Psychology 200: Research Methods and Statistics
Term I, 2004 - 2005
Professor: Chris Wetzel
Office: 115 Clough Class time:
MWF 9:00 – 9:50 Office hrs:
MWF 8:00-9:00; 2:00-3:00 TuTH 8:30-9:30
Course Objectives
First, I will expose you to the basic research techniques used in psychology. You will learn the fundamental
principles of research design, how psychologists gain knowledge. You will also develop skills and
competencies needed to begin a research project. Second, I hope to give you enough practical experience so that
you will be ready for upper-level laboratory courses and so that you can make an informed decision about
possibly pursuing a research career after you graduate. A final goal is to change your thinking so that you can:
1) critically analyze aspects of your personal life, 2) become an informed citizen who thinks scientifically about
social issues, and 3) become an intelligent consumer of research findings presented in the media. In sum, you
should finish this course with an appreciation of J.S. Mill's statement, "The logic of science is also that of
business and life."
In terms of the 12 IDEA objectives used to evaluate Rhodes courses, the following course objectives are very
important: Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories; and learning to analyze and critically
evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view. The following are important: developing specific skills,
competencies, and points of view needed by professionals in the field; gaining factual knowledge (terminology,
classifications, methods, trends); and learning how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving
problems. The following are not formally assessed: acquiring team member skills, developing creativity;
appreciating for the arts; developing skills in self-expression; developing personal values; learning to apply
course material; and asking your own questions and seeking answers.
Assessment and Course Requirements
Your text, Pelham & Blanton’s Conducting Research in Psychology, (2nd Ed.), 2003, will be covered at a very
rapid pace. There will be 3 tests on this text, plus the final, and they count 35% of your grade. They are a
combination of multiple choice, short answer, and even some essays.
You will have other assignments such as presenting research findings orally in class, criticizing articles,
proposing alternative research studies for flawed experiments, etc. Handouts about these assignments, plus
information about the course can be found on the academic volume in the "200" folder within the "wetzel"
folder. In order to do well in this course, you must be computer literate and familiar with using the Mac/PC
Lab. (Throughout the semester the Computer Center offers free courses on how to use a computer if your skills
are weak.) There will be 10 writing or homework assignments, the top 9 of which will count 20% of your grade.
Many of your homework assignments will mimic the research process in the area of dissonance theory. For
these assignments, you will work with a partner, who will critique your "personal draft" (you will do the same
to his/her draft). For grading purposes, you will turn in a revised version of the assignment.
You will perform 2 laboratory assignments where you will collect data with a "canned" computer experiment,
or you will access a data base already generated by the experimenters. You then analyze data, and finally write
up the findings in APA style. These assignments will count a total of 25 %.
You will make a research proposal where you review the experimental literature and propose an experiment
(which you may conduct in psychology 211/212). This paper will follow APA style for the introduction and the
method sections. You will then present hypothetical results for the results and discussion sections. This paper
will count 20% of your grade.
