PSYC 306: Research Methods

An undergraduate-level course on the fundamentals of research methods in the social sciences.

Introduction to research methods and statistics used in psychological research, including experimental and non-experimental methodologies.

This course is designed as an introduction to research methods (and to some extent statistics) used in psychological research. While we will spend a lot of time talking about true experiments, we also discuss non-experimental methodologies (including observation, correlational research, surveys, archival research) and quasi-experimental (including person-by-treatment, natural experiments, nature and treatment, and patch-up designs).

Other topics include an introduction to the scientific method, the philosophy of science, measurement and error, descriptive statistics, statistical inference, scientific writing, and ethical considerations in research.