Course Syllabus

EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

I. Course Description:

The philosophy and methods of science focusing particularly on experimentation in the

investigation of problems and issues in psychology including ethical considerations in the conduct of
experiments in psychology, write research reports, and present and defend the findings of the experiment.
This course introduces the concepts, principles, procedures, and issues of experimentation in studying
human behavior and mental processes. Specifically, this course aims to equip the students with the
knowledge and skills to be able to design and conduct experiments, write scholarly research reports, as well
as critically evaluate existing and future research. It is hoped that the student will develop a more scientific
approach in understanding and addressing human issues and problems.

Meetings : 3 hours per week 18 weeks a semester (or equivalent) for Lecture
6 hours per week 18 weeks a semester (or equivalent) for Laboratory

Credit : 5 units (lecture: 3 units & laboratory: 2 units)

II. Course Objectives: At the end of the course, students are expected to:

o Describe the basic principles of psychological research, particularly experimental

research, clearly and within the context of concrete psychological examples.
o Design and carry out a methodologically sound experiment, analyze and interpret the
results accurately, and write a scholarly research report using the APA format.
o Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the experimental method.
o Behave towards research participants responsibly.
o Appreciate the nature and practice of psychological research and scientific thinking and
apply this in their daily lives.

III. Course Requirements:

1. Regular attendance in class and absences must not exceed 20% of the total number of
class days (Note: separate attendance for lecture & laboratory)
2. 3 Major seat-in examinations.
3. Each student facilitates a discussion on a chosen or assigned topic (from the list of topics
in the course syllabus).
4. Perform and/or participate in laboratory experiments and write laboratory report paper for
each of the experiments completed.
5. Prepare a mature and defensible research proposal in experimental psychology.
6. Conduct and implement the conceptualized experimental research project and orally
defend the results of the research before a panel.

IV. Classroom Activities:

 Lecture-Discussions
 Case-analysis
 Reports
 Proposal formulation
 Implementation of the research proposal and defense of the research results
 Laboratory experiments

V. Grading System: Your final grade will be computed on the basis of the following:

 Lecture (50%)
50% - 3 major examinations
25% - report facilitation
25% - participation, exercises, assignments, quizzes
Total = 100%

 Laboratory (50%)
25% - laboratory exercises
 25% - laboratory report papers
25% - research proposal
25% - final research output
Total = 100%

GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE

I. Basics of Scientific Psychology

A. Historical Sketch of Experimental Psychology

 Origins of Experimental Psychology: Philosophy, Physics, & Physiology
 Early Scientific Psychology: the Five Historic Scientists
 Schools of Psychology
 Modern Trends
B. Goals of Psychological Research
 Conducting sound research
 Critically evaluating research
C. Sources of Psychological Research
 Theories
 Practical Problems
D. Sources of Research Ideas
 Observation
 Experts
 Literature search
E. Explanation in Scientific Psychology
 Sources of Beliefs
 Scientific Procedures
 Scientific Theories
 Scientific Data

II. Ethics in Psychological Research

A. Research with Human Participants

 Informed Consent & Deception
 Freedom to Withdraw
 Protection from Harm & Debriefing
 Removing Harmful Consequences
 Confidentiality
B. Ethics in Research with Animals
 Arguments against research with animals
 Arguments for research with animals
 Guidelines for the use of animals in research
C. Ethics in Drug Research
D. Scientific Fraud
E. Monitoring Ethical Practices

III. Alternatives to Experimentations: A Survey

A. Non-Experimental Designs
 phenomenology
 case studies
 field studies
 archival study
 qualitative research
B. Survey & Interviews
C. Correlational & Quasi-Experimental Designs

IV. Formulating the Hypothesis

A. What is an Experiment?
 B. Advantages of Experimentation
C. The Experimental Method
 The Research Problem
 Experimental Hypothesis
 Variables in Experimentation
 Reliability & Validity

V. The Basics of Experimentation

VI. Research Techniques II: Experimental Designs

A. Between-Subjects Designs
B. Within-Subjects Designs
C. Small-n Designs
D. Factorial Designs
E. Quasi-Experimental Designs

VII. Analysis and Interpretation of Data

A. Choosing statistical techniques: descriptive, correlational, inferential statistics

B. Parametric and nonparametric tests
C. Interpreting research results

VIII. Report Writing and Dissemination of Research Findings

A. The research proposal

B. The research report

IX. Application of Research Concepts and Principles

References:

Ardales, V. B. (2008). Basic concepts and methods in research, 3rd ed. Quezon City: Great Book Trading.

Bieger, G. R. and Gail J. G. (1996). Educational research: A practical approach. New York: Delmar.

David, F. P. (2002). Understanding and doing research: A handbook for beginners. Iloilo City: Panaroma.

Elmes, D. G., Kantowitz, B. H., & Roediger, H. III L. (1999). Research methods in psychology, 6th ed.

California: Brooks/Cole.

Kantowitz, B. H., Roediger, H. III L., & Elmes, D. G. (2009). Experimental psychology, 9th ed.

California: Wadsworth.

McGuigan, F. J. (1983). Experimental psychology: Methods of research. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Myers, A. & Hansen, C. (2006). Experimental psychology, 6th ed. California: Wadsworth.

Schweigert, W. (1998). Research methods in psychology: A handbook. London: Brooks/Cole.

Solo, R. L. (2002). Experimental psychology: A case approach. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Wallen, N. E. and Fraenkel, J. R. (1991). Educational research: A guide to the process. New York:

McGraw-Hill.

Other materials may include research books and other references in psychological research,
educational research, and other fields.