Required Texts:

Ray: Methods (6th ed)

Heiman: Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (4th ed)

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed)

You will also need a calculator.

Aims of the Course: The course content extends and elaborates upon material presented in Research Methods and Statistics I. The continued focus will be on the integration of experimental design issues and analytic techniques (statistics). By the end of the course you should possess the requisite skills that will allow you to plan and conduct an original empirical investigation. This entails asking a meaningful question, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting and communicating results.

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory.  Two unexcused absences will be allowed. Final letter grades may be reduced by 1/3 for any additional unexcused absences. Class attendance will be taken promptly at 11:15 am. Failure to be present for roll call will be counted as an absence.

Grades:  Final evaluations will be based upon the following criteria:

  a.  completion of homework assignments

  b.  exam scores

  c.  written lab reports (APA format)

Each assignment, exam, and paper will carry a specified number of points. Final grades will be based upon the total number of points earned throughout the semester.

It is expected that all assignments will be completed and submitted to me on the day that they are due. Assignments are due at 11:15 am. I reserve the right to reject assignments submitted late.

Independent Research Project: Each student is expected to plan and conduct an original empirical investigation. This entails developing a testable research hypothesis, performing a thorough literature review, developing an appropriate design, collecting and analyzing data, and writing up the results of the investigation in a formal report. Students may work collaboratively, in pairs, during the planning and data collection stages, but each member of a research team is to write and submit an independent research report*.  All research topics must be approved by me and a departmental review committee. My approval is contingent upon submission of a thorough literature review regarding the subject matter in question. Students should submit a preliminary proposal (your basic idea) no later than Monday, March 1st and a formal proposal (literature review and design) no later than Monday, March 29th. Please be aware of the fact that this requirement will necessitate a significant commitment of time and energy on your part. Therefore, do not hesitate to start thinking about your project as soon as possible. Failure to complete this assignment will result in an automatic "F" for the course. I will not assign an Incomplete for failing to finish the project on time, unless a compelling reason for doing so exits. The final draft of your research report is due on Monday, May 10th. You will also formally present your results in a departmental poster session, which is typically held on the final Friday of the last week of classes (May 14th). More details on that will be forthcoming.

*I assume that everyone is familiar with what constitutes plagiarism. If you are not, please read the ethics chapter in the methods book and the University policy on Academic Integrity that appears in the PSU catalog. Violations of academic integrity will be pursued through the Panel on Academic Integrity.

                          TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

1. Review from last semester: probability--making decisions about chance events (Heiman, chapter 9)

2. Heiman: Chapter 10, statistical hypothesis testing

EXAM I

3. Heiman: Chapter 11: the t-test for single sample means or a correlation coefficient

EXAM II

4.  Heiman: Chapter 12, hypothesis testing for two-sample means; Ray, chapters 6, 7

EXAM III

5. Heiman: Chapter 13, One-way Analysis of Variance

EXAM IV

6. Heiman: Chapter 14, Ray: Chapter 8, Two-way analysis of variance; Between-subjects designs/Factorial Designs

EXAM V

7. Heiman:  Chapter 15, Chi square

8.  Ray: Chapter 9: Within subjects designs

9. Ray: Chapter 10, The Ecology of the Experiment

EXAM VI

10. Ray: Chapters 11 and 12, Quasi-experiments/single subject designs; Chapter 16, Beyond Method

EXAM VII

Final Poster Presentations: May 14th