Course Name: BASIC RESEARCH METHODS Course Code: PSY151Y

AND PRACTICALS IN PSYCHOLOGY-I

Total number of hours: 30 Credits: 2

The coursework aims to provide undergraduate psychology students’ knowledge and hands-on practice
of basic research methods and experiments. The course imparts training in classic as well as
contemporary experiments in the field of Psychology. Students will conduct experiments in the field of
Psychology from the domains related to the topics covered in basic psychological process.

Course outcomes:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Understand the basic experiments in psychology
2. Conduct, Score, Interpret and Report psychological experiments following ethical
protocols and APA guidelines.
3. Explain basic methods to study psychology

Pedagogy: Problem based learning

Unit- 1 Teaching Hours: 15

Laboratory Practicum

Biofeedback / EEG/ Eye-tracking (Orientation),

Trial and Error learning, Habit Interference, Maze Learning

Sentence completion test, NEO-PI, Type A/B

Level of motivation, Achievement motivation

Unit 2 Teaching Hours: 15

Basic Research methods
Methods to study psychology- observation, assessments and experiments; ethics in psychological
research

Essential references:
Coolican, H. (2006). Introduction to Research Methodology in Psychology. London:
Hodder Arnold.

Recommended references:
Howell, D. (2009) Statistical methods for Psychology.
King, B.M. & Minium, E.W, (2007). Statistical Reasoning in the behavioral Sciences
USA: John Wiley & Sons.

Assessment Details:
Course Code PSY151Y
 CIA CIA (Continuous Internal Assessment)-Total Marks- 100
CIA 1: Individual Assignment (20 marks) + Class participation and
Supervisor Feedback- (5 marks) = 25 Marks
CIA 2: Lab Reports (20 marks) + Class participation and Supervisor
Feedback- (5 marks) = 25 Marks
CIA 3: Department level exam/viva- 50 Marks

CIA 1

Description

Each student will be submitting the report of each experiment in a pdf format in the
Moodle link provided for each batch which will be evaluated for 5 marks. A total of
four reports will be submitted which constitute 20 marks (5x4=20).

Out of 8 experiments (Trial and Error learning, Habit Interference, Maze Learning, Sentence
completion test, NEO-PI, Type A/B, Level of motivation, Achievement motivation) 5
experiments will be conducted and others will be demonstrated

General instructions

▪ Each report carries 5 marks

▪ The report submission should include the introduction, method and results and
discussion as a single document, properly edited and formatted as per APA7
requirements (letter, font, line space, levels of heading, table format, paraphrasing,
citation)
(https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting
_and_style_guide/general_format.html)

▪ Report submission: on Moodle: one day prior to the next class (eg: you had a
class on 1st January Tuesday then submission of the report should be on or before
7th January, Monday before 5PM.)

▪ Late submission maximum of one week would lead to reduction of 1 mark and
any submission after one week to two will cause reduction of two marks and if
more than two weeks the report won’t be considered for evaluation. Bulk
submission towards the end of the semester will not be considered for evaluations.

▪ Students have to cross check the submitting file and make sure that the correct file
is uploaded. Any empty submission or wrong submission will be considered as No
submission.

▪ Zero tolerance to the plagiarism

 ▪ Any communication/ grievances etc. regarding submission should reach the batch
teacher before the deadline.

Guide for report writing

Introduction (Minimum 4-5 Pages, Times new roman 12, line space 1.5)

A proper introduction includes the following points

▪ Defining the concept

▪ Theories

▪ Factors influencing the concept /related concepts

▪ Method to Measurement the concept

▪ Description of the experiment (description of test, who developed and when, what
it measures, application of the test)

Method

Results and discussion

A proper results and discussion Include

▪ Presentation of the results in table

▪ Explanation of the results

▪ Interpretation of the results

▪ Comparing the individual results with group (if required)

▪ Discussing the results with research backups

▪ Application of the research finding in the case of subject

Conclusion

Introspective report

The introspective report should cover two perspectives, as a subject and experimenter
(what were the expectations and how far that is met (125-150 words Maximum)

References

The structure of results and discussion as follows

 Aim/objective of the experiment, one-sentence description of the test, subject details
(soon after the aim in discussion), Results table, explanation of the results in the table.
Group data table and its explanation (if required). Interpretation of the results,
discussing the results with evidence, application of the results, conclusion,
introspective report, references

Evaluation criteria

Each report that you are submitting will be evaluated on these criteria

▪ Introduction and content

▪ Results and Discussion

▪ Organization of the overall report

Submission date: Weekly submission of reports.

Feedback= 5 marks

CIA II

Introduction preparation and presentation (10 Marks) feedback (5 marks)

Report compilation and incorporating the suggestions given for the individual reports (5
Marks)

End Sem department level/viva (50 Marks)

One experiment 20, questions on research methods 5x2=10, demonstration =10, viva =10