PSY
401: ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN CHRONO-PSYCHOLOGY
A. THE COURSE
1.
Prerequisite: PSY201.
2. Description:
"Advanced methodology focusing on the logic and practice of research in a
selected content area of psychology." This course will focus on the
environmental and genetically determined time dimensions (chrono = time) that
underlie all behaviors that contribute to error variance in research when time
is not accounted for in experimental methodologies.
3. Course Objectives: This is a
three-credit psychology course designed mainly for students interested in
graduate study in psychology, as well as to fulfill the undergraduate General
Studies depth requirement in the area of the social and behavioral sciences.
Learning is one of the historically traditional and basic areas of psychology.
It is something that all animals with a brain can do; plants can't! It allows us to modify our behavior and
adapt to survive under changing conditions. Given the increased emphasis these
days on the neuroscience basis of behavior, this course will emphasis the
psychobiological aspects that build on the genetically determined
neurobiology. Much of the research
discussed will be from the classical and fascinating animal studies that span
the history of psychology. Examples will come from animal ethology and human
development and social-cognition. Included will be applications for teaching
and learning, child raising, and behavior therapy.
B. REQUIREMENTS
1. Textbook.
Domjan,
M. (1998) The principles of learning and behavior (4th ed.).
Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
2. Basic Review Quiz.
This is very
important: Because Psy 002 (or its equivalent) is the prerequisite for this
course, a basic concepts review quiz will be given at the beginning of the
third class. Questions will be about the terms on an attached list. Although
all terms are found in introductory textbooks, most of the terms can be found
in this course’s textbook. You may
need to review introductory psychology learning and conditioning terms and
concepts to refresh your memory so that you can do well on the quiz. So if you
do not have an introductory psychology textbook, you need to borrow one right
away! Obtaining 20 correct answers will count 25 points toward your final
grade, between 15 and 19 correct gets you 20 points; anything less than 15
correct gets you that number of points up to 14. Any score less than 15 usually
indicates that you will have major difficulties with this course and probably
need more preparation before taking it.
3. Reading Assignments.
The assigned
chapter topic, along with the focus questions that will be given to you, will
form the basis for the day's discussions and lectures. The book is the main
source of information, so formal lecturing is unnecessary. You will be given
every opportunity to ask questions about the assigned readings at the beginning
of each class period. Since all of the basic information is contained in the
chapters, class format will be lecture/discussion to elaborate the main points
of the assignment. Active student participation is required. So expect to be
called on to provide information about the topic under discussion.
4. Term Paper or a
Research Proposal (100 pts.)
Either
can be done by undergraduates, but the research proposal is required for
graduate students. There will be three deadlines for submitting:
a. An abstract of
the proposed topic,
b. The detailed outline
of the paper (in a form similar to this syllabus outline - use this as your
example outline)
c. The final paper.
This will be due Tuesday of the last week of classes. At least one source must
be as recent as within one year, and at least two others must be as recent as the last five
years. A minimum of five sources is required for your paper. For each journal
article (either hard-bound or on-line) or book material that you use, a single
front-page copy of it must be attached as an appendix to your paper when you
turn in your paper outline. Your term-paper/research proposal grade will be
cumulative of the quality and timeliness at each stage. A minimally acceptable
term paper will be worth 70 points. You will be given explicit guidelines for
the paper, which will be written in APA publication format only.
5. Honors Credit
It
can be given for this course. Please see me for the type of supplemental
experience that you propose.
C. COURSE EVALUATION
1. Points
Total
possible basic points for this course is 425 distributed as follows: The three
exam grades and term paper count equally up to 100 points each for a possible
400 points. The initial quiz is worth up to an additional 25 points. Bonus
credit is available. Final Grade Scores out of a maximum of 425 points
are:
A 404, A- 382, B+ 374, B 357, B- 340, C+ 319, C 298, D 255, F> 255.
2.
Exams (300 points)
There
will be three exams, including a final.
Each exam will consist of a mixed form of short-answer, identification, and
integrative essay questions. If you need help in writing essay exams, please
see counselors in the Student Services of the Boucke Building before the
first test. In keeping with the general University grading system, each
exam's minimum grades are follows:
3.
Basic Review Quiz (up to 25 points
- Please see B.2. above)
4. Bonus Credit (up to 50 points)
These
will be added to the exams-score total at the end of the semester.
a. Attendance (25 points).
Although attendance is not required, for two or less absences (excluding major
illness, family emergencies, or official University business) you will be
rewarded by having 25 bonus points added to your total basic exam scores. In
all fairness to those who show up on time and stay, people who are regularly
late or leave before class is over will not be given bonus attendance points.
