WEEK 1
Overview of research process: from an idea, generate a testable hypothesis, conduct the study, analyze the results, and disseminate the findings
The nature of science: replicable, testable, falsifiable, tentative
Descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental strategies of research
WEEK 2
independent and dependent variables, levels, control group
internal and external validity; confound
Components of a research report:
Title
Abstract
Introduction, including the review of the literature and statement of the problem
Method, including the subjects, apparatus, and procedure subsections
Results, including the verbal presentation of the findings, the statistical verification, and the visual presentation
Discussion, including the summary of the results, and the conclusions and implications of the research
References: authors, date, title, journal, volume, pages.
WEEK 3
Between-subjects design, within-subjects design, mixed design
Selection, population, sample, stratified random sample
Random assignment, matching, confounds, counterbalancing, error
WEEK 4
Psychophysical Methods: Method of limits, method of adjustment, method of constant stimuli
Absolute threshold, Difference threshold, Interval of uncertainty, Just-Noticable-Difference
Operational definitions; Validity; Reliability; Accuracy; Precision
Scales of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
WEEK 5:
Gestalt Principles of Organization: similarity, proximity, closure, continuation, figure-ground, good form
Perceptual Constancies: brightness, color, shape, size
Depth perception: monocular and binocular cues
Anatomy of the visual system
Reliability and Validity
WEEK 6:
Descriptive statistics: Measures of central tendency and variability
Theoretical distributions
Variability due to treatment, variability due to subjects, error
Mean differences and variability affect group differences
WEEK 8:
Null hypothesis testing
Type I error, Type II error
p=probability the results occurred by chance
Statistical tests: t-test, One-way ANOVA
WEEK 9:
Measurement of attention and mental processing: reaction time; brain electrical activity (EEG, ERPs)
Declarative memory: semantic vs. episodic; Procedural memory/habits
Memory model: sensory stores, short-term memory, long-term memory, working memory
Terms: decay, rehearsal, chunking, storage, retrieval
Interference: proactive vs. retroactive
Amnesia: anterograde vs. retrograde
Morris Water Maze
WEEK 11:
Classical conditioning: acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, retraining, stimulus generalization
Law of Effect; Trial and Error learning
WEEK 12:
Operant conditioning: reinforcement, punishment
Schedules of reinforcement
Active and passive avoidance
Preparedness; taste aversions and place preferences
Habituation/dishabituation
WEEK 13:
Electrolytic and chemical lesions; ablations
Imaging Technologies: CAT, MRI, PET,fMRI
Measuring brain electrical activity: EEG, Event-related potentials
WEEK 14:
Brain structures:
Hindbrain: Spinal cord, medulla, pons, cerebellum
Midbrain: Superior and inferior colliculus, tegmentum
Forebrain: Thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, cortex
Cortex: hemispheric differences/laterality; major landmarks; functions of the various lobes
WEEK 15:
Social Psychology
Attribution: Fundamental Attribution Error, Self-serving Bias, Just-World Bias
Compliance: Foot-in-the-door; Door-in-the-face
Asch's study of conformity
Milgram's study of obedience
Cognitive Dissonance
WEEK 16:
Social Interactions
Bystander Intervention: diffusion of responsibility
Social loafing