Psychology 512, Experimental Design Syllabus

Psy 512 Syllabus

Experimental Design Methods

Spring Semester 2001

Korea University

Course Description

This graduate course covers the basic principles of experimental design including hypothesis testing, within and between subjects designs, factorial, and covariance designs.

Texts

Webster, S.K. (2001). Hand in Hand: Research Design and Statistics in Psychology. Open Mind: http://OMPG.com/index.html http://www.opentextproject.org/content/content.cfm?discID=2&courseID=33

Supporting Text: Trochim, W. (1999). The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd Edition. Cornell Custom Publishing, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Optional: There are many SPSS tutorials available in the Korean Language. Students who wish to have a print version of SPSS instruction should select one that fits their goals and level of understanding.

Course Outline (May be revised)

Hypothesis Testing
    Power (Type II error)
    Precision (Type I error)
    Effect Sizes
Threats to Internal Validity of Research Designs
Two-Group Designs
        Within Subjects Design
        Between Subjects Design
            GLM
                Special Case 1: Student's t test
                Special Case 2: Oneway Analysis of Variance
Single Factor Designs beyond two groups
       Multiple Comparisons
        Comparisons to a Control
Multiple Independent Variables
        Two Factor Designs
            Between Subjects
            Within Subjects
            Mixed Design
        Beyond Two Factors
            Heiarchical Designs
            Block Designs
            Latin Square
Analysis of Covariance
Single Group Designs
        Single Subject Designs
        Pretest-Post-test Designs
        Regression Discontinuity

Course Mastery Evaluation

Course mastery will be determined through assessment of course requirements:

Assignments (25%) There will be homework assignments covering each course topic.
Exams (50%) There will be a midterm and a final. The final will be comprehensive in that the second portion of the course depends upon the first section. It will cover the chapters assigned after the midterm.
Term Project (25%) Students will engage in a team term project that will be presented through a formal written paper (APA style). (Students who are already engaged in research projects outside this course may demonstrate their knowledge of the course content through those projects.)

Policies

Class Attendance: All class members are expected to attend class, participate actively in discussion and participate on a team
project.
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is using another person’s words or ideas without giving credit to that person by citing his or her
work. The penalty for plagiarism on written work is an automatic zero grade for the assignment.
Class Courtesy: Please do not disrupt class by receiving telephone calls in class or by leaving class early. If you must be late for class, please enter quietly.
Class Web Site: http://www.psych.westminster.edu/psy512-ws/
The class web site is a resource for information about assignments, class notes and class discussion using an electronic bulletin
board. Students may earn extra credit points on quizzes through participation in the Bulletin Board Discussions.