Download Introduction to Psyc350 Lab

Welcome to Psyc 350
Laboratory
The way to start any relationship is with
honesty ! So ...
Why are you taking this course ?
This is multiple choice…. Pick one !
a. I hope to do empirical research daily for the rest of
my life (taking holidays off, of course)
b. My intended career will require me to perform or
apply the results of empirical research
c. I know I’ll have to do research to get the Master’s
and/or Ph.D. I’ll need for my intended career
d. I’ll have a better chance of getting into graduate
school or a job if I’ve done some research
e. I’ll use the stuff I learn in this class to do better in
my other classes
f.
It’s required !!!
So, the obvious question becomes, “Why
is
this course required???”
There are two different approaches to answering this
question -- both are important
• Advances in psychological treatment and
application (in the many areas that apply
psychology) are dependent upon new
psychological knowledge, which comes
from research
• This course is designed to teach you basic
research-related skills you will use
throughout your education and career
The importance of empirical research…
• Every decision and action made by psychological
professionals is dependent upon research -- maybe
their own, probably someone else’s.
•In order to be ethical (also legal and bill-able), each
diagnosis, treatment choice, evaluation and decision
to stop treatment must be defended in terms of
replicated, peer-reviewed, published research.
•Not just clinical/treatment decisions, but those made
within areas of human resources, criminal justice,
business, education, engineering, etc. -- all depend
upon and use knowledge acquired by psychological
researchers
While not everyone needs to be a producer of
empirical research (but see below), every
psychological professional needs to be a
competent consumer of research.
Being a competent consumer of research means
being able to …
• locate research that is relevant to your work
• critique (not memorize - but evaluate) the quality
of the research (theory, methodology & stats)
• integrate the useful information (that passes
your evaluation) from the research into your own
work
Most practitioners (not just those in “academics”) find
that they do need to produce research …
Why? One simple answer -- funding is tight !!
Funding sources (including the city, state, feds,
foundations and private individuals who support
treatment facilities) & clients need evidence that what
you are doing “works” and is “worth the expense”.
It is not enough that you “do it better” than the others.
You need evidence that what you’re doing works, and
that it works better than your competitors.
This evidence comes from research conducted,
analyzed and reported by you using your own
patients/clients.
The point is …
Research is going to be a more important part of
your ongoing professional activities (and your
successes) than you may realize.
Professionals who better understand the research
process and know how to evaluate, integrate and
apply the results from empirical research have
greater employment potential and will better
serve their clients and patients.
Another point …
The psychological professions are competitive !!
For a few of reasons…
• “helping people” is seen by many folks as an
extension of their concerns for individuals and our
society, so these many folks want to become
psychological professionals
• many folks consider the understanding of
individual and group human behavior -“understanding the understanders” -- to be the
ultimate question
• The pay can be pretty good
Most folks find that the career they want will
require education beyond their BA or BS -- either
graduate school, professional school, or on-thejob training.
Positions for all of these are extremely
competitive -- some examples, each year ...
• our graduate Clinical Psychology Program
accepts 10-12 of the 200+ applicants
• our Law-Psychology graduate program accepts
4-5 of 40 applicants
• the Educational Psychology Counseling
program takes 6-8 out of 100+
The intent is not to demoralize you, but rather to motivate you to
pursue those activities during your undergraduate “career” that will
increase your ability to compete for graduate school or a job.
What do schools & employers look for ??
(you guessed it)…
excellent performance in research methods/stats
courses (yes “courses” -- more is better)
• excellent performance in 400-level courses -especially writing and critical thinking skills
(which can be improved using the knowledge and
skills you’ll have an opportunity to learn in here)
• research experience (which will be easier to find
if you do well in here and have the resultant skills)
So, back to the original question -Why is this course required ??
Because research is at the heart of Psychological
practice -- you have to understand psychological
research to understand the application of
psychological principles to whatever career you
choose.
Because the best way to get the education and
training you need for your desired career is to
master the procedures, techniques, skills and
tricks you will learn in this course.
Useful skills you’ll acquire in this course…
We have “immodest” goals for you this semester.
… learn to locate, summarize, critique and
integrate primary research and research reviews
… learn to propose original research hypotheses
based on your consideration of previous research
… learn to plan the procedures and materials for
data collection and analysis relevant to research
hypotheses
… learn to report all of the above using a
standard (i.e., APA) format and style
Important Stuff to Remember:
You need a “C” (not a “C-”) for this course to count
toward the Psychology Major
You must complete all exams and the laboratory final
to receive a passing grade in this course.
You must complete all laboratory assignments to
receive a passing grade in this class.
You must complete the research participation
assignment to receive a passing grade in this class.