RESEARCH METHODS AND DESIGN IN PSYCHOLOGY 235.

3 (02)
Winter Term 2015
Instructor:

Karen Lawson

Office:

184 Arts
966-2524
Karen.Lawson@usask.ca

Office Hours: By appointment

Class Meetings: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1:30 pm 2:20 pm, Rm 211 Arts
Tutorial Meetings: Wednesday 2:30 pm 3:20 pm, Rm 211 Arts
Tutorial Instructors & TAs:

Linzi Williamson (Linzi.williamson@gmail.com)

Kirstian Gibson (kig579@mail.usask.ca)

Prerequisites
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have completed the required prerequisites (PSY
233 or Departmental approved equivalent) for this course. Credit for this course will not be
granted without previous completion of the prerequisites or permission of the Department.
Required Textbook
Passer, Michael W. (2013). Research methods: Concepts and connections. New York, NY:
Worth Publishers.
Course Objectives
This course will provide students with an overview of experimental, non-experimental and
qualitative approaches to psychological research. The aim of this course is to prepare students to
be both consumers and producers of research in psychology. Accordingly, as part of the
course objectives we will: (1) examine the links between research questions, theory, designs,
data analysis and conclusions; (2) develop the background necessary for the critical evaluation of
research.
Evaluation
Midterm Exam I
Midterm Exam II
Final exam

20%
30%
50%

Midterm Exams
The midterm exams will contain multiple choice and short answer questions. The
questions will be drawn from the assigned readings, lecture material and tutorial discussions up
to the date of the midterm exam. The dates for the midterm exams are listed on the course
outline.
Final Exam
The final exam will contain multiple choice and short answer questions. The questions
will be drawn from the assigned readings, lecture material and lab discussions. The final exam
will be comprehensive. The date for the final exam will be set by the Registrar.

NOTES:
1. Attendance in class is compulsory.
2. All students should be aware of the regulations regarding plagiarism, cheating and other
forms of academic misconduct as outlined in the U of S policies. Please refer to the
following website of the University Secretary to review the official policy:
http://www.usask.ca/university_secretary/honesty/academic_misconduct.php
3. Copyright: The University of Saskatchewan respects the rights of copyright holders,
their legitimate assertions of their rights and any rules that they articulate for the use of
their material. Faculty and students have the responsibility to respect the rights of
copyright owners, to make themselves aware of federal legislation and to take the steps
necessary to ensure that their use of all copyright materials is compliant. Please,
familiarize yourselves with Copyright Law. You can find relevant information here:
http://www.usask.ca/copyright/

4. The power-point slides accompanying each lecture and lab will be available on PAWS
prior to class. Many students find it helpful to print a hand-out of the slides and bring
them to the class. However, it is important to note that these slides are only an outline of
what will be discussed in the lecture. They should not be relied on as an alternative to
attending the lectures.
5. I ask that you refrain from using technology in the classroom (e.g., cellphones, laptops,
IPads, etc.) for purposes other than those related to class as this tends to detract from full
participation. It also is very distracting to your fellow students and to your instructor.

DATE

TOPIC

CHAPTER/READINGS

Jan 5

Course introduction

Jan 7

Psychology as a Science

Chapter 1

Jan 9, 12

Methods of Science

Chapter 2

Jan 14

Hypothesis Development

Chapter 2

Jan 16, 19

Ethics in Psychological Research

Chapter 3

Jan 21, 23

Measurement Reliability and Validity

Chapter 4

Jan 26, 28

Descriptive Statistics

Stats Modules 1-5

Jan 30, Feb 2

Inferential Statistics & Hypothesis Testing

Stats Modules 6-16

Feb 4, 6, 9

Inferential Statistics & Hypothesis Testing

Stats Modules 6-16

Feb 11

MIDTERM EXAM I

Feb 13

Threats to Validity & Experimental Control

Feb 16 Feb 20

BREAK WEEK No Classes

Feb 23, 25, 27

Threats to Validity & Experimental Control

March 2, 4

Experimental Design Between Subjects/Factorial Chapter 8, 9

March 6, 9, 11

Experimental Design Within Subjects

Chapter 8

March 13, 16

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Chapter 11

March 18

MIDTERM EXAM II

March 20, 23

Correlational Design

Chapter 5

March 25, 27

Survey Research

Chapter 7

March 30, April 1

Qualitative Methods

no assigned reading

April 3

GOOD FRIDAY NO CLASS

April 6, 8

Review

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Lab Schedule
Date

Topic

Jan 14
Jan 21

Tutorial 1: Operationalization Section A attends

Tutorial 1: Operationalization Section B attends

Jan 28
Feb 4

Tutorial 2: Ethics Section A attends

Tutorial 2: Ethics Section B attends

March 11

Tutorial 3: Interactions in Factorial Design both sections attend

March 18
March 25

Tutorial 4: Designing Studies Section A attends

Tutorial 4: Designing Studies Section B attends

Tutorials
The tutorial sessions are an integral part of this course. Their purpose is to provide a format
where you can gain more hands on experience with the concepts that we discuss in class. In order
to achieve smaller tutorial groups, the same tutorials will be offered two weeks in a row, with
half the class assigned to attend the first session of each tutorial, and the other half assigned to
attend the second session of each tutorial. It is important that you attend the tutorial session to
which you are assigned.