Experimental Psychology: Human Behavior

W1420 Spring 2014

Instructor Information:
Patricia Lindemann
Office:
358 Schermerhorn
Office hours:
Tues/Thurs 2-3, or by appointment
e-mail:
PGL2@columbia.edu
Lecture:

Mon: 4:10-6:00, 614 Schermerhorn

L ab Information/Teaching Assistants:
Lab Sec 1:
Lab Sec 2:
Lab Sec 3:
Lab Sec 4:
Lab Sec 5:

Mon 6:10-8:00, 200B Sch

Mon 6:10-8:00, 200C Sch
Mon 8:10-10:00, 200B Sch
Wed 6:10-8:00, 200B Sch
Tues 6:10-8:00, 200B Sch

Daniel Barulli
Juliet Davidow
Lisa Zaval
Christine Webb
Daniel Barulli

djb2168@columbia.edu
jyd2104@columbia.edu
lz2261@columbia.edu
cw2472@columbia.edu
djb2168@columbia.edu

See courseworks for Psyc 1420 or your lab section for TA office hours and locations
B rief Course Description
An introduction to research methods employed in the study of human behavior in psychology with a focus
on studies in the areas of cognition and perception. Students gain experience in the design and conduct of
research, including ethical issues, observation and measurement techniques, interpretation of data, and
preparation of written and oral reports.
A previous course in statistics is required. Without some background in statistics, it would be very difficult
to get the most out of this course. The basics of statistical methods necessary to understand the data
analysis will be covered/reviewed in this course.
T he reading list and weekly syllabus (subject to revision)
T extbook:
Bordens, K.S. & Abbott, B.B., (2013). Research Design and Methods A Process Approach (9th ed.).
Boston: McGraw Hill.
Note: The 7th and 8th editions of the text are similar and are acceptable substitutes, however, we will be
using the most recent edition to construct exams and we will not verify that all material is identical in the
previous editions. So the 9th edition is safest, but will likely make little practical difference.
Additional weekly readings will be listed (and posted) on the courseworks class web-site.

Course O utline, Readings, and Assignments

Date

L ecture

L ab

Readings

Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 16 section on

WEEK 1
Jan 27

Scientific Method
Group decision making task
Project 1 Mini-lab
x

Data Collection

WEEK 2
Feb 3

How to Read/Write a Scientific

Project 1 Mini-lab

Paper

Developing hypotheses

Parts and Order of

Lab 1 (Mini-lab) Introduction

The variables in your data

Manuscript Sections

Intro to SPSS

Descriptive statistics

Correlations

Chapter 13 section on
Pearson correlation

Chapter 14 sections on
Basic Concepts, Logic of
Inferential Statistics and
Parametric Statistics up
through (and including) ttest

Additional articles

WEEK 3
Feb 10

Understanding Theories

Project 1 - Mini lab

Chapter 2

Confirmation and

Developing more hypotheses

Chapter 16 complete - see

Disconfirmation

T-tests vs correlations

OWL online for final

How to write up your lab

word on formatting

report

guidelines!!
x

Additional articles

WEEK 4
Feb 17

Validity, Reliability and

*Project 1 - Mini-lab

Chapter 5

Measurement

Additional article(s)

Mini-lab report DUE

Project 2 Full-lab
x

Data Collection

Date

L ecture

L ab

Readings

Basic statistics review

Project 2 Full-lab

Chapter 13 Complete

Analyzing Data from Lab 2

How to analyze the data

Chapter 14 Complete,

Presenting data (tables and

WEEK 5
Feb 24

figures)
x

focus on ANOVA
x

Additional article(s)

Interpreting your data

WEEK 6
Mar 3

Midterm 1

*Project 1 Mini-lab
x

Optional revisions DUE

Project 2 Full-lab
x

Finishing Analysis

Lab write-up due next week

WEEK 7
Mar 10

Developing Research Ideas

*Project 2 Full-lab

Chapter 3

And Considering a Research

Chapter 4

Design

Full lab report DUE

Mini-lab revisions DUE

Choosing a Research Design,

Project 3 Your proposal

Experimental vs. Correlational

What is a research proposal?

