Experimental Social Psychology (Psych 104), Fall, 2002

Pitzer College

The Claremont Colleges

Professor Halford Fairchild 

(Hfairchild@pitzer.edu or HalFairchild@aol.com)

Office Hours:Fairchild – 203 Scott Hall.Tu-Th 10:00 – 11:00 and by appointment. X 7-3056.

Course Web Page:http://bernard.pitzer.edu/~hfairchi/courses/

Synopsis and Objectives:    This lab course focuses on developing skills in designing and conducting research in social psychology.We:(1) select a research topic, (2) conduct the review of literature, (3) design the study, (4) collect the data, (5) analyze the data, and (6) writing the report.

Course Meeting Times and Places:    The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00 – 1:10 P.M., and Thursdays 1:15 - 2:30 (lab)

Required Texts:Writing Papers in Psychology by Ralph L. Rosnow & Mimi Rosnow, Pacific Grove, CA:Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

Psychological Research:The Ideas Behind the Methods by Douglas G. Mook, NY:WW Norton & Company.

Recommended Text:Publication Manual of The American Psychological Association (4th Edition).Washington, DC:The American Psychological Association.

Requirements

This course requires the completion of an original study in social psychology.The final paper should be potentially publishable and adhere strictly to the publication guidelines of The APA.The class celebrates its accomplishments at the end of the semester in a poster session to which the students, faculty and staff of The Claremont College are invited.

9/3/02    Introductions and Course Overview

9/5/02    An Overview of the Research Process

           Readings:Segal & Fairchild (1996):Polysubstance abuse:A case study.

            Fairchild, et al.(2001).Studying the aftermath of terrorism.


 

9/10/02    Studying social events

                Readings:Mook, Chapters 1, 2 and 3

9/12/02    Collecting Data

                Readings:Fairchild, Statistics


 

9/17/02    Observation and Description

                Readings:    Mook, Chapters 4 and 5; Fairchild, Creating, Producing and Evaluating Prosocial Television; Rosnow & Rosnow, Chapters 1 and 2

9/19/02    Data Processing


 

9/24/02    Experimentation

                Readings:Mook, Chapters 5, 6 and 7; Fairchild:Chicano, Hispanic or Mexican American:What’s in a name?

9/26/02    Statistical Applications.Readings:Rosnow & Rosnow, Chapters 3 and 4


 

10/1/02    Experimentation

                    Readings:Mook, Chapters 8, 9 and 10; Fairchild:Chicano, Hispanic or Mexican American:What’s in a name?

10/3/02    Advanced Statistical Applications

            Reading:Fairchild, School Size, Per-Pupil Expenditures and School Achievement

                        Readings:Rosnow & Rosnow, Chapters 5 and 6


 

10/8/02    Quasi-Experiments, Reliability & Generalizability & Ethics

                Readings:Mook, Chapters 11, 12 and 13

10/10/02    Displaying Data, Writing Results


 

10/15/02    Planning Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

                Readings:Mook, Chapter 14

10/17/02    Writing the Research Proposal


 

10/22/02    FALL BREAK
 

10/24/02    Research Design


 

10/29/02    Conducting Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

10/31/02    Conducting Contemporary Research in Social Psychology


 

11/5/02     Conducting Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

11/7/02     Conducting and Analyzing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology


 

11/12/02     Conducting and Analyzing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

11/14/02     Conducting and Analyzing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology


 

11/19/02     Writing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

11/21/02     Writing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology


 

11/26/02     Publishing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

11/28/02    THANKSGIVING BREAK


 

12/3/02     Publishing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

12/5/02     Publishing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology


 

12/10/02     Performing Contemporary Research in Social Psychology

12/12/02    POSTER SESSION


 

Grading:    Grading will be done on a subjective basis by the instructor.Grades are determined by student’s completion of assignments, pursuit of new ideas, team work, and general enthusiasm for the course material.Attendance is very important.