Methods in Behavioral Research

An important emphasis in this course is the development of research skills. Research (in any field), never has been, nor ever will be, a realistically solitary pursuit. I do not believe that anyone can truly learn this material passively or by themselves. Therefore, you should know up front that this course is not a "memorization" course. You cannot expect to do well simply by reading the text and keeping a seat warm in class. To firmly ensconce the ideas we will cover into your mindset, you must become actively involved.

Another important component of this course is the development of scientific writing skills. As is true in professional writing of this sort, such writing skills benefit from the critical comments of others. Therefore, you may work together on all written projects (except exams) so long as the work you ultimately turn in is your own. If there are any doubts about appropriate behavior, please consult the Robert Morris University Statement on Academic Integrity, and/or discuss the matter with me either anonymously or in person.

1. You should be able to generate testable hypotheses about any topic. To do this, you must know what dependent and independent variables are and you should know the common pitfalls in conducting research and how to avoid them.
2. You should be able to design and conduct good research (test hypotheses). To this end, you will be expected to propose and design a novel experiment, determine various statistical qualities of that proposal (and others), and present data (graph results).
3. You should be able to interpret results in a theoretically meaningful way. This (and the above) will be demonstrated by writing a complete research proposal in APA style.
4. Finally, as a result of having taken this course, you should be able to think more critically about any research result including the many commercial claims you encounter daily.

1. Accommodation: Students who may be eligible to receive learning support or physical accommodations must contact the Center for Student Success at 412-262-8349 to schedule an appointment with a counselor and to learn more about accommodation procedures. To receive accommodations in this course, arrangements must be made through the Center for Student Success.
2. Academic Integrity: The fundamentals of Academic Integrity are valued within the Robert Morris University community of scholars. All students are expected to understand and adhere to the standards of Academic Integrity as stated in the RMU Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found on the RMU website at www.rmu.edu. Any student who violates the Academic Integrity Policy is subject to possible judicial proceedings which may result in sanctions as outlined in the Policy. Depending upon the severity of the violation, sanctions may range from receiving a zero on an assignment to being dismissed from the university. If you have any questions about the policy, please consult your course instructor.
   • Plagiarism is defined as using someone else's work, ideas, or words without giving the author proper credit or recognition. This can include downloading papers or information from the Internet, using another student's paper or ideas, or inaccurately quoting/paraphrasing ideas or words from a text.
   • In the academic community, people earn their living through the use of their work, ideas, and words. Their reputation is built, in part, by others using their ideas and giving proper credit. As students, you have the responsibility, both legally and ethically, to cite the work of others properly.
   • At the very least, understand that plagiarism is a major offense in the academic community of which you are a part. Students who commit blatant acts of plagiarism will fail the course and may be required to present a defense to university officials to continue their education at Robert Morris University.
3. Grades: The following breakdown will be used to determine final grades: