Syllabus

Psych 092- Psychological Research Methods (UC/CSU) - 5 Units East Los Angeles College | Spring 2020 Section: 18648 Meeting: Online

Office Hours: By Appointment. Please feel free to email me or call me to set up a time to facetime, chat or zoom! Instructor: Jose Luna, BA Psych, MSW Email: joeyluna@alumni.usc.edu | lunaj6@elac.edu Website: www.mentalhealthandcollegeapps.com Business Cell Phone: (323) 240-0517

  

*Revised due to transition from face to face to online (canvas) platform. Read carefully- effective Monday March 30th*  

 -Saturday March 14, 2020 

  

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the scientific method as it applies to questions about human behavior, for students who wish to pursue psychological science in greater depth. The course examines experimental and non-experimental research methods, with an emphasis on data collection, statistical analysis, and presentation of research results through APA-style scientific writing and presentation. Topics include critical evaluation of research designs and concepts, theory and hypothesis testing, research ethics, scientific variables, measurement techniques, and critical evaluation and generalization of results, all with a multicultural perspective.

General Education Student Learning Outcome:

● Formulate Hypotheses for an Experiment ● Conduct psychological research and write an empirical APA-style paper

Recommended Text:

White, T.L., & McBurney, D.H. (2013). Research Methods. (9th ed). Mexico:

Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition

Personal Website: Please become familiar with my website- www.mentalhealthandcollegeapps.com. Although all my powerpoints and video lectures will be posted on canvas modules, I will be posting all powerpoint slides for each lecture, the syllabus and other resources for the class and extra credit as well. If you visit my website, click on “Courses Taught”, then on “Psychological Research Methods”, you will find all the documents for this course. Please email me if you have any questions. Course Policies:

1. Participation. It is your responsibility to read through the presentations, engage in discussions and complete all work on time.

2. Make up exams/quizzes. Emergency situations will be handled on a case-by-case

basis. If something is happening, someone is sick, childcare, etc, you have to tell me in advance. I completely understand that life happens and sometimes it is out of our control. However, it is your responsibility to ensure your assignments are turned in on time. This class is very time consuming and will require a lot of my attention, it will be too much for me to have to provide the quiz on another day,

accept late papers and read them and provide you with feedback, etc- you must submit all your work on the due dates- NO EXCEPTIONS!

3. Plagiarism. Plagiarism is stealing someone else's words and using them as your

own. Quoting and paraphrasing needs applicable quotation marks and/or appropriate documentation. We will go more in depth on this during class. It is very easy to plagiarize, if you are not sure, please ask me. There are free websites that will check for plagiarism.

4. Academic Honesty. All students are expected to conduct themselves according to

the highest standards of honesty. Failure to do so is grounds for disciplinary action, and may include expulsion from the class. Any student involved in any type of cheating, including giving others answers, receiving answers from others, or providing or receiving any other type of unfair advantage, or perceived advantage, will receive a 0% , and may be excluded from the class.

5. Respect. Please respect one another; I want to make sure that we provide a safe

space for everyone. Let us respect each other's views and opinions and let’s all engage in discussions. Please ask questions if you have any. Although this is a research methods course, it is still a Psychology course and we will be talking about different topics within Psychology and how they tie to research.

If a student is disruptive (making crude comments, cyberbullying and being disrespectful towards me and their peers, is aggressive, etc), I will provide you a warning by email immediately (first offense). If it continues, (second offense and on)- I will deduct 15 points from your total final grade, per offense and you will not be allowed to do any extra credit nor will I bump your grade at the end of the semester.

   

How can I be successful in this class?  To be successful in this course, you must engage in discussions, complete all work in class and ask questions. This class will be challenging in the sense that you will have to write an actual scientific research paper using the scientific model and statistical data. However, we will all work together step by step. If you are struggling with grasping the material, you need to ask me. The only way you can fail this course is by not participating and not turning in your papers in time . As far as the statistical analysis for this course, we will do that together. We will cover and review basic stats material. If you struggled in stats, do not worry, I am here to help and we will work together. I will review the stats material as though you have never taken a stats course- this is what they do in graduate school :).   Mental Health Counseling:

On my website, www.mentalhealthandcollegeapps.com, click on “Mental Health”, then on “ELAC Resources”, you will find resources for mental health and other resources as well. There are also several off-campus resources that you can turn to for support, 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week:

● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, suicidepreventionlifeline.org

● East Los Angeles Women’s Center for domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault issues: 1-800-585-6231

● Veteran’s Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 ● Informational and Referral Federation Los Angeles County: 211 from any phone

or www.211.org for referrals to a variety of social services Canvas Website:

Type ilearn.laccd.edu into your web browser to visit the class website, which is in the Canvas system. Here, you may check your assignment scores. This website also has more info on Canvas https://www.elac.edu/online/canvaslogin.htm .

