OERu/Planning/2015 course development/TRU/IntroResearchMethods/DesignBlueprint

Course Description
Students are introduced to the procedures and designs used in psychological research and the critical evaluation of research. Topics include the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to research, including non-experimental, experimental, and quasi-experimental designs; research ethics; measurement; validity of methods; control of extraneous influences; and the drawing of valid conclusions from empirical evidence. This is a required course for students majoring in psychology.

Intended target audience
Course is based on a 200 level course currently running face to face. However we intend multiple users, including students from all over the world who may take course for credit or for learning/interest only but not credit. Some will be students majoring in psychology, others may be studying another social science. Some may take it en route to completing an OERu or other Bachelor of General Studies.

Design approach
OER wrap-around design: built around open textbook and other OER), using any of TRU OL's PSYC 2111 that might be useful for this revised open course.

Course learning outcomes and assessment
There are 5 assignments and an exam.

L01 Describe the scientific approach to learning about behaviour

L02 Apply the ethical principles that govern research in psychology

L03 Conduct a literature search using peer-reviewed sources

L04 Design a research proposal

L05 Discuss the key concepts in research design including operational definitions, variables, reliability, validity and sampling procedures

L06 Explain the strengths and limitations of research designs used in psychology, including experimental and non-experimental designs

L07 Identify potential flaws in research design

L08 Collect and analyze data based on an instructor-approved research proposal

L09 Construct and analyze graphical representations of data

L10 Describe basic descriptive statistics including measures of central tendency and variability

L11 Explain the purpose and appropriateness of inferential statistics such as t-tests and anova

L12 Draw valid conclusions from empirical evidence with an awareness of the limits of various research methods

Overview of the delivery model
How will the subject be delivered? As a series of micros? As a stand-along semester long online course? In parallel with a local, campus-based cohort? Fully online but with optional local study groups? Block/online project-based work? Workplace integrated? How will the assessments be delivered? What is your approach to validate student identity with regards to participation and assessment?

Summary of the interaction strategies

 * 1) Student-content interactions
 * 2) Student-student interactions
 * 3) Student-support interactions

Online tools that students may need
List these possibilities here.

Credit Procedures
TRU and other OERu institutions will offer an invigilated exam that is different from a practice exam that we put in the open course. TRU will use same Dep't process that TRU-Open Learning currently uses.