBride, Dawn M., "The Process of Research in Psychology," 4th ed. Los Angeles, CA: Sage, 2020.
McBride, Dawn M. and J. Cooper Cutting, "Lab Manual for Psychological Research," 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2019.
Cozby, Paul, C. and Scott C. Bates, "Methods in Behavioral Research". 13th ed. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill. 2018.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Cooper, Harris "Ethical Choices in Research: Managing Data, Writing Reports, and Publishing Results in the Social Sciences," Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2016.
American Psychological Association. "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association." 7th ed. Washington, D.C.: APA, 2020.
Kirk, R.E. "Experimental Design: Procedures for the Behavioral Sciences". 4th. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole, 2012.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Evaluate and explain the elements of scientific methodology and psychological experimental design.
  • Evaluate, analyze and apply APA ethical standards to psychological questions and problems in research.
  • Create a report(s) of research findings according to American Psychological Association (APA) style.
  • Demonstrate the use of the scientific method in executing a psychological research project.

CSLOs

  • Explain and critically analyze the elements of scientific methodology and design with application to research problems in psychology.

  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of research methods and design as applied to psychological topics, with particular attention to APA ethical standards.

  • Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to design, conduct, analyze, and report findings of an experimental project in psychology, utilizing proper APA format.

Outline

  1. Evaluate and explain the elements of scientific methodology and psychological experimental design.
    1. Overview of the steps in the scientific method
    2. Goals of the scientific method
      1. Scientific and nonscientific ways of knowing
      2. Steps in the scientific method
    3. Experimental design and methodology
      1. Scientific and nonscientific methods and goals
      2. Experimental and quasi-experimental design and research methods
        1. Observational methods
        2. Case study
        3. Survey research
        4. Archival research
        5. Naturalistic observation and field studies
      3. Causal and correlational research
      4. Definition of an experiment
        1. Theory, research questions, and hypothesis development
        2. Experimental and control groups
        3. Independent and dependent variables
        4. Internal and external validity and reliability
        5. Operational definition of variables
        6. Levels of measurement
        7. Control procedures: Matching, randomization, practice effects, and counterbalancing
        8. Reactivity, demand characteristics, expectancy and observer bias
      5. Between group and within group designs
      6. Independent group designs
      7. Repeated measures designs
      8. Single subject designs
      9. Complex experimental designs
      10. Factorial design, main effects, and interactions
      11. Measurement concepts, content analysis and trace methods
    4. Data analysis
      1. Content analysis
      2. Correlational data interpretation and limits
      3. Descriptive statistics
      4. Inferential methods
        1. Chi-square, t-tests, and ANOVA
        2. ANOVA main effects and interactions
  2. Evaluate, analyze and apply APA ethical standards to psychological questions and problems in research.
    1. Historical overview of APA ethical code
    2. Risk/benefit ratio
    3. Rights and dignity of subjects
      1. Informed consent
      2. Deception in research
      3. Debriefing
      4. Confidentiality and anonymity of subjects
    4. Plagiarism
  3. Create a report(s) of research findings according to American Psychological Association (APA) style.
    1. A.P.A. style manual
    2. Writing APA research reports, papers, and journal style articles
    3. Conference poster presentation
  4. Demonstrate the use of the scientific method in executing a psychological research project.
    1. Conduct literature review
      1. Analyze journal article(s)
      2. Library database search
    2. Develop a research question and testable hypothesis
    3. Design and methodology considerations
    4. Institutional Review Board (IRB) simulation and presentation
    5. Piloting research
    6. Conduct the study
      1. Sampling and sampling methods
      2. Data collection and recording methods
    7. Analyze results - Select appropriate descriptive and/or inferential statistical tests
    8. Synthesize results and draw conclusions
    9. Presenting research findings

Lab Topics

  1. Experimental design problems: comprehesive literature review, creating the hypothesis and designing an experiment to collect data. Address methodological problems inherent in laboratory experimentation and Psychology research in general. Contrast experimental and quasi-experimental methods.
  2. Conduct analyses of data collected in laboratory and non-laboratory procedures using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods and software. Measurement scales and procedures will be demonstrated during lab.
  3. Laboratory and lecture content will address interpretation of experimental results with the emphasis on designing and conducting experimental research. Groups will communicate research findings both in class orally and in a research paper using APA style.
  4. Prepare and present proper research documents: IRB proposal, informed consent, request for human subjects and debriefing.
  5. Proper care and respect of subjects will be discussed. Institutional Review Board (IRB) simulation will be conducted to ensure proper ethical considerations are in place and utilized.
Back to Top