Research

Brainstorming

Literature searches (library

tools on-line)

Strategies for a successful

oral presentation
Friday Mar 14 -- Full lab report DUE to your TA via e-mail
WEEK 8

ACADEMIC HOLIDAY

Mar 17
WEEK 9
Mar 24

Research Design:

*Project 3 Your proposal

Chapter 6

Your Participants

Oral Presentations

Chapter 9

Research Design:

*Project 3 Your proposal

Chapter 10

More about Methods

Chapter 11

Your Method
W E E K 11
Mar 31

Written proposal DUE

Introducing MTurk
Project 4 Group Project
x Group formation
x Project development
x Materials development

Date

L ecture

L ab

Readings

Midterm 2

Project 4 Group Project

W E E K 12
April 7

Pilot testing

Peer feedback on materials

W E E K 11
April 14

Ethical Issues

Project 4 Group Project

Chapter 7

Planning Statistical Tests

Finalizing materials

Chapter 13, 14 (Review)

Planning statistical tests

W E E K 12
April 21

Data Collection Day!

Project 4 Group Project

x

Organizing/Entering your
data

W E E K 13
April 28

Other Research Approaches

Project 4 Group Project

Chapter 8

Chapter 12

Data Analysis

W E E K 14
May 5

Group Project Research

4-9pm

Symposium
Student Presentations
(and baked goods)
**Final lab reports DUE**

W E E K 15
Mon, May12

F inal E xam (cumulative)

4:10-7pm

Course Requirements

Each week, students will attend a two hour lecture on Monday afternoon and a two hour Lab section later
in the week. Attendance for Lab sections is mandatory, and discussion/participation during sections is
strongly encouraged and counts towards each student's final grade. In the Lab section students will
complete two prescribed projects DQLQWURGXFWRU\PLQL-ODEDQGDPRUHH[WHQVLYHfull-ODEZKLFKZLOO
introduce them to the logic and design of psychological research, how to approach data analysis and
interpretation, and how to present empirical findings. For the remainder of the course students will be
involved in the development, design, execution, analysis and presentation of unique research studies. Two
midterms will be given as well as a final exam. Exams will emphasize application of knowledge to design
and critique of real and hypothetical experiments.

Grading is allocated as follows:

Exams (45% of final grade)
Midterm 1
Midterm 2
Final (cumulative)

10%
15%
20%

Lab Participation/Attendance

5%

Lab Projects (50% of final grade)

Project 1 - Mini-lab
Project 2 Full-lab
Project 3 Your proposal (oral)
Project 3 Your proposal (written)
Project 4 Group project (oral)
Project 4 Group project (written)

5%
10%
5%
10%
10%
10%

A cademic Integrity
"The intellectual venture in which we are all engaged requires of faculty and students alike the highest level
of personal and academic integrity. As members of an academic community, each one of us bears the
responsibility to participate in scholarly discourse and research in a manner characterized by intellectual
honesty and scholarly integrity. . . . In practical terms, this means that, as students, you must be responsible
IRUWKHIXOOFLWDWLRQVRIRWKHUVLGHDVLQDOORI\RXUUHVHDUFKSDSHUVDQGSURMHFWs; you must be scrupulously
honest when taking your examinations; you must always submit your own work and not that of another
student, scholar, or internet agent."
From the Faculty Statement on Academic Integrity https://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/integrity-statement.
Cheating on assignments or exams and plagiarism are very serious violations within the academic
community. Students are expected to do their own work on all tests and assignments for this class.
Neglecting to cite sources in a paper is considered plagiarism. Copying text from another student is
considered plagiarism. So is writing a paper together, but each of you putting it in your own words. This
can be confusing when it comes to labs you work on with a partner or group projects, so please check with
me or your TA if you have any questions about what is or is not OK. Here are some basics:
OK
x
x
x
x

Discussing ideas with others

Discussing statitical analyses with others
Discussing formatting rules with others
Having a friend proofread

Not OK
x Don't work together as you write your paper. Your arguments may end up so similar that it will
constitute plagiarism.
x Don't copy figures or tables from someone else. Make your own
x For group projects - Don't copy from the slides used for group presentations.
x For group projects - Don't copy text or specific arguments from the project proposal.
You are expected to always act in accordance with the Columbia honor code. Any student found cheating
or plagiarizing in this class will be reported to Columbia's Office of Judicial Affairs and Community
Standards for evaluation and academic discipline. If you have questions about any aspect of academic
integrity at Columbia, please refer to the following link:
https://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/integrity and if you have specific questions about sanctions
or the judicial process: see https://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/disciplinaryprocess

Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities taking this course who may need disability related classroom accommodations are
encouraged to let me know as soon as possible. Also, stop by the Office of Disability Services (ODS) on
the Wien Hall, Suite 108A to register for support services, if you have not done so already. ODS Phone
(212) 854-2284. Students who are eligible for extra exam time should be certain to fill out the appropriate
paperwork at the Office of Disability Services. Once I have received confirmation of your status, I will be
able to make arrangements for additional exam time. Note that ODS often requires 2 weeks to process an
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