Each person is responsible to the class TA
for their attendance record. Because interruptions are disruptive,
please “take care of business” before coming into class so that you don’t have
to leave and come back, except of course for emergencies. If you know you must
be late for class or must leave early for a good reason, please think ahead and
notify your TA so that your attendance is not in question. And please, no
cell-phone calls during class -- totally tacky, or what!
b. Participation (25
points). Since this class is designed to be interactive rather than just
lecture, you can earn another 25 points by various types of class
participation:
1) “One-minute papers”
- these will be written extemporaneously on the topic under discussion at the
end of class or from the assigned reading, at the beginning of class. On some
occasions a paper may be just your opinion,
rather than graded right or wrong. As a University student, you will be
expected to write complete sentences with correct spelling and grammar. It is
also good practice for your exams in this course.
2) Answering questions
in class - this is a way of consolidating information. Even if you don’t
quite know the answer, it’s okay to be
wrong, for that is learning as well.
3) Home-work
assignments - turning in
assignments on time will be counted as active participation. If you miss class,
up to two absences, you can still turn the assignment in the next class period. But, this
means that if you miss, it is your responsibility to check and see if any
assignments were given. Turning any assignment in after that will not
count.
D. EXAMINATION POLICY
1. Scheduled exams
They
will be given on the dates listed.
Any change in date will be announced by me at least one class period in
advance. With a class this size and essay exams, a week will be considered minimum
for grading time. We will announce exam results just as soon as they are ready.
Any questions about exam scores or grade adjustments need to be completed
within one week of the return of the examination. Please meet with your course
T.A. who will have all the exams. For any other course-related questions or
problems please see me.
2. Re-scheduled exams
Except
for some official reason for missing an exam, there will be no re-scheduled or
make-up tests. You may ask to
reschedule an exam only for the three following reasons:
a. Official University
reason - for this an official
University letter is written to professors.
b. Serious illness
- requiring physician's care at
the time of your exam (this does not mean being at the Health Center for an
exam or for making appointments for
physical, dental, or other such examinations during exam time), and
c. Serious personal or
family problem - if you need to be off-campus either you or a friend must notify
the Student Life Office in the Boucke Building, who will then notify me and the
rest of your instructors.
E. PERSONAL CONTACT
1. Office Hours.
a. In the Office.
Both your class TA, Deanna Kwan, and I will be available to you during our
posted off ice hours on a walk-in basis for course-related issues, or by
telephone at that time for your calls; if we are in conversation with a
walk-in student please leave a message on the answering machine and you will be
called back as soon as possible. During Office Hours we will also answer
earlier recorded phone and email messages from you that are left for us. Please
state your name clearly, your telephone number s-l-o-w-l-y and which class you
are in (I have nearly 200 students in 3 classes this semester).
b.
Outside office hours.
Due to the large numbers of students that we deal with, we cannot possible
answer your phone calls and emails immediately on a 24-hour basis. Consequently,
for very important and emergency calls, use the phone, not email, if you can’t
be in class or must miss a class deadline! If you cannot reach either of us
by phone, please contact my Staff Assistant, Helen Gardner at 865-7546 between
8 and 4:30 Monday through Friday who will relay your message to us. There is no
reason that either Deanna or I cannot be reached quickly.
2. Graduate Teaching
Assistant.
As
my Graduate TA in Psy 404, Deanna Kwan, who is a doctoral student, is to assistant me in the course and to
help you understand the course material. With questions about any material, you
can ask either of us. If there are complex problems in understanding the
material, then please come see me. My TA will also inform me if I’m clueless
about what I m not clearly explaining to you. Also, your TA will have your
exams scores, will give any make-up exams, and should be able to answer most of
the routine and bookkeeping type questions relating to this course.
F. ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY
POLICIES
1. Students with Certified
Disabilities.
Penn State
encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs
and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation in this
course or have questions about physical access, please tell me as soon as
possible. Students who have a disability will be permitted to tape record
the class, with permission by the instructor.
2. Policy on Plagiarism.
This
section is required by University policy. Cheating of any kind is not
acceptable by the University and is considered a serious offense that is
immediately punishable. This includes signing someone else’s attendance
record; turning in someone else’s homework as your own; receiving and giving
information by any means whatsoever during a test, as well as just
"looking around" at another's test. All examinations will be proctored
by observers to maintain fairness in testing. The consequences of any cheating for all involved can range from no bonus
credit, an F exam grade, failing the course, or being expelled from the
University. To protect the exam standards and promote grade fairness in this
large class for all of you, this policy must be enforced. I hope that you
agree.