Unit Outline - Research Methods, Approaches, History, and Statistics

2008-2009

Date

Classwork

Homework

Mon Sept 1

Labor Day – No School

Tues Sept 2

§         Class expectations & syllabus

§         Distribute books

§         Read pages 1-18

Wed Sept 3

§         Discuss notes on experimental method/research terms (scientific method, gathering data, variables)

Thurs Sept 4

§         Discuss notes on experimental method/research terms (cont.)

§         Discuss correlation, experimental pitfalls/avoiding bias

§         Read, “Pondering the Placebo Effect” and “Prozac vs. Placebos.”

Critique:

1.       summary of 3-5 main points of article including any results and/or new information presented

2.       analysis of the science behind the article including methodology (if the methodology is poor, discuss how to make it better)

3.       discuss your personal response or two new things you learned or think are most interesting

4.       what is the importance or application of this article to the field of psychology (make conceptual ties to previous learning or the current chapter)

Fri Sept 5

§         Discuss correlation, experimental pitfalls/avoiding bias (cont.)

§         Handouts: Experiments

§         Read pages 18-33

Mon Sept 8

§         How to write an FRQ

§         Groups: write your first FRQ [Ashe Abstract]

§         Finish writing your FRQ

Tues Sept 9

§         Scoring the FRQ & Peer Review

§         Correlation Quiz

Wed Sept 10

§         Discuss correlation quiz

§         Discuss notes on ethics in research with APA standards

§         Discuss situations

§         Study for quiz on research methods

Thurs Sept 11

§         Quiz

§         Review writing FRQs

§         FRQ Practice

Design an experiment for investigating the hypothesis: “frustration leads to aggressive behavior.”  Be sure to define each term and discuss each in terms of the experimental design.

·      Operational definition of variables

·      Independent and dependent variable

·      Control group

·      2 Confounding variables

·      Experimenter and response bias

·      An ethical issue

Fri Sept 12

§         Discuss FRQ writing with rubric (grade FRQ) and peer edit (fix any incorrect answers)

Mon Sept 15

§         Discuss/brainstorm critiquing studies

§         Questioning research studies - in class (situations)

§         Confounding Variables Examples

Tues Sept 16

§         Discuss confounding variables

§         History and approaches to psychology

§         Approaches to psychology chart

§         Finish chart

Wed Sept 17

§         Discuss answers to chart

§         Study for quiz on approaches of psychology

Thurs Sept 18

§         Quiz: Approaches of psychology

§         Evolutionary psychology activity

§         Read pages 638-651 (appendix)

Fri Sept 19

§         Discuss notes on statistics

§         Stat problems

Mon Sept 22

§         Finish discussing notes on statistics

§         Discuss stat problems

§         Critical Thinking Activity [due 9/27]

Tues Sept 23

§         In-Class stat experiment

§         Write up of stat experiment

§         Review Sheet (due 9/28)

§         Study Guide

Wed Sept 24

§         Discuss results

§         Discuss critical thinking activity

Thurs Sept 25

§         Review for test

§         Study for Test

Fri Sept 26

§         Objective Test on Chapter 1 and Appendix – Methodology and Statistics

§         Read pages 36-47 [due 10/1]

Mon Sept 29

§         FRQs on Chapter 1 and Appendix – Methodology and Statistics

Tues Sept 30

No School - Rosh Hashanah