Experience Psychology! A Laboratory Guide to Psychological Science provides a hands-on experience with the science of psychology—and the psychology of science. Students will learn how ideas in psychology are developed, scientifically tested, supported or refuted, and communicated; that is, how psychologists think. As students read about and discuss research, and then design and do research, they will learn the basics in the art and practice of psychological science. Moreover, psychology is not unique among sciences, so they will also learn about the art and practice of science, in general.

Table of Contents:
Introduction An Open Letter to Students About This Book and This Course: Things You Should Know What Should You Expect To Learn In Lab? Important Notice about You're… (Grades) Participation Problem Solving Writing How to Get the Best Possible Grade (I.E, How to Learn the Most) The Biggest Challenges in This Lab CHAPTER 1 THE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE Concepts Chart 1 – Concept Learning Objectives Scientific Attitude and the Scientific Method Three Myths about the Scientific Method The Philosophy and Practice of Science Types of Research Application Chart 1A – Application Learning Objectives Study 1A: Recognizing Types of Research Lab Record for Study 1A: Recognizing Types of Research Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 2 DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH Concepts Chart 2 – Concept Learning Objectives Descriptive Research: More Science without the Scientific Method Usefulness and Examples of Descriptive Research Conceptual Variables and Operational Definitions Good Operational Definitions Are both Valid and Reliable Applications Chart 2A – Application Learning Objectives Study 2A: Naturalistic Observation of College Students Advice for Choosing a Conceptual Variable and Operationally Defining It Procedure 2A Sample Data Sheets Lab Record for Study 2A/B Chart 2B – Application Learning Objectives Study 2B: Applying and Refining Operational Definitions Procedure 2B Lab Record for Study 2A/B Chart 2C – Application Learning Objectives Study 2C: Introduction to Self-Report Data Procedure 2C Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 3 SUMMARIZING DATA AND GENERATING HYPOTHESES Concepts Chart 3 – Concept Learning Objectives From Raw Data to Meaningful Summaries The Best Summary Depends on the Type of Data Summarizing Interval Data Summarizing Data with Excel Box 3.1 – Entering, Selecting, and Sorting Data in MS Excel Box 3.2 – Summarizing Data: Calculations in MS Excel Generating and Testing Hypotheses More than Just an Educated Guess: Types of Hypotheses Application Chart 3A – Application Learning Objectives Study 3A: Summarizing Data with MS Excel and Generating Hypotheses Lab Record for Study 3A Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 4 CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH: TESTING RELATIONSHIPS Concepts Chart 4 – Concept Learning Objectives Correlational Research Box 4.1 – Creating Scatterplots in MS Excel Objective Decision Making: "What Are The Odds…?" Making A Decision Based On Probability: Is Your Research Hypothesis Supported? Box 4.2 – Probabilistic Reasoning Correlation Does Not Imply Causation Hypothesis vs. Prediction: A Critical Distinction Evidence Is Not "Proof" Applications Chart 4A – Application Learning Objectives Study 4A: Anxiety Sensitivity And Handedness: Is There a Relationship Studying the Brain without Seeing It Applying Research Terminology Procedure 4A Lab Record for Study 4A Chart 4B – Application Learning Objectives Study 4B: Generating and Testing a Correlational Hypothesis Box 4.3 – Still More Reasons We Don't Say "Prove" Study 4B Data Sheet Lab Record for Study 4B Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 5 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH I: TESTING CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS Concepts Chart 5 - Concept Learning Objectives The Anatomy of Experimentation Manipulation and Control (Mwah–ha–ha–ha–ha) Make Your Own Experiment (Concept Check) Objective (Odds-Based) Decision Making In Experimental Research Why Can't We Just Compare The Averages? Where Does Variability Come From, And Can't We Get Rid Of It? How Does Variability Affect Objective Decision Making? Box 5.1 – What Makes Two Sets Of Numbers Different? Do We Have A Significant Difference? Defining and Interpreting the p-Value Applications Chart 5A – Application Learning Objectives Study 5A: Location of Perceptual Motor Aftereffects Perceptual Adaptation and Aftereffects The Experimental Design: Our Hypothesis, Conceptual Variables, Operational Definitions, and Prediction Procedure 5A Bonus Info: More Amazing Animal Sensory Systems You Wish You Had Lab Record for Study 5A Chart 5B – Application Learning Objectives Study 5B: Language and Thought Linguistic Determinism and the Stroop Effect The Experimental Design: Our Hypothesis, Conceptual Variables, Operational Definitions, and Prediction Procedure 5B Lab Record for Study 5B Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 6 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH II: MATCHED SAMPLES & WITHIN-PARTICIPANTS RESEARCH Concepts Chart 6 – Concept Learning Objectives A Review of Experimental Terminology and Logic Designing Experiments to Test Hypotheses Strengthen the Signal, Minimize the Noise Matching Samples Reduces Noise Within-Participants Designs: Less Noise, More Data! Applications Chart 6A – Application Learning Objectives Study 6A: Effect of Encouragement on Grip Strength Are We Stronger Than We Realize? Important Notes on Procedure 6A Lab Record for Study 6A Chart 6B – Application Learning Objectives Study 6B: Effects of Conversation on Reaction Time Research on Phone Use While Driving Procedure 6B-1 6B Data Sheet for Use with Procedure 1 Procedure 6B-2 6B Data Sheet for Use with Procedure 2 Lab Record for Study 6B Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 7 QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Concepts Chart 7 - Concept Learning Objectives Quasi-Experiments vs True Experiments How Does a Lack of Control Make Quasi-Experiments Different? Reasons for Choosing Quasi-Experiments: Ethics and Practicality Box 7.1 – Types of Single-Group Quasi-Experiments Thinking Critically About Quasi-Experimental Research Applications Chart 7A – Application Learning Objectives Study 7A: Sleep Deprivation and Cognition Procedure 7B with Data Sheet Lab Record for Study 7A/B/C Chart 7B – Application Learning Objectives Study 7B: Blood Sugar, Cognition, and Behavior Is There Such a Thing as a Sugar High? Procedure 7B with Data Sheet Lab Record for Study 7A/B/C Chart 7C – Application Learning Objectives Study 7C: Self-Help and Social Support Networks How Much Does Self-Help Help? Important Caveats to This Research Procedure 7C Data Sheet for Study 7C Lab Record for Study 7A/B/C Glossary of Terms and Examples CHAPTER 8 ADVANCED TOPICS AND ANIMAL RESEARCH Concepts Chart 8 – Concept Learning Objectives More Complex Experiments Adding Predictions Impacts Objective Decision Making Increasing the Number of IVs "The Problem With Research In Psychology Is..." The "Common Sense" Problem The "Artificiality" Problem The "I Am Not A Rat" Problem Reading & Writing Scientific Reports: Connectivity, Replicability, Integrity & Convergence Applications Chart 8A – Application Learning Objectives Study 8A: Social and Biological Effects On Crayfish Aggression Why Fight? Crayfish Fighting Etiquette Research on Crayfish Aggression by Lafayette College Students How to Safely Handle a Crayfish Procedure 8A Lab Record for Study 8A, Part 1 (Part 2 in Lab) Chart 8B – Application Learning Objectives Study 8B: Your Own Research Psycinfo: Fishing For Information in a Sea Of Knowledge IRB Approval Procedure 8B Glossary of Terms and Examples Appendix A –Information & APA Style Guide For The Math-Minded: The Probability of Wrongly Rejecting the Null Hypothesis for Multiple Comparisons APA-Light Style Guide General Rules Introduction Method Section Results Discussion Citations in Text References Figures and Captions Appendix B – Answers To Review Questions Answers by Page Numbers References Acknowledgments