Open Stats Lab (OSL) is a free resource for the teaching of introductory statistics. From the site: “OSL is primarily a resource for the teaching (and learning) of statistics. Although many statistics textbooks come with supplemental data sets to help train students in data analysis, these data sets often lack the richness and complexity of […]
Link: Open Stats Lab Read More »
“Top” lists of anything are always popular because people want to see how the list compares to their own beliefs. Readers then get to debate the merits of who was included or excluded. When it comes to a diverse group such as athletes, it can be difficult to compare across sports. Please click here for
Stats in Everyday Life: Z-scores and the Top 20 Athletes Ever Read More »
This PowerPoint leads students through an activity that stresses the need to have a relatively large sample when trying to accurately represent the population.Instructors will need to supply students with fun size bags of plain M&Ms®. Students first estimate the population frequency of each color of candy using their small sample (fun size bag). Then
Lecture Slides: Samples Representing the Population with the Use of M&Ms Read More »
This Java applet (created by Dr. David Lane) estimates and plots the sampling distributions of various statistics based upon the user’s specified population distribution, sample size, and statistic. The simulation and its associated questions can be used as either homework assignment or as an in-class activity for those classes with access to computers with Internet
Online Activity: Simulation of Sampling Distributions Read More »
This website lets you take the wheel and play with several different parameters during data analysis. By defining who you’re sample is, how you measure economic performance, an what other variables you factor in, you’ll get to see how it impacts results. Sure enough, after a few tries you’re virtually sure to get “publishable” findings.
Link: FiveThirtyEight.com’s Hack Your Way to Scientific Glory Read More »
From The Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS) Mission Statement: The Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS) brings together scholars working to improve methods and practices in psychological science. Anyone interested in improving psychological research is welcome to join, regardless of experience. SIPS is a service organization aiming to make psychological science higher
Link: Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS) Read More »
A set of lecture slides (created by Dr. Benjamin Le) entitled, “Open Science in Psychology: Why, What, & How.“ This stylish slide deck reviews the problem (i.e., the replication crisis) including several examples of failed replications, questionable research practices, and provides potential solutions (e.g, using open science concepts). Please click here for the file.
Online Activity: Open Science in Psychology Read More »
This paper describes the approach we took when revamping our methods course. These are the features that we have highlighted on this site and in our textbook. Please click here to read the full article. Ciarocco, N., Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Van Volkom, M. (2013). The impact of a multifaceted approach to teaching research
Empirical Article: Is It Worth Updating Your Methods Course? Read More »
This paper describes a process evaluation conducted for a local Meals on Wheels program. In doing so, the researchers sought to address 4 key issues: 1) identifying key program components; 2) extent of component implementation; 3) volunteer satisfaction; 4) how to improve the program. Based on their findings they suggested means for improvement. Mye, S.
Exemplar Study: Evaluating Meals on Wheels (Program Evaluation) Read More »
In this activity all of the students in class have the opportunity to listen to five different songs,and provide ratings of how energized they feel after each song. Instructors would need to insert the five music clips into the PowerPoint (details provided on the slide below). For the between-subjects variable, students are randomly assigned to
Lecture Slides: Listen to the Music (Mixed Design Demonstration) Read More »
This interactive application (created by Dr. Marcie Desrochers and Dr. Sara Margolin) provides supplemental instruction on factorial research designs that students enrolled in a Statistics or Research Methods course in psychology can complete as homework or on their own. It consists of 10 pages of definitions, examples, and images, and 11 quiz questions that help
Online Activity: Factorial Design Concepts Review Read More »
Instructors should assign this problem (about graduate programs training students to think logically) to students as in-class practice or homework after students have learned how to calculate a t-test for dependent means and test for significance. The activity leads students through determining the type of statistical analysis to use, the hypotheses, calculating the t-ratio and
In this demonstration/activity (with PowerPoint slides) students are randomly assigned to one of three groups. Those in Group 1 are the picture only condition and simply view the pictures. Those in Group 2 eat cookies while looking at the pictures. Those in Group 3 eat candy while looking at the pictures. The Instructor would need
Lecture Slides: Something You Will Like (Multigroup Design Demonstration) Read More »
In three studies, the authors examined unconscious influence of smell on behavior. Study 3 used a two-group design to examine the direct effect of citrus scent (exposed vs. nonexposed) on cleaning-related behaviors. The judges recorded the frequency of participants’ crumb removal while eating. Holland, R. W., Hendriks, M., & Aarts, H. (2005). Smells like clean
Exemplar Study: Smells Like Clean Spirit (Two-group Design/Simple Experiment) Read More »
In this activity (created by Dr. Jacquelyn Omelian) students practice designing survey questions by creating courseevaluations. Students alternately serve as both researchers and participants, andthe results from the activity allow instructors to assess the pedagogical classroomenvironment while illustrating survey methodology. Please click here for the file.
Activity: That’s So Meta…Student Generated Course Evaluations Read More »
This activity provides students with the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the role that qualitative research, more specifically ethnographic field research, has when studying human behavior. This activity is best assigned as a small project which students can work on either individually or in small groups. Having students conducting this activity in small
Activity: The Alien Ethnographer Read More »
This activity helps students remember potential sources of threats to internal validity, through an in-class activity where students engage in an “experiment” with several intentional threats to internal validity. Students identify the threats and get candy. Easily one of our students favorite activities. Please click here for the file.
Activity: Threats to Internal Validity: Smarties vs. Dum Dums Read More »
This in-class activity (created by Dr. Jamie S. Hughes) may be used with upper level undergraduates or new graduate students in research methods courses. It is designed for use with small collaborative groups and requires about 50 minutes of class time. Students will apply their knowledge about Belmont principles, APA ethical guidelines, and IRB review.
Activity: Ethics in Psychological Research Read More »
This activity takes students(individually or as part of a group) through a series of steps to generate research ideas from their daily experiences. Next, students have the opportunity to select a research design that can test their idea. Please click here for the file.
Activity: Research Idea Diary Read More »
This contains two difference activities that help show students the problem with vague statements. The first makes statements about students’ personality based on their dessert selection. The second activity uses horoscopes. Please click here for the file.
Activity: The Problem of Vague Statements (Desserts & Horoscopes) Read More »
