Experimental and Statistical Methods (Psy 22)

Description and Prerequisites
Syllabus (open as Word document)
Lab Information and Guidelines
Outlines

Description
Prerequisites: Psychology 21 and a course in mathematics.
Offered: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Description: Introduction to the principles of experimentation, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and statistical analysis (through factorial analysis of variance). Designed to acquaint students with the experimental study of behavior; covers the basic methodological background necessary for several advanced courses. Lab work, computer analysis of data, and written reports of lab projects are integral parts of the course. (Lab fee required.)

Course Overview and Objectives
This course is designed to cover the fundamentals of research methods in psychology that are necessary to prepare students to conduct and evaluate psychological research. We will discuss topics that cover the entire research process, from formulating interesting research questions, generating testable predictions from those questions, designing and carrying-out the methodology (i.e., collecting data) to test those predictions, performing appropriate statistical analyses on the collected data, and eventually interpreting the results. One important goal of the course is for you to learn how to prepare written summaries of your research in formal scientific style.

Class Format
Class meetings will consist primarily of lecture but will also include discussion and demonstrations. I will provide you with an outline for each chapter to help you organize your notes. Some parts of the lecture will cover topics that are not mentioned in the text, and vice versa. The lectures will also not necessarily follow the organization of the text. If you have to miss class, I strongly suggest that you get the notes from another student. If you have questions after you get someone’s notes, please come to my office hours or schedule an appointment with me.

Note: Students with disabilities who require academic accommodations should contact Ms. Susan Clark, Coordinator of Disability Services (x2322). After contacting her, then touch base with me. Please do this EARLY in the term.