PSYCHOLOGY 321
EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
FALL, 2008
DR. JERRY I. SHAW


Office Hours: TTH 2:00-2:50 pm, or by appointment in ST 322


Dr. Shaw's Web Page:

http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00f

Required Texts:

Ray, W.J. (2009). Methods: Toward a Science of Behavior and Experience. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.(R)

APA. (2005). Concise Rules of the APA Style. APA. (A)

Shaw, J.I. (2008) Manual of Experimental Psychology. Northridge, CA: Quick Copies. (S)

Examinations:

There will be two midterm exams, each of which will cover a specified unit of material including all relevant lectures and assigned readings in the text. There will also be a final exam that will be partly comprehensive covering both new material as well as material throughout the course. All tests will be in a multiple-choice format to be answered on # 882 scantron forms.

Laboratory:

Activities in the laboratory will be varied including lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and research. A term project is required of all students in which, as part of a research team, you will plan, conduct and write up the results of a psychology experiment. Your team will make an Oral Research Proposal (ORP) and an Oral Poster Presentation (OPP) on your research to the other laboratory members. Your team will also turn in a Final Research Paper (FRP) prepared according to the APA publication manual style requirements. Details regarding these assignments will be discussed during the laboratory.

Grades:

Grades will be determined on the basis of each student's cumulative point total on EXAM I (50 points), EXAM II (50 points), the FINAL EXAM (70 points), the ORP (5 points), the OPP (25 points) and the FRP (50 points). Total possible points = 250. Each student will receive the same grade for the lecture and laboratory portions of the course based on his/her standing on the final distribution of 250 total points. Grades will not be computed separately for the lecture and laboratory except in those instances in which a student's cumulative point total is within 1 point of a grade cutoff. In such cases, if a student's performance in either the lecture or laboratory considered separately merits the higher grade, the student will receive the higher grade in that portion of the course only. All grades will be recorded and scored by computer. The plus-minus grading system will be used with course grades determined by the following scale:

Percent Range              Point Total Range           Letter Grade




90%-100%	            225-250			A
88%- 89%	            220-224			A-
84%- 87%	            210-219			B+
80%- 83%	            200-209			B
76%- 79%	            190-199			B-
72%- 75%	            180-189			C+
68%- 71%	            170-179			C
64%- 67%	            160-169			C-
60%- 63%	            150-159			D+
56%- 59%	            140-149			D
52%- 55%	            130-139			D-
0%-  51%	             0-129 	                F
Attendance:

Regular and on-time attendance is expected at both lectures and laboratories. Students who miss classes typically do not do well on examinations and tardy students disrupt the class. Leaving and returning during class is also disruptive and must be kept to a minimum. Accordingly, I will take attendance at times I believe it is warranted and any student not present at the time attendance is taken will have one point deducted from his or her total point score. Students who have made prior arrangements with me to be absent will not be penalized, unless this privilege is abused. Exceptions to this policy may be made in unusual circumstances at my sole discretion. In no circumstances should a student schedule work, other classes, or other obligations that conflict with the scheduled time for this class.

Course Topics and Readings:

The following schedule is suggested. Any modifications or changes will be announced in class. 
Topic					                            Readings



The Scientific Enterprise						R   Chs. 1, 2, 3

    Scientific philosophies
    Scientific methods    
    Scientific practices

Basic Concepts and Terminology					        R   Chs.  5, 6, 7(161-172)

    Variables
    Variance
    Hypothesis-testing

*****EXAMINATION I*****

Experimental Design I							R   Chs.  7(172-180), 8, 9 (199-206), 10
						                               
    Internal validity
    Random assignment
    Control
    Independent groups designs
    Related groups designs
    Planned and unplanned comparisons

 Experimental Design II						         R   Ch. 9(206-227)

    Factorial designs
    Main effects and interactions
    Between subjects and within subjects designs

Experimental Design III						         No readings

    External validity
    Ecological validity
    Meta-analysis

*****EXAMINATION II*****

Nonexperimental Design I:						R   Chs. 12, 13      

    Observational Designs
    Naturalistic and participant observation
    Case study
    Archival research
    Content analysis

Nonexperimental Design II:					        R   Chs. 12, 13

    Quasi-experimental and Developmental Designs
    Time series designs
    Small n designs
    Cross-sectional and longitudinal designs

Nonexperimental Design III:					        R   Chs. 12, 13      

    Correlational Designs
    Association
    Prediction
    Causality
    Multivariate designs

Nonexperimental Design IV:					        R   Ch.  14

    Survey Designs
    Sampling
    Survey construction

Social Psychology of the						  R   Ch.  11 
   Psychological Experiment


    Reactivity
    Demand characteristics
    Experimenter effects

Wrapping Up							           R   Chs.  4, 15, 16

    Ethics     
    Scientific communication
    The scientific enterprise

***** FINAL EXAM *****

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