Experimental PsychologyPSY 433

Project Information

Selecting a Topic

Sources of ideas include: Past or present courses Current events important in your life Replications of classic research Extensions of existing research Paradoxes (contradictions, controversies) Introspection on your own thoughts, feelings &

behavior The Discussion sections of articles frequently

provide ideas and topics for further research.

Criteria for a Good Project

Narrow your focus to a very specific question. Is there a theory that might explain it – good

research is motivated by theory. Theories are found in the literature – reading

is required before you can find your topic! Can the theory be tested – what kind of

experiment would test it? Is it practical to accomplish within 5-6 weeks?

Are the needed resources available?

Requirements for the Project

Must have two IVs: One IV must be something you manipulate. The other can be a demographic variable (such

as sex, age, ethnicity, religion, etc.) Try to recruit at least 20-30 subjects per

condition – this will be affected by availability. Every study must provide an informed consent

form. All members of the group must do CITI.

Everyone in the group must participate.

Resources

Building 5 classrooms equipped with computers, projectors, AV and desks.

Meeting rooms (5-114, 5-118b). Library quiet study rooms. Digital videorecorders. Laptop computers (20) equipped with

Superlab and MS-Office software. Old and slow but do have WiFi

Rooms on the wider campus (see me).

Difficult Topics

We cannot recruit or test children because it takes too long to get parental permission. Studies involving prisoners or mentally ill

people are similarly difficult. Studies asking invasive questions about sex,

drug/alcohol use or criminal behavior require complicated confidentiality protections.

We can study attitudes about such behaviors or attitudes about parenting or children, as long as normal adult subjects are used.

Forbidden Topics

Mozart Effect – no studies testing whether listening to any type of music improves cognitive ability or test performance. No studies of whether noise is distracting.

No memory studies testing whether the color of type affects retention, etc. Memory studies must test some aspect of

current memory theory, not simply what is easy or hard to remember.

No Stroop effect replications.