PSYCH 4520: Social Psychology Laboratory
This is a fun and challenging upper-level course that will give you experience with real experimental research in social psychology. You will find out how the experiments you read about in textbooks are done – in fact, you’ll do one yourself in a small group! We will focus on combining the knowledge you’ve accumulated throughout your studies at OSU and producing skills that are directly transferable to your future careers and goals.
Regardless of where you want to go after you earn your degree, you will develop and practice skills in this class that will help you achieve your goals. These include: communication, critical thinking and research, collaboration, self-management, professional, technology, and ethical skills. Each assignment will address at least one of these skills. We will begin and end the semester with an informal reflection on the skills you value and will discuss specific ways to leverage your psychology degree in the future. The course format will be a mix of class discussion, demonstrations, group work, group presentations, and very occasional lectures.
Prereq: A grade of C- or above in 2220, 2300, and either 2367.01, 3325, 3325H, or 3375, and enrollment in Psych major. Not open to students with credit for 4510.
Regardless of where you want to go after you earn your degree, you will develop and practice skills in this class that will help you achieve your goals. These include: communication, critical thinking and research, collaboration, self-management, professional, technology, and ethical skills. Each assignment will address at least one of these skills. We will begin and end the semester with an informal reflection on the skills you value and will discuss specific ways to leverage your psychology degree in the future. The course format will be a mix of class discussion, demonstrations, group work, group presentations, and very occasional lectures.
Prereq: A grade of C- or above in 2220, 2300, and either 2367.01, 3325, 3325H, or 3375, and enrollment in Psych major. Not open to students with credit for 4510.
Credit Hours
3
Sample Topics:
- Research Methods: Review
- Article Discussion
- Group Discussions; Exploring Research Articles
- Group Work: Develop Hypothesis & Variables
- Group Work: Study Design; APA Style References
- Group Work: Writing Different Paper Sections: Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion
- Research Proposal Presentations
- Group Work: Qualtrics
- Revise Drafts
- Data Analysis
- Poster Design & Presentation
Meets the following Psychology Major Goals:
Knowledge Base in Psychology
- Describe key concepts, principles, & overarching themes in psychology
- Describe applications of psychology
Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking
- Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena
- Demonstrate psychology information literacy
- Engage in innovative & integrative thinking & problem solving
- Interpret, design, & conduct basic psychological research
- Incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry
Ethical & Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
- Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science & practice
- Adopt values that build community at local, national, & global levels
Communication
- Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes
- Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes
Professional Development
- Apply psychological content & skills to career goals
- Exhibit self-efficacy & self-regulation
- Refine project-management skills
- Enhance teamwork capacity
- Develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation