PSY
211 Research Methodology for Behavioral Sciences
Section 01 M/W 9:30 – 10:45 am
NVCC,
Alexandria Campus, Fall 2010
Instructor: Dr. E. Lanthier
Email address: elanthier@nvcc.edu (This is the
best way to contact me.)
Phone: 703-933-3969 (office)
Web site: www.nvcc.edu/home/elanthier
Office location AA252 #C-12 by the windows
Office hours: Wed. 12:30 – 2:30 pm; Thurs. 3:00
– 4:30 pm; Fri. 12:30 – 1:00 pm
Text: Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., &
Zechmeister, J. S. (2009). Research Methods in Psychology (8th
ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
Course Description and Objectives:
The course catalog
description of Psy 211: “Introduces the principles and processes of
various research procedures for applying the scientific method to
understanding behavior. Includes preparation for conducting,
understanding, and interpreting laboratory and field studies;
documenting principles through research; and applying critical
assessment to generic research.” We will study the research methods
listed below. You will also develop skills in reading about research
findings, thinking critically, presenting ideas orally, and writing
reports in APA style.
Course format:
The course will be a combination of
lecture and student activities. We will engage in class discussions
and do small group activities. As a class, we will design and
conduct one research study. You are expected to take notes on the
lectures and additional exercises.
Email:
Using email is the best way to
contact your professor. You must use your VCCS email account for
confidential information, such as grades, but you can use any email
account for general questions or comments. There are details on Dr.
Lanthier’s web site about finding your VCCS account. Your emails
should always include your name and class.
Grading:
Your grade will be based on
homework, a research report, tests, and a final exam. Your final
grade will be based on a percentage of the total points:
90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D, and below
60% = F.
Homework:
You will have a homework assignment
worth 10% of your final grade. This will be a summary (written in
APA style) of an article selected by the professor.
Research report:
Each student will write an
individual report for the research study we do as a class. The
report is based on group data, but each student will write a
separate report. The reports will be written in APA style. Students
will write the reports in sections before combining the sections
into the final report. The grading will be: Section 1 (introduction
& methods), 10%; Section 2 (results, discussion, & references), 10%;
Final report, 20%.
Tests:
You will have three (3) in-class
tests. They will cover material from the reading and class notes.
The questions will be a combination of multiple choice and short
answer. Each test counts as 10% of your final class grade, so
altogether the tests make up 30% of your final class grade. No
make-up tests will be given. You must attend class on test days to
take the tests.
Final exam:
You will have a cumulative final
exam on Wed. Dec. 16 at 9:00 am. The exam will cover material from
all of the assigned reading and the class notes. The questions will
be a combination of multiple choice and short answer. The final exam
accounts for 20% of your final class grade. The final exam is
required and no make-up exams will be given.
Student success:
Your success in this class depends
on your own behavior. Psychology is a reading-intensive discipline.
This class in particular is time consuming, with reading, collecting
data, and writing reports. You should expect to spend at least 6-9
hours per week outside of class reading, reviewing notes, working on
assignments, studying, etc. It is your responsibility to keep up
with readings, assignments, test dates, etc. The best way to do this
is to attend class.
Academic help:
For free,
personalized, tutoring or writing help, call or go to the Academic
Center for Excellence in room 161 (Bisdorf) 703-845-6363.
Attendance:
You are expected to
attend class and roll will be taken. We will spend class time
preparing our research study and reports. I will assume that you
have read and understood your textbook; I will not spend a lot of
time repeating material from your book. We will discuss material in
class that is not in the text. You will be responsible for class and
text material. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get
the class notes from a classmate.
Students are allowed
two absences. People who miss three or more classes may be withdrawn
from class. There will be an exception for verified emergencies, if
you contact the professor immediately. Class starts promptly on
time.
Withdrawals:
If it is your
intention to withdraw, then you must do that yourself. You have
until Nov. 1 to withdraw yourself. After Nov. 1, students who simply
stop coming to class will receive an F. I can only withdraw a person
after that date with documented extenuating circumstances.
Participation:
I encourage all students to
participate. There will be many opportunities to voice your opinions
and questions. I will often break the class into small groups so
that people have a greater chance to participate. Your participation
will increase the amount of material that you learn and in my
experience, people who participate more tend to do better on tests
and assignments.
Electronic devices:
When you enter our classroom,
please turn off all electronic devices. Students who use their
devices in class (e.g., texting) will have to turn in their device
to me or leave.
Academic dishonesty:
Cheating and plagiarism will not be
tolerated in this class. Cheating includes dishonesty of any kind on
tests, assignments, or research. Plagiarism includes the failure to
give credit to another’s work. Giving and taking unauthorized help
on tests or assignments are both considered cheating. NVCC and I
regard these as serious offenses. The minimum sanction for such
behavior is an F on the assignment; the maximum sanction is
dismissal from college. You may read the full policy on academic
dishonesty in the Student Handbook. As psychologists, it is
crucial for us to be ethical at all times.
Learning environment:
In psychology classes, we discuss
topics that people may be sensitive about. It is important that we
all treat one another with respect. We will refrain from making
negative comments about people or their opinions.
Security and safety:
NVCC has adopted security
procedures that we will go over on the first day of class. In the
event of any alarm or evacuation, you must listen to your
professor’s instructions. Stay together as a class so that your
professor can provide notice of any missing students to officials.
If you have a disability or physical challenge, please notify the
professor so that we can create an evacuation plan.
Special needs and accommodations:
Please address with the professor
any special problems or needs at the beginning of the semester. If
you are seeking accommodations based on a disability, you should
provide a disability data sheet, which can be obtained from the
counselor for special needs (Bisdorf 229, 703-845-6363).
Weather related or other closings:
If classes are cancelled due to
weather or other situations, we will stick with the schedule below.
You will be responsible for reading the material for that day. If we
miss a test or assignment due date, it will be on the next class
meeting instead. If classes start two hours late, then we WILL have
class at 10:00 am.
If the college is
closed for a longer period of time, then we will shift our class to
Blackboard. You must stay in touch with me during such a closure. If
we work together, we will be able to successfully complete the
course, even in the event of a long closure.
Psy 211 Schedule of readings and assignments
This schedule is open to revision. I will
provide a new schedule if this one changes.
