Research Methods and Experience

PSYCH-GA 2126-002 Spring 2013

Mondays, 6:20 PM-8:10 PM, Meyer 159

Professor: Deidre L. Kolarick, deidre.kolarick@gmail.com
Grader: Brandon Ashinoff, brandon.ashinoff@nyu.edu

Learning Objectives:
The goal of this course is to further your understanding of the research process.
We will refine the skills of developing testable hypotheses, designing an effective
(and efficient) research study, collecting and analyzing data, publishing results,
and orally presenting findings from a study. Over the course of the semester, we
will cover topics including:
- ethics in research
- single and multifactor designs
- lab and field research
- observational techniques
- correlational research

We will accomplish these objectives by learning about both the theory and
practice of research design. We will read articles and book chapters on how
research should be done, but you will also be required to apply this information
about the research process to your final paper.

Required Textbooks:
Research Methods: A Process of Inquiry, Graziano & Raulin, 8
th
edition
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6
th
edition

Recommended Textbooks:
Statistics for the Behavioral & Social Sciences, Aron, Coups, & Aron, 5
th
edition

What Every Student Should Know About Citing Sources with APA Documentation,
Anderson et al. A useful reference guide for writing according to APA
guidelines.

Course Format:

1. Lectures on research methodology. Each class meeting will include a
lecture focused on major topics in research methods. The topics that
are presented in lecture will generally be expanded upon during our
discussion period.
2. Class exercises. After lecture, we will have a discussion or break-out
portion of class. Depending on the subject matter covered that week,
we will either work on applied, lab-type exercises in class together, or
discuss empirical research articles related to the topic of the week.
3. Quizzes. We will periodically have short quizzes designed to measure
your ability to apply the concepts from class to real-world examples of
research. They are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your grasp
of how the principles we discuss translate into practice.
4. Final Paper. You have 2 options for your final paper these are
designed to give you flexibility depending on your circumstances and
interests. Each option is intended to give you the opportunity to apply
the concepts we have learned in class to real-world research. In both
cases, the final proposal will be written according to APA guidelines.
o Option 1: Research proposal. A critical skill to develop as a
researcher is the ability to construct well-informed research
proposals. You may choose a topic within any area of psychology
that interests you and design a research proposal that tests a
hypothesis developed during a literature review of the topic.
o Option 2: Analysis of methodological issues in your research. For
those of you who are currently engaged in conducting research,
you may conduct an analysis of the project. You will write a 3-5
page introduction to the research problem and your hypothesis, a
method section, an expected results section that explains the
analyses you plan to do and the expected pattern of results, and a
concluding section on methodological choices that explains what
decisions youve made about the methods to use and how you have
used the concepts from class to make those decisions.

Grading:
Your final grade will consist of 5 parts:
- Quizzes / Written assignments 25%
- Class participation 10%
- Exam 20%
- Final paper 35% (Final papers will be submitted via the Turnitin system)
- Oral presentation of final paper 10%

Penalties for lateness are as follows and non-negotiable:
- 10 points off for the first 24 hours
- 20 points off for the first 48 hours
- After 48 hours the paper will not be accepted.

***Please note: there will be no make-up assignments, proposals, or oral
presentations offered. This is non-negotiable.***



Attendance:
It is your responsibility to attend each class. If you have more than 2 unexcused
absences, your final grade will drop by 1/3 of a letter; 4+ unexcused absences
and you will be withdrawn from the class.

Contacting me:
The best way to reach me is through email: deidre.kolarick@gmail.com. I will try
to respond to all emails within 24 hours.

A note on class behavior:
Please be on time and turn off all cell phones before coming into class. A ringing
/ buzzing phone or texting during class is rude and distracting to myself and
your classmates. If you need to take a call or text during class, be considerate and
step outside. If I notice you using a phone during class, I will ask you to leave.



Date Lecture Topic
Reading
(Graziano & Raulin)
1/28
Course Introduction:
Review of course goals, format
N/A
2/4
IRB discussion
Ethics in research
Writing APA-style papers
25, 52-55, 69-75, 119,
336-343
2/11
Library class: How to find research articles
Plagiarism and how to avoid it
344-350
92-93
2/18 No Class Presidents Day
2/25 Fundamentals of research methods
30-52
58-75
168-179
3/4 Major issues in experimental design
179-190
192-214
3/11
Measurement &
Statistical Analysis
77-120
3/18 No Class Spring Break
3/25
Independent-groups design / analysis
Correlated-groups design / analysis
218-243
247-260
4/1 Factorial design / analysis 275-295
4/8 Correlation research / analysis 145-164
4/15 Surveys & interviews 298-326
4/22 Exam
4/29 Meta-Analysis 371-374
5/6 Student research presentations (I) N/A
5/13 Student research presentations (II) N/A
***Thursday, 5/16 Final paper due