Academic Catalogs

PSYC G280: Research Methods in Psychology

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 11/19/2024
Top Code 200100 - Psychology, General
Units 4 Total Units 
Hours 108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54; Lab Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Open Entry/Open Exit No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 4 Social & Behavioral Sciences (4)
  • Cal-GETC 4I Psychology (4I)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 4 Social&Behavioral Sci (4)
  • IGETC 4I Psychology (4I)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU D7 Interdisciplinary Study (D7)
  • CSU D9 Psychology (D9)

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the basic research methods used in social sciences including such topics as research design, experimental procedures, descriptive methods, instrumentation, and the collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of research data. Students will design an experiment as well as collect, analyze, interpret, and report their own data. PREREQUISITE: PSYC C1000, and STAT C1000 or PSYC G140. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: PSY 200; 205B. C-ID: PSY 200; 205B.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Course Outcomes
  2. Apply research topics such as the scientific method, research designs, measurement, data collection techniques, sampling, hypothesis testing, experimental and non-experimental methods, and ethical issues in research.
  3. Evaluate relevant research topics from published empirical studies.
  4. Conduct an original research study, including quantitative data analysis, and presenting the results in an APA style presentation and paper

Course Objectives

  • 1. Explain the basic principles of the scientific method.
  • 2. Evaluate research reports.
  • 3. Synthesize a body of research findings.
  • 4. Develop and test hypotheses.
  • 5. Evaluate general research designs, experimental and non-experimental methods, and standard research practices.
  • 6. Select research designs to test hypotheses.
  • 7. Explain the ethical treatment of human and animal participants in research and the institutional requirements for conducting research.
  • 8. Assess the validity, reliability, and generalizability of study results.
  • 9. Use most current APA style in manuscript writing.
  • 10. Conduct scientific research in psychology.
  • 11. Design and develop psychological measures.
  • 12. Select, apply, and interpret statistical tests.
  • 13. Analyze and interpret data from research studies.

Lecture Content

The Scientific Method Assumptions and goals Other ways of gaining knowledge Measuring Behavior Scales Instrumentation Measures of central tendency and variation Correlation Studies Purpose and limitations Gathering data Statistical analyses Experimental Studies Purpose, limitations, and pitfalls Choosing and assigning subjects Conducting experiments Complex designs Quasi-experimental designs Interpreting Results Generalizing Statistical tests of significance Replications Ethical concerns related to research in psychology APA Ethical Standards Use of deception in research Human and animal subject use Writing research papers

Lab Content

Instrument Design and Item Scaling Levels of measurement Response sets and styles Experimental Design Design identification exercises Design critiques Experiments and Studies Group projects: Observational study Preparation of research proposal Student designed experiment Data Analysis Descriptive statistics Evaluation Interpretation Inferential statistics Evaluation Interpretation Correlation and regression analyses Effect size measures Reading and Writing Research Reports Structure of a research report APA style (latest edition)

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)
  • Lab (04)
  • DE Live Online Lab (04S)
  • DE Online Lab (04X)

Reading Assignments

Textbook assignments. Published research articles in a variety of Psychology subdisciplines. Websites. Instructor Handouts.

Writing Assignments

An APA style research report from the student's own research project.

Out-of-class Assignments

Varied assignments given by instructor to solidify application and understanding of required concepts.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Through critical analyses of published research studies, students will examine experimental design, ethical issues, and the interpretion and reporting of data. When conducting their own research studies, students will design and formulate their own research designs, collect their own data and interpret the results of the data analyses.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

An APA style research report that communicates the findings of their own study. Analyzing research problems and offering appropriate solutions. Critiquing the research designs and results of published research as well as popular sources of articles that only appear scientific.

Eligible Disciplines

Psychology: Master's degree in psychology OR bachelor's degree in psychology AND master's degree in counseling, sociology, statistics, neuroscience, or social work OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Cozby, P., Bates, S. Methods in Behavioral Research, 15th ed. McGraw Hill, 2024 2. Optional Stanovich, K. How To Think Straight About Psychology (classic), 11th ed. Allyn Bacon, 2019 Rationale: This text approaches the content in a more practical way than traditional texts by exploring research methods topics as illustrated through real life research scenarios and projects. 3. Required Jhangiani, R., Chiang, I-C., Cuttler, C. Leighton, D. Research Methods in Psychology (classic), 4th ed. Creative Commons: Kwantlen Polytechnic University(OER), 2019 Rationale: This is a quality OER for this course.

Manuals Resources

1. APA. APA Publication Manual, American Psychological Association , 06-15-2020