PSYC 510 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I

Overview of research methodology and statistical techniques for psychological research. Emphasis on the three basic types of research – descriptive, predictive, and experimental. Also, addresses ethics in research. A computer package is used for analysis of data. (Crosslisted with MSPS 500).

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

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*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


Psychology is a research-based science. Therefore, its use for statistics in accurately interpreting data is imperative for understanding research. This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of research methodology and statistical analysis. This course will also further equip the student to succeed in subsequent statistics courses within his or her field of study.


Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussion: Reading Research

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for the Discussion. The thread must be at least 100 words (not to exceed a maximum of 400 words) with at least one (1) scholarly citation in current APA format to support assertions and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to one (1) other classmate’s thread using at least 100 words and incorporating at least two (2) scholarly citations in current APA format. The source that the student has selected for use in the initial post must have been published within the last five years. For the Discussion Thread: Reading Research, the student to access the Discussion: Reading Research Assignment Instructions document provided within the discussion resources section in Canvas for more details expectations of what to include within the discussion. The required sources to pull citations from for the thread and replies are specified in these assignment instructions. (CLO: A, C, D, F)

Homework Assignments (7)

Most Homework Assignments are SPSS-based and depend on information gained from the Learn section in the assigned module. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

Homework: CITI Certificate Completion Assignment

To expand on the concepts covered in the textbook in regard to ethical human research, the student must successfully complete the basic CITI Ethics Program titled “Social & Behavioral Researchers.” To do so, the student will need to complete all 10 required modules and one elective module, earning a minimum of 80% to pass the course and receive a certificate. After enrolling in and completing the CITI Training, the student will upload the Completion Report PDF to the assignment in Canvas for course credit.

Homework: SPSS Fundamentals Assignment

This assignment involves data entry, transformations, and calculations using SPSS. It will require the student to produce measures of reliability and validity using SPSS and present it in a written for using professional conventions. The student will complete relevant exercises within a provided template and submit the completed template to Canvas for grading. 

Homework: Descriptive Statistics Assignment

This assignment allows the student to demonstrate mastery of several topics, including a professional study of reliability and validity, an ability to synthesize research findings and rewrite them in his/her own words, an identification of errors in SPSS data entry, and a write up of descriptive statistics using current professional conventions. The student will complete relevant exercises within a provided template and submit the completed template to Canvas for grading.

Homework: z-Scores and Percentiles Assignment

This assignment allows the student to demonstrate mastery of several topics, including the ability to use SPSS, hand calculations, and tables to flexibly calculate and interpret scores in normalized unit in normalized units and percentiles. The student will complete relevant exercises within a provided template and submit the completed template to Canvas for grading.

Homework: One-Sample T-Tests Assignment

This assignment allows the student to demonstrate mastery of several topics, including the ability to use SPSS to conduct one sample t-tests, present findings using professional conventions, interpret the meanings of them, and identify cases in which they may be useful to the student professionally. The student will complete relevant exercises within a provided template and submit the completed template to Canvas for grading.

Homework: Relationship and Regression Assignment

This assignment allows the student to demonstrate mastery of several topics, including differentiating between relationships and prediction and the ability to identify the variables and their scales of measurement to determine the most appropriate test. The student will complete relevant exercises within a provided template and submit the completed template to Canvas for grading.

Homework: Big Picture Assignment

This final assignment allows the student to demonstrate comprehension and mastery of topics covered throughout this course. It will require him/her to use techniques and concepts covered from the first day in an integrated manner, much like researchers when conducting their own studies. The student will complete relevant exercises within a provided template (as well as with a provided SPSS data file) and submit the completed template to Canvas for grading.

Quizzes (8)

Each quiz will cover Learn material from the assigned module: week, save for the Quiz: Comprehensive, which will cover Learn material from all modules in the course. Each standard quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice and true/false questions, allow for one attempt, and have no time limit. They may require use of a calculator but no use of SPSS will be required. As for the Quiz: Comprehensive, it will be open-book/open-notes, contain 45 multiple-choice and true/false questions, allow for one attempt, and have no time limit. Despite differing slightly from the standard quizzes, this quiz also does not require the use of SPSS. (CLO: A, C, D, E, F)


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