Course Overview

To fulfill the research component of LeADERS, I took Research Methods (PSYC 318W) during the fall semester of 2021. My instructor was Professor James Unverricht.

Research Methods is a writing intensive course which examines scientific research fundamentals and procedures in psychology. This course focuses on theory and hypothesis development, reviewing literature, experimental design, interpretation, data analysis, and scientific technical writing. Research Methods also explores the American Psychological Association manual to assist in the formatting of research papers. This course has four main types of exercises which are exams, laboratory assignments, class research project, and peer evaluations. Some topics covered in this course include research approaches; problem identification and hypotheses; ethics; survey research; and research validity.

My Work Samples

The class group project was one of  the most memorable assignments for me. For the class group project, students were instructed to form groups containing one to four members. Once the group is formed, a contract between all members are drafted and signed. In the contract, the group can state how often they meet, the days and times they will meet, how they will conduct themselves, and responsibilities that each member will uphold. Groups utilized various platforms and mediums to connect with its members including Office 365, Google Workspace, Zoom, email, text messages, phone calls, and video calls.

Each group also had the option of working on project 1 or project 2. My group chose project 1 as it focused on tasks which lead to distracted driving and their impact on the driver. As a group, our objective was to determine which task (i.e., talking on the phone, texting, mind-wandering, and watching TikTok videos) causes the driver to be most distracted from driving. Teamwork and collaboration are essential components of this project.

For the actual project, we wrote a research paper with the following sections: abstract, introduction, method, results, and discussion. We also submitted a draft of our paper to the instructor before submitting the final paper. We also conducted peer evaluations among ourselves, which contributed to our overall course grade. They were conducted after major sections of our paper were submitted. The peer evaluations were based on five metrics which are: quality of contribution; effectiveness in working with others in the team; responsiveness; total effort put towards the project; and adherence to the group contract. Each metric had a rating scale from 1 (lowest score) to 5 (highest score).

Check out my group’s research paper.

Reflection

Upon reflection, working in a team and exploring the different the dynamics was intriguing. This experience has helped me to learn and apply what I know to other settings where collaboration and teamwork are vital to success. I also gained a deeper appreciation for research methods and the peer review process. In addition to working in a team structure, my skills in the following areas have also improved: planning, organizing, and prioritizing work; making decisions and problem solving; obtaining and processing information; communicating verbally; demonstrating computer software proficiency; analyzing quantitative data; creating and editing reports; demonstrating technical knowledge; and influencing others. My interpersonal communication skills also improved as I am more aware of how I express myself and connect with others both verbally and nonverbally.