ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

LOYOLA SCHOOLS
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NUMBER:

PSY 105.1 & PSY 105.2

TITLE:

EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
(LECTURE & LABORATORY)

DEPARTMENT:

Psychology

SCHOOL:

Social Sciences

SEMESTER & SCHOOL YEAR:

Second semester SY 2016-2017

NUMBER OF UNITS:

FACULTY:

Rica Cruz

SCHEDULE & VENUE:

TTh, 3:30pm - 5:00pm, SS 284 (Lec)

Th, 11:00am - 1:00pm, SS Exp Lab (Lab)

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces the concepts, principles, procedures, and issue of the
experimental method of studying human behavior and mental processes.
Specifically, the course aims to equip the student with the knowledge and skills to
be able to design and conduct experiments, write a scholarly research report, as
well as critically evaluate existing and future research. It is hoped that the student
will develop a more scientific approach in understanding and addressing human
problems.
This course is also designed to develop and evaluate the following competencies
in the students: knowledge and skills in psychology, critical thinking, excellence
in research in psychology, and ethical behavior. In addition, the students are
expected to practice the following competencies: independent and continuous
learning, sensitivity to human diversity, interpersonal and collaboration skills,
leadership and innovation, being professional for others and personal mastery.
B. LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
1. describe accurately the principles and procedures of experimental research, vis--vis
non-experimental research, and in the context of concrete psychological examples;

2. evaluate and identify the strengths and weaknesses of experimental research

in general, as well as specific experimental designs, procedures, and reports;

3. design and carry out a methodologically sound experiment, analyze and

interpret the results accurately, and write a scholarly research report using
APA format;
4. behave towards research participants ethically;
5. appreciate the nature and practice of psychological research and scientific
thinking, and apply this in their daily life.
C. COURSE OUTLINE
LECTURE
Chapter

Topic
Introduction and Orientation

Date
Jan 19

Chapter 1

Experimental Psychology & the Scientific Method

Chapter 2

Research Ethics

Chapter 6

Formulating the Hypothesis

Feb 02-07

Chapter 7

The Basics of Experimentation

Feb 09-14

FIRST LONG EXAM (1, 2, 6, & 7)

Chapter 8

Solving Problems: Controlling Extraneous Variables

Chapter 9

Basic Between-Subjects Design

Jan 24-26
Jan 31

Feb 16
Feb 21-23
Feb 28-Mar 02

Chapter 10 Between-Subjects Factorial Design

Mar 02-06

Chapter 11 Within-Subjects Factorial Design

Mar 06-09

SECOND LONG EXAM (8, 9, 10, & 11)

Mar 14

Chapter 13 Why We Need Statistics

Mar 16

Chapter 14 Analyzing Results

Mar 21

Chapter 15 Drawing Conclusions

Mar 23

THIRD LONG EXAM (13, 14, 15, & 16)

Mar 28

Chapter 3

Alternatives to Experimentation: Non-experimental Designs

Mar 30

Chapter 4

Alternatives to Experimentation: Surveys and Interviews

Apr 04

Chapter 5

Alternatives to Experimentation: Correlational and QuasiExperimental Designs

Apr 06

FOURTH LONG EXAM (3, 4, & 5)

Apr 17

FINAL EXAM

TBA

LABORATORY
Topic/ Activity

Date

Library Exercise

Jan 19

Writing the Research Report

Jan 26

Two-Groups Research Design: Experiment #1

Group Consultation

Feb 02

Multiple Groups Between-Subjects Design: Experiment #2

Submission: Research Topics

Feb 09

Group Consultation
Submission: Experimental Report #1

Feb 16

Two-Way Factorial Design: Experiment #3

Group Consultation

Feb 23

Group Consultation
Submission: Experimental Report #2
Submission: Draft of Introduction Section of proposal

Mar 02

Within-subjects Design: Experiment # 4

Submission: Draft of Method Section of proposal

Mar 09

Group Consultation
Submission: Experimental Report #3

Mar 16

Group Consultation

Mar 23

Mock Defense
Submission: Full Defense-Ready proposal (to panelist)

Mar 30

Proposal defense

Apr 06

Holy Week Break

Apr 10-14

Conduct of experiments
Submission: Experimental Lab Report #4

Apr 20

Conduct of experiments

Apr 27

Conduct of experiments

May 04

Presentation of Results

May 09

Submission: Final Paper

May 18

D. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Myers, A. & Hansen, C. (2012). Experimental Psychology (7th ed.). California:
Wadsworth-Thomson Learning
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed). Washington, DC: Author

25%

25%

40%

10%

Total
LABORATORY
Research
Proposal & Oral
Defense
Final Written
Report
Experimental
Reports
Exercises, Class
Participation, &
Consultations

100%

Total

100%
4

Personal Mastery

Professional for
Others

Leadership &
Innovation

Research Excellence

65%
15%
20%

Interpersonal &
Collaboration Skills

Ethical Behavior

Weight

Sensitivity to
Diversity

Critical Thinking

LECTURE
Long Exams
Final Exam
Quizzes,
Activities, &
Class
Participation

Knowledge and skills

Requirement

Independent &
Continuous Learning

E. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

F. GRADING SYSTEM
A
B+
B
C+
C
D
F

92 - 100
87 - 91
83 86
78 82
75 77
70 - 74
Below 70

Excellent J
Very Good
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Barely passing
Fail

G. CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. About exams and make-ups: If you miss an exam, a make-up exam will be
given ONLY if the reason is valid. Examples are the following: a death in the
family, an illness, or attendance in an official University event. In such cases,
you will need to provide official documents.
2. About class exercises and assignments: Class exercises (for Lec and Lab)
are not announced beforehand. No make-up exercises will be given if you
miss any. You cannot submit a lab report for an experiment you were unable
to participate in because of your absence.
3. About tardiness and absences: You are allowed 6 cuts for Lec, 2 cuts for
Lab (excused or unexcused). If you exceed these, you will receive a W
9equivalent to an F).
4. About creating a conducive environment: Please put your cell phones on
silent mode during class. Please DO NOT do the following while class is
ongoing: 1) use your cell phone or mp4/ipod, 2) use your laptop/tablet (unless
required by teacher), 3) work or study for another class. Eating during class
time is highly discouraged.
Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of dishonorable conduct will be dealt
with strictly according to the rules of the Loyola Schools.
General guidelines for Lab Reports and Group Experiment (more details on the
lab later)
1. The grading of all laboratory group work will include peer evaluations, so
individual grades may differ.
2. For 3 of the 4 lab reports, students will be working in pairs. For lab reports #1
and #2 you will be working with the same partner. For lab report #3 you are
not allowed to have the same partner. For lab report #4, you will work
individually. For the final experiment, you are to work in groups of 3-4.
3. For the group experimental proposal, the minimum number of referenced
related literature is 10.
5

4. Regarding topics for the group experiment, please note the following:
a. Design should at least be a 2 x 2 factorial (i.e. 2 IVs, at least one of
which should be a manipulated IV)
b. Experiments that deal with violence, sex, and other sensitive materials
should be well justified, and ethics standards must be strictly complied
with (subject to the review of the defense panel).
H. CONSULTATION HOURS
I am free for consultation on Wednesdays, 1:00 4:00pm (by appointment).
Contact: Email: rvpcruz@ateneo.com
FB: facebook/TheSexyMind
Instagram: _ricacruz
Twitter: ricacruz_