Introductory Psychology Research Requirement
The Introductory Psychology course provides information about both the content and methods of psychology. Class sessions and the textbook often emphasize the content -- for example, what is known about the social aspects of behavior. The research requirement is designed to help you understand more about the methods through which we obtain our knowledge about behavior.
There are two ways to fulfill the research requirement: the Experiment Option and the Paper Option. Please read the description of both options provided below and decide which option you would prefer. Once you have made your selection, fill out the Option Form, and give it to your professor. Refer to this document first if you need clarification about the assignment. If you have questions not addressed by this document, please discuss them with your instructor during office hours. If appropriate, your instructor may refer you to the administrator of the HPR web site.
Experiment Option
What: Participate in laboratory experiments in the psychology department during the semester. These experiments are conducted by faculty members or by students under faculty supervision.
Why: To learn how and why experiments with humans are conducted and how the results are used to help understand human behavior. To see the variety of problems that can be studied with experimental methods.
How: 1). Participate in a GROUP TESTING session (these usually last 60-90 minutes) in which you fill out various questionnaires relating to behavior, thoughts, knowledge, and attitudes. The time and place for this session will be announced in class and over e-mail. 2). Participate in 3 ADDITIONAL HOURS of laboratory experiments (they vary from ½ to 2 hrs. of credit for each experiment).
- Look at available experiments and register for specific sessions on our Human Participation in Research (HPR) web site: (http://hpr.msu.edu/kenyon/)
- If you cannot attend the experiment you sign up for, you must unregister using the web site within 24 hours of the scheduled session. Do not email the researcher or the course instructor.
- You will be PENALIZED ½ HOUR of experiment credit for each experiment you miss (by failing to cancel in advance or by arriving 10 or more minutes late).
- You absolutely MUST register for experiments prior to showing up for the session. A report generated by the software is the only acceptable proof of your participation and you will not receive credit unless you register for the experiment PRIOR to participating. Please note that they HPR system is deliberately designed not to allow students to register for experiment sessions after the session's scheduled starting time.
- Experimenters will explain the procedures at the beginning of your session and explain the purpose of the experiment at its conclusion
Paper Option
What: Write a critical review of a published research project in psychology.
Why: To study one project in depth, to learn how and why the research was designed and conducted, and how the results were used to understand human behavior. To see the variety of problems that can be studied with experimental methods.
How: Select one or more journal articles or books which report on a single research project. Describe and evaluate the rationale, methods, results, and interpretations of the study. Before you write the paper, get approval for your chosen study from your instructor. Your paper should be 4-5 pages in length, and should be submitted to your professor by exam week. If the paper is satisfactory to your instructor, the research requirement will be complete.