Introduction to Research Methods In Psychology/Blueprint

= PSYC 2111: Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology =

Scope
This project is different from our usual TRU-OL projects since we will be developing in the open using WikiEducator as our LMS, not Blackboard Learn (TRU-OL will import course into our own LMS for our own use after it's completed). The aim is to share our work and invite feedback from larger OERu community as early as possible. The task is to create an online version of the TRU F2F course with same course description and course name (we will delete for "experimental" psychology from our current course name and make a more general research methods course). Our course will be called PSYC 2111: Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology." We will use as much of the current OL course as is useful and applicable and update it with an open text and OER, new assignments, exam etc.

Note: TRU F2F has a 3rd year research course, PSYC 3190…so we have to make sure our 2nd year course does not overlap with that one e.g. no high level statistics needed in 2nd year:

Note: The course is being developed for delivery both at TRU and through the OERu in the WikiEducator wiki with a Creative Commons CC-BY or CC-BY-SA license, i.e. a free cultural works approved license.

Course Description for this course (from TRU Curricunet)
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.

Prerequisite
For TRU-OL: Successful completion of 6 credits of introductory psychology.

For others: You are encouraged to complete one or more introductory psychology course(s) before taking this course.

Target Audience
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 a Bachelor of General Studies.

Modality
Independent, web-based study, but may be adapted and modified to different modalities.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

L01 Describe the scientific approach to the study of 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.

Topics
Unit 1: Introduction to Research in Psychology (3 weeks) Unit 2: Theories and Measurement (2 weeks) Unit 3: Nonexperimental Research Methods (2 weeks) Unit 4: Experimental Research Methods (2 weeks)
 * An Introduction to Psychological Science
 * Literature Searches
 * Reading Research Reports
 * Variables
 * Sampling and Measurement
 * Statistical Relationships Between Variables
 * Conducting Ethical Research
 * Theories and Hypothesis Testing
 * Conceptual and Operational Definitions of Psychological Constructs
 * Levels of Measurement
 * Reliability
 * Validity
 * Correlational Research
 * Naturalistic Observation
 * Archival Research
 * Case Studies
 * Quasi-Experimental Research
 * Cross Sectional Research
 * Longitudinal Research
 * Survey Research
 * Common Threats to Internal Validity
 * Basics of Experimental Research
 * Internal and External Validity
 * Between-Subjects Experiments


 * Within-Subjects Experiments

Unit 5: Data Analysis & Communication of Results (2 weeks)
 * Practical Considerations
 * Complex Research Designs
 * Single-Subject Research
 * Introduction to American Psychological Association (APA) Style
 * Writing a Research Report in APA Style
 * Describing Single Variables
 * Expressing your Results

Note: 2 weeks during the course will be spent on developing the full research proposal (Week 8) and writing the research report (Week 13).

Note from TRU ID, Gail Morong, and feedback from Wayne Macintosh: If anyone wishes to create three 1-credit chunks (3 mini mOOCs)....a tentative division might look something like this:
 * Micro 1: Introduction to Research Psychology, Theories and Measurement (Units 1 and 2)
 * Micro 2: Non-experimental and Experimental Research Methods (Units 3 and 4)
 * Micro 3: Data analysis & Reporting (Inclusive of research report) (Unit 5)

Resources
Open Text: Research Methods in Psychology: Core Concepts and Skills (1st Cnd ed)

Description: This is a Canadian adaptation of Research Methods in Psychology originally created by Paul C. Price (California State University, Fresno). This Canadian revision was authored by Rajiv Jhangiani (Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC) and includes the addition of a table of contents, changes to Chapter 3 (Research Ethics) to include a contemporary example of an ethical breach and to reflect Canadian ethical guidelines and privacy laws, additional information regarding online data collection in Chapter 9 (Survey Research), corrections of errors in the text and formulae, spelling changes from US to Canadian conventions, the addition of a cover page, and other necessary formatting adjustments. The original book can be found at: http://open.bccampus.ca/find-open-textbooks/?uuid=497a78e4-1384-4334-bcc2-e9040a436322&contributor=&keyword=&subject=Psychology

Author: Paul Price, California State University, Fresno, Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Original source: http://jhangiani.wordpress.com/teaching/open-textbook-for-research-methods-in-psychology/, http://open.bccampus.ca/find-open-textbooks/?uuid=497a78e4-1384-4334-bcc2-e9040a436322&amp;contributor=&amp;keyword=&amp;subject=Psychology

Other resources: Open materials from the NOBA Project and a variety of other online resources including the Social Research Methods Knowledge Base website, TCPS 2 tutorial, Research Randomizer, and the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.

Course Schedule, Learning Activities and Assessments
(Table set at 1000 pix to spread across page)