Describes and evaluates a method for involving large numbers of introductory psychology students as active researchers via an assigned project involving computer analyzed data. Results indicate students valued research more, understood statistical procedures better, and felt less anxious about statistics and computers. Suggests a viable way to…

Provides a classroom demonstration designed to test an astrological hypothesis and help teach introductory psychology students about research design and data interpretation. Illustrates differences between science and nonscience, the role of theory in developing and testing hypotheses, making comparisons among groups, probability and statistical…

We describe a perceptual experiment that we have successfully used in Research Methods classes. Students attempt to identify a series of simple cookie cutter shapes using only the fingers and hands (haptic perception). Students read archival studies that have used this procedure, identify confounds, generate and test alternate hypotheses, and…

Describes a procedure for teaching experimental design to students in the social sciences. Argues that by replicating Solomon Asch's and H. Kelley's classic studies on impression formation, students learn how to conduct experiments, analyze data, and evaluate the significance of research. Provides instructions for implementing the strategy. (DSK)

Describes the use of DATAGEN, a BASIC computer program which generates independent and correlated data samples from population parameters specified by the instructor. Maintains that DATAGEN facilitates the demonstration of some fundamental statistical concepts and encourages students to work independently. (Author/JDH)

Describes a factorial experiment that is used as a laboratory exercise in a research methods course. Uses a Howard-Dolman depth perception apparatus, combining the factors of viewing condition and rod orientation to illustrate the nature of an interaction and the necessity of an additional analysis of simple main effects. (Author/LS)

Understanding the concept of interaction is vital to understanding the relationships of dimensions of phenomena under study. Use of multivariate analysis of variance is described as a useful approach for discovering the extent to which events may be complexly interaffecting. (Author/AV)

Discusses research which explored the hypothesis that students who are fast starters in a personalized system of instruction psychology course would perform better and maintain faster course progress rates than slow starters. Findings indicate that students' starting pace is predictive of course performance and subsequent progress rates.…

Describes the use of computer programs in the teaching of psychology research design and data analysis. Case studies involving large and small computer data generators are presented. (Author/DB)

Presents an interview with Chris Spatz who is a professor of psychology at Hendrix College in Conway (Arkansas). Discusses the null hypothesis statistical texts (NHST) and the arguments for and against the use of NHST, the changes in research articles, textbook changes, and the Internet. (CMK)

Describes an activity in which the students examine gender differences in smiling, using individual yearbook photos as a data set. Explains that the activity provides a means for reviewing null and alternative testing, operational definitions, interpretation of results, and external validity. Addresses the activity evaluation. (CMK)

Described is an in-class demonstration of mass reaction time which measures the speed of nerve impulses and the duration of various cognitive processes. A simpler version of the experiment for at-home use is described. (Author/DB)

We developed a novel variation on classroom data collection by having students conduct a national research project. Students at 20 different colleges and universities measured "school spirit" at their institutions according to several operational criteria (school apparel wearing, car stickers, alumni donation rate, ratings by a major sports…

Describes method of analysis of textbook indexes and bibliographies. Data can be used for studying the discipline, teaching, evaluating textbooks, and making administrative/personnel decisions. (Author/KC)

Examines the presentation of counseling and clinical psychology in introductory psychology textbooks. Finds their representation to be generally consistent with empirical data. Notes the shift in the representation of counseling between the 1970s and the 1980s. States textbooks formerly provided more coverage of clinical psychology than…