Chapter 1 Weekly overview
This overview will be continuously updated over the course of the year. There will be more specific information about the upcoming lab class, and more general information about labs further in the future. Note that we will release new material on the Hitchhiker’s Guide every Monday.
Lab 1 (w/c 4 Oct)
Content
The aim of the first lab class is to give you an overview of the module and to get you ready for the upcoming lab classes. Chapter 2 of the Hitchhiker’s Guide will provide you with a general overview of the module. Chapter 3 is a TV shows data exploration activity that introduces some key concepts you will come across many times in the next three years. Chapter 4 talks about the book we will use for this module, how to set your computer up for this module and about Moodle forums.
Learning objectives
- To understand what this module is about. This includes:
- Who the lecturers and demonstrators are (Section 2.1).
- To get an overview of the module content (Section 2.2).
- The workload associated with this module (Section 2.3).
- How to get support (Section 2.4).
- How the module will be assessed (Section 2.5).
- What the research participation scheme (RPS) is (Section 2.6).
- How to get disability support (Section 2.7).
- How to make an extenuating circumstances (EC) claim (Section 2.8).
- To learn about data exploration and to get acquainted with some key psychological concepts (Chapter 3).
- To get everything set up for the upcoming lab classes (Chapter 4).
- In the context of your Moodle forum post (Section 4.4):
- To make sure your Moodle access works and you can post to a Moodle forum.
- To think about types of psychological studies.
- If you took A-level Psychology, to re-activate knowledge.
- To experience participating in a psychological experiment (Section 4.5).
To do
- Read the brief introduction with its “How to use this book” section
- Familiarise yourself with the key facts about PSGY1001 (Chapter 2).
- Complete the data exploration activity (Chapter 3).
- Get ready for the upcoming lab classes (Chapter 4):
- Go to the PSGY1001 Moodle forum and add a post about an interesting psychological study or finding by Friday, 8 October (Section 4.4).
- Complete the online experiment by Monday, 11 October (Section 4.5).
Lab 2 (w/c 11 Oct)
Content
Chapters 1 to 3 in Beth’s book are an introduction to scientific reasoning. The HHG picks up on the distinction between research producers and consumers and highlights the importance of empiricism. It also discusses the distinction between conceptual and operational definitions. This week, you will have to complete your first quiz (i.e., one of the quizzes that together contribute 10% to your overall module mark—see Section 2.5). We also ask you to design a study investigating German humour as a small-group activity.
Learning objectives
- To acquire the basic vocabulary necessary to describe and evaluate psychological studies.
- To demonstrate understanding of this vocabulary in a multiple-choice quiz.
- To apply this vocabulary when designing a study.
- To work together as a team.
- To share documents using Office 365 and to jointly edit documents.
Lab 3 (w/c 18 Oct)
Content
Chapter 4 in Beth’s book is about research ethics and Chapter 5 focuses on identifying good measurement. This week’s activity will require you to consider the reliability and validity of a shyness scale used in an educational psychological setting. Please complete the flanker task again to make an analysis of its reliability possible.
Lab 4 (w/c 25 Oct)
Content
Chapters 10 and 11 in Beth’s book are an in-depth look at experiments. Chapter 8 of the Hitchhiker’s Guide picks up on the role of attrition and demonstrates how attrition can be a threat to internal validity in a way that is not considered in Beth’s book. This week, you will have to complete your second quiz (i.e., one of the quizzes that together contribute 10% to your overall module mark—see Section 2.5).
Chapter 9 of the Hitchhiker’s Guide is an introduction to interference tasks. This week’s activity involves reading a journal article and identifying key design aspects of an experiment in this article that used the flanker interference task.
Learning objectives
- To understand how experiments support causal claims.
- To learn about different types of experimental designs.
- To evaluate threats to internal validity.
- To learn about possible reasons for null effects.
- To demonstrate understanding of the chapter contents in a multiple-choice quiz.
- To read an empirical research article and to apply the knowledge from the book chapters when interrogating the article.
Lab 5 (w/c 1 Nov)
Content
This lab is an introduction to PsychoPy. You will learn about PsychoPy basics, including the Builder interface, routines, components and component properties. There will be three exercises to complete that involve setting up simple PsychoPy experiments.
Learning objectives
- Learn PsychoPy basics:
- Install PsychoPy.
- Learn how to open, run and save PsychoPy experiments.
- Understand the role of components, routines and the flow in the Builder view.
- Know the main properties of Text, Image and Keyboard components.
- Apply your knowledge when completing the exercises.
w/c 8 Nov
The week commencing 8 Nov is our careers and activity week. There will be no lab classes in this week.
Lab 6 (w/c 15 Nov)
Content
In this lab, you will learn how to use input files and loops to change information from one trial to the next. You will need to complete an exercise and the formative PsychoPy assignment.
Lab 7 (w/c 22 Nov)
Content
In this lab, you will learn how to give feedback using PsychoPy. The exercise will require you to add practice trials with a feedback routine to your version of the flanker task.
Lab 8 (w/c 29 Nov)
Lab 10 (w/c 13 Dec)
Content
Data preprocessing: The why and how (with Excel). A closer look at removing extreme RTs, incorrect trials and outlier RTs.
Lab 11 (w/c 31 Jan)
Lab 12 (w/c 7 Feb)
Content
In this lab, we’re going to have a closer look at calculating descriptive statistics and at the data screening and cleaning steps to complete before calculating these statistics. It is also time to complete the Excel quiz.
Lab 13 (w/c 14 Feb)
Content
This week we’re going to use SPSS to reject outliers based on SDs. We’re also going have a closer look at one-sample t-tests.
w/c 21 Feb
The week commencing 21 February is our reading week. There will be no lab classes in this week.
Lab 14 (w/c 28 Feb)
Learning objectives
Learn how to…
- Run and interpret a Pearson correlation test using SPSS.
- Report the results of a Pearson correlation test.
To do
- Read Chapter 37 in the Hitchhiker’s Guide.
- Complete the Lab 14 exercise.
- Remember to participate in studies to obtain your 10 RPS points (see Chapter 38).
- Complete the Excel and SPSS data analysis quiz by Wednesday, 9 March at 5pm (see Chapter 39).
Lab 15 (w/c 7 Mar)
Learning objectives
Learn how to structure and write a lab report (see Chapter 40).
Lab 16 (w/c 14 Mar)
To do
- Attend the lab class.
- Start working on the formative lab report (deadline Wednesday, 30 March).
Lab 18 (w/c 28 Mar)
Content
In a purely online chapter, we’re going to show you how to create bar charts using Excel, ESCI and SPSS.
In the lab class, you will have the opportunity to work on some interactive activities related to structuring introductions, formatting figures and tables, and writing discussion sections.
Learning objectives
- Online: To learn how to create a bar chart or point plot using Excel/ESCI and SPSS.
- Lab class: To practise skills required for structuring and formatting lab reports.
To do
- Read Chapter 43 about creating charts and watch the accompanying videos.
- Attend the lab class.
Lab 19 (w/c 4 Apr)
To do
- Before the lab class: Watch the videos in Chapter 45 and make sure to install EndNote on your computer.
- In the lab class:
- Use EndNote to add references to your formative lab report (make sure you have access to your lab report Word document!).
- A spot-the-referencing-error activity with some Easter-themed prizes.
- You might want to start working on the summative lab report (see Chapter 46).
- Supporting material will be available from Friday, 8 April, 3pm.
- Deadline: Wednesday, 11 May, 5pm.
Lab 20 (w/c 2 May)
Content
Formative lab report feedback (see Chapter 47).