Description:

Experimental psychology is the study of the research methods used by psychologists to describe, predict, and understand human behavior. This course may be viewed as an advanced version of PSY 418. We will begin by reviewing the statistical techniques that behavioral scientists have found helpful for describing and analyzing data. We will then read and discuss a number of classic studies from diverse areas of psychology. This discussion will focus on issues that arise in research such as the design of studies and the rationale for the way a study is designed, the nature and purpose of control or comparison groups, issues of internal and external validity, the appropriate analysis of research data, and ethical issues in the conduct of research.

Texts:

Aron, A. and Aron, E.: Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences: A Brief Course. Hock, Roger R.: Forty Studies that Changed Psychology.

Grading and Requirements:

Exams: There will be two hour exams, each contributing about 20% of the course grade around. One will be after the statistics segment; the other after a review of the classic studies.

Homework assignments: There will be weekly homework assignments. Most will be statistical exercises. Some will require data collection, data analysis, and a report of a segment of a research study. These, collectively, will contribute about 40% of the course grade.

Research report: Students, in groups, will design a study that is based on one of the classic studies and collect data from research participants. Students, individually, will write a research report of that study. This report will be due at the end of the semester and contribute approximately 40% of the course grade.

Prerequisites:

Psychology 301 with a grade of C or better, Psychology 418 or an equivalent statistics course with a grade of C or better, upper division standing, a GPA of 3.0 in Psychology courses taken at the University, and a major in psychology.

Updated 16 June 1998
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
University of Texas at Austin

Some graphics courtesy of Ann Pommerehn