I would also agree that students need some kind of hands-on data-gathering eperience. I don't think the problems of their research project need discourage them, but rather provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the challenges of real research. Students too often get the impression that studies are born polished and that principles or findings discussed in text books are glimmering jewels uncovered by a wave of some experimentalist's hand. They fail to appreciate the problems of developing valid measures, examining prior research and theory, brainstorming design problems, and numerous practical problems. In addition, they sometimes miss the fact that research studies are reasoned arguments that do not rely on finding statistical significance, but crafting a strong rational and empirical argument. As we have a one-semester experimental class, I try to develop a class project by providing some initial literature and theory, and use the class to generate their own data. We then write this up in apa format. This gives them early exposure to apa format and basic method issues before they actually propose, develop, implement, and write-up their own research projects. If they have only one major apa write-up in experimental, they do not get enough practice and feedback to improve. Our labs are supposed to help them further refine this exposure to apa writing and research methods. Gary Peterson
Gerald L. (Gary) Peterson, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology Saginaw Valley State University 989-964-4491 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