▪ Canvas LoginID: Your 9 digit student ID number (example: 881234567) Canvas Password: 8888 + month(MM) + day(DD) you were born. (example: If your birthday is July 2nd, then your Canvas password would be 88880702) If you have changed your SIS PIN, replace your birth month and day with your PIN. (Example: 8888PIN)

*NOTE: Please make sure to check your canvas account. I will be posting all your grades on there. You will also need to submit your research papers on there as well.

Checking Your ELAC Email:

Use your Canvas account username and password as described in the previous section to log in at www.go.elac.edu. Under “Students”, click “email access”. All ELAC students have been assigned an ELAC email. I will send out mass emails to the entire class in the event of an important class announcement. You should get used to checking this email address often as it is how your other professors may be contacting you as well. Special Needs:

If you have special learning needs because of a disability, you may choose to speak with me immediately. You should visit the Disabled Student Program and Services website at http://elac.edu/studentservices/dsps.htm for more information and make an appointment with this office [(323) 265-8787, E1].

Important Dates:

Last day to submit add or audit full term classes:

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Last day to drop without class appearing on transcript:

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Last day to drop classes with a “W”: Sunday, May 10, 2020

 Key Assignments:   Class Research Project: 400 points: Students will conduct and complete a research project on a topic. Each individual student will complete their own APA-style research paper for the same study that we will all be conducting as a whole. Key graded elements of this project include:

A. Research Paper Part 1 B. Research Paper Part 2 C. Final Research Paper

A. Research Paper Part 1 (100 points) This will consist of your general research question, stated hypotheses, introduction and literature review. This is basically your introduction should cite at least 3 to 4 studies (peer review journal articles) relevant to your research. The Introduction should be 2-3 pages of content, and be written in APA format. Don’t forget to include your references.

B. Research Paper Part 2 (100 points): This portion will consist of your Methods & Results section. It should be at least 3-4 pages.

D. Final Research Paper (200 points): Each student will write a 7-9 page, APA-style research paper—discussing and reporting your research. Include: Abstract (should be written last), Introduction/Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References. Your literature review here should cite at least 5 relevant studies, which should be no more than 15 years old.

Peer Reviewed Journal Article Discussions: (20 points) I will be assigning two different peer reviewed journal articles. We will engage in a discussion on canvas (Since we already did one in class, we are only doing 1 more on canvas). Skim through each article.

● Start by reading the introduction, read the discussion and look at the methods and results section. In the discussion, talk about what you thought about the study, what was interesting? Engage in a discussion with your colleagues. What are questions you may ask later on to further this research?

Weekly Discussions: (40 points) I will be posting a series of questions every other week beginning on Monday March 30th through the end of the semester, that will be worth 8 points each. There will be 5 discussions total. They will all be random discussions. Quizzes: (50 Points) There will be a total of 5 small quizzes during this course. The quizzes will be based on the lectures. They will be Multiple Choice and True and False with a total of 10 questions per quiz. Quizzes ARE cumulative in nature—subsequent topics build from previous topics, and similar themes may be tested again. Each quiz is worth 10 points each.   Assignments: (50 Points) There will be a few assignments that will be worth 5-15 points each. These will be assigned randomly. These will be assigned on canvas at random.   Extra Credit Opportunities:  There will be a cumulative final exam that you can take for extra credit. There will be 40 questions. This exam cannot hurt you, is optional and can only help you!  

● If you get 30/40- then you will get 30 extra points added to your final grade! You will have two weeks to take the exam and will have until the last day to take it- Monday June 8th. You must take it in one sitting and will have two hours to take the exam.  

  Grading Criteria:   

Quizzes: 5 @ 10 points each 50 points

Peer Reviewed Journal Article: 2 @ 10 points each 20 points

Research Paper Part 1 100 points

Research Paper Part 2 100 points

Final Research Paper 200 Points

Discussions 40 points

In Class Assignments 50 Points

Total Points Possible* 560 Points

 *NOTE: There may be up to 50 additional points added to the total points possible                               component of this grade summary chart. These points may come from homework                       assignments, special projects, and/or pop quizzes. Additionally, the instructor reserves                   the right to include or not include any extra assignments, pop-quizzes into the final grade                             calculation.     Grading Policy:

A 90-100% *(or higher- with extra credit)

B 80-89.99%

C 70-79.99%

D 60-69.99%

F 59.99% or LESS

I Incomplete. See College Catalogue for details...

