Honors Research Methods in Psychology

Catalog description

This is an advanced undergraduate-level research methods course for honors students. The course will emphasize the basics of research (generating researchable ideas, hypothesis testing, scientific writing, reliability and validity) and major types of research. It is assumed that students have had an introductory class in statistical methods (or quantitative methods) and introductory psychology courses prior to their participation in this course. The primary goals of this course are for students to (1) learn how to critique and generate research, (2) develop critical thinking and communication skills, and (3) generate and develop independent research projects. Attempts to achieve these goals require knowledge of basic concepts, techniques, language and logic of research methods and data analyses in psychology. This course is structured around the belief that one of the best ways to obtain these objectives is through active participation in the research process. The course is designed incrementally, so that skills learned early in the course are critical for success at subsequent assignments..In the end, a successful student will be (a) able to communicate and think critically about research, (b) have experience designing research and analyzing data, and (c) will have confidence in one's ability to generate interesting and testable research ideas. As a result, the successful student will be well prepared for advanced psychology courses and prepared to complete one's honors thesis.