A 504 - 560 *(or more- with extra credit)

B 448 - 503

C 392 - 447

D 336 - 391

F 0 - 335

*NOTE: students who are within 0.5% from next grade line will receive consideration to be “bumped up” to the next grade at the discretion of your instructor. This is not automatic. This will be based solely on your instructor’s opinion of your commitment, dedication, and involvement in the class. Students missing more than three classes will not be considered for this opportunity. If you miss a quiz, journal discussion or in class assignment, you will not be considered to be “bumped up”- NO EXCEPTIONS!

Letters of Recommendation: Many of you will be applying to four universities, scholarships and graduate school after you complete your bachelors degree. If you would like me to write you a letter of recommendation, please let me know in advance. I will ask that you will fill out a brag sheet that I have created. On my website- www.mentalhealthandcollegeapps.com, click on “Courses Taught”, then on “Miscellaneous”, you will find the brag sheet. Make sure you submit the brag sheet for college students. I will ask that you let me know one month in advance. Please email me if you have any questions.

Major, Careers, Emphasis, Research in Psychology and Graduate School (Masters, PhD):

If you have any questions on how to do research, what careers are offered with a Bachelors in Psychology or what grad school programs might be a good fit for you, please see me or email me. www.mentalhealthandcollegeapps.com, click on “graduate school (masters/PhD”.

Course Schedule

Date Lecture/Chapter Covered Quiz/Assignment Due

Week 1:

Monday, February 10 Syllabus Class Introduction Basic Research Overview (Part 1).

Wednesday, February 12 Basic Research Overview (Part 2). Group Selections.

Week 2:

Monday February 17 No Class

Wednesday, February 19 Meet at Main Library @7p. Finding Research, Using Database.

Week 3:

Monday, February 24 Ch. 3- Ethics in Research

Wednesday, February 26 Basic Stats Review.

Week 4:

Monday, March 2 Ch. 2- Developing a Research Question

Quiz #1 (Basic Research, Chapter 3 & Basic Stats)

Wednesday, March 4 APA Style Papers. Plagiarism.

Week 5:

Monday, March 9 Ch. 13- Quasi- Experiments. Research topics?

Peer Review Journal Article #1

Wednesday, March 11 Ch. 9- Survey Research

_______________________________________________________________________

  

*Revised due to transition from face to face to online (canvas) platform. Read carefully- effective Monday March 30th*  

 

March 16 - March 29 Spring Break

 

Date Lecture/Chapter Covered

Quiz/Assignment Due

Discussions

 

Week 6:

Monday, March 30- Sunday April 5

Ch. 5- Variables Ch. 10- Single Factor Designs

Annotated Bibliography & Intro Assignment- Due Sunday April 5 @1159p

Discussion #1- Due Sunday April 5 @1159p

Week 7:

Monday April 6- Sunday April 12

Ch. 6- Validity Quiz #2

(Ch. 2, 13 & 9)- Due Sunday April 12th @1159p

Week 8:

Monday April 13 - Sunday April 19

Ch. 4- Writing in Psychology

Discussion #2- Due Sunday April 19 @1159p

Week 9:

Monday April 20 - Sunday April 26

Ch. 8- Non-Experimental Research.

Quiz #3 (Chapter 10, 5 & 6)- Due Sunday April 19th @1159pm

● Surveys should be completed by April 26th!

Week 10:

Monday April 27 - Sunday May 3

Ch. 11- Factorial Designs

Research Paper Part 1- Due Sunday May 3rd @1159p

Discussion #3- Due Sunday May 3 @1159p

Week 11:

Monday May 4 - Sunday May 10

Ch. 7- Control, Statistical Analysis.

Quiz #4 (Chapter 4, 8, & 11)- Due Sunday May 10th @1159pm

Week 12:

Monday May 11 - Sunday May 17

Professor Youtube Video: Clinical Research- Adolescent Depression and Anxiety.

Peer Review Journal Article #2- Due Sunday May 17th

Discussion #4- Due Sunday May 17 @1159p

Week 13:

Monday May 18 - Sunday May 24

Continue working on your paper

Research Paper Part 2- Due Sunday May 24th @1159p

Week 14:

Monday May 25 - Sunday May 31

Continue working on your paper *Optional Extra Credit Final Exam Opens*

Quiz #5 (Chapter 7, Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Video)- Due Sunday May 31st @1159pm

Discussion #5- Due Sunday May 31 @1159p

Week 15:

Monday June 1 - Sunday June 7

Continue working on your final paper

Finals Week

Monday June 8 Final Research Paper & Optional Extra Credit Final Exam Due @1159pm

PLEASE NOTE: This syllabus is subject to modifications.