Experimental Psychology
1
Course Project
Course Project: Psychological Experiment-A
Proposal
Course Project
Objective/s:
At the end of this activity, the students should be able to:
Evaluate their thinking and reasoning;
Use critical analysis through explanation of relationships; and
Synthesize and apply previously learned methods, concepts, and principles in conducting a
study and writing a research report.
What to Prepare for the Activity:
any smart gadget/device
internet connection
Activity Introduction:
In the scientific method, an experiment is a set of actions and observations performed in the
context of solving a particular problem or question to support or falsify a hypothesis or research
concerning phenomena. Its primary goal is to provide evidence for a cause-and-effect relationship
between two variables.
In this activity, each student is expected to apply what they have learned from the lessons by
designing a psychological experiment. Guidelines and instructions will be discussed thoroughly
below, hence, each one is expected to deliver and adhere to the course objectives stated above.
Tools Needed:
Desktop Computer/ Laptop
Paper and pen for drafting ideas
MS Word
Email access
Output:
Psychological Experiment Proposal
Instructions:
1. Prepare all the materials needed.
2. Review past lessons regarding experimental methods, designs, and
writing a research report.
3. From the listed experiment ideas below, the student will have to
choose ONE topic he/she would like to work on or attempt to answer.
Questions (Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/psychology-
experiment-ideas-2795669)
Are people really able to “feel like someone is watching”
them?
Can certain color improve learning?
Can color cause physiological reactions?
Can different types of music lead to different physiological
responses?
Can smelling one thing while tasting another impact a
person’s ability to detect what the food really is?
Could a person’s taste in music offer hints about their
personality?
Do action films cause people to eat more popcorn and
candy during a movie?
Do colors really impact moods?
Do creative people see optical illusions differently than
more analytical people?
Do people rate individuals with perfectly symmetrical
faces as more beautiful than those with asymmetrical
faces?
Do people who use social media sit Facebook exhibit signs
of addiction?
Does eating breakfast really help students do better in
school?
Does sex influence short-term memory?
How likely are people to conform in groups?
How likely are people to conform to the opinions of a
group?
How much information can people store in short-term
memory?
What is the Stroop Effect?
4. Once the student has picked the topic and has an idea, the next step is
to create the design. Take note that the word used prior is “attempt”
to answer. Meaning the student needs not to conduct the experiment.
The student will only lay down his/her plan or design (proposal) on
how to go about the experiment. Each student will have to draft
his/her own design using this format:
Experimental Psychology
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Course Project
I. Title
II. Introduction
A. General Introduction
B. Relevant Literature
C. Statement of the Hypothesis
III. Method
A. Target Participants
B. Suggested Procedure
IV. References
5. Specifics:
Create a title for your study/experiment
Make sure to define your variables
Develop a hypothesis
Conduct a background research
Select the appropriate experimental design
6. Ensure that all the details and information needed for each section
appear in the report. Use Module 10 as a reference for the details
needed for each section.
7. Even if this is just a simple plan or design, make sure to follow the
APA Guidelines set for each section when writing a research report.
Citations must be done appropriately.
8. Create your document using MS Word. Submit the final output via
email to your instructor or mentor using this file name format:
Surname, First Name_EPCourseProject
Example: Juan, Felipe_EPCourseProject
Rubric for Checking:
Category 4 3 2 1
Title Title is succinct Title is relevant, Title lacks Title was omitted
and offer offering details relevance or fails or inappropriate,
sufficiently about the to offer given the problem
specific details proposed appropriate and research
about the issue, study/experiment details about the questions.
variables, context, . variables, context,
as well as about the issue,
relationships to variables, context,
be investigated. as well as
relationships to
be investigated.
Literature Narrative Key constructs A key construct or The review of the
Review integrates critical and variables variable was not literature was
and logical details were connected to connected to the missing or
from the peer- relevant, reliable research consisted of non-
reviewed theoretical and literature. research-based
theoretical and research Selected literature articles.
research literature. was from Propositions were
literature. unreliable irrelevant,
Each key sources. Literary inaccurate, or
construct and supports were inappropriate.
variable is vague or
grounded in the ambiguous.
literature.
Hypothesis Presents Identifies relevant The research Statement of the
significant hypotheses and purpose, problem,
hypotheses and research issues. questions, significance,
research Research hypotheses, or purpose,
problems related questions are definitions of questions/hypoth
to the topic. succinctly stated constructs and eses, or
Articulates clear, and connected to variables are definitions of
reasonable the topic. poorly formed, constructs and
research . ambiguous, or not variables were
questions. logically omitted or
connected to the inappropriate.
description of the
problem.
Methods: The proposed The proposed The proposed The proposed
Research design is mutually research design research design is research design is
Design supportive and has been confusing or inappropriate or
coherent. identified and incomplete, given has not been
Attention has described in the research identified and or
been given to sufficiently questions and described using
eliminating detailed terms. sampling strategy. standard
alternative Some limitations Important terminology.
explanations and and assumptions limitations and Limitations and
controlling have been assumptions have assumptions are
extraneous identified. not been omitted.
variables. identified.
Appropriate and
important
limitations and
assumptions have
been clearly
stated.
Methods: The description of The context, The description of The context,
Population the context and target population, the context, target target population,
and target population and proposed population, or or
Sampling was meaningful, sampling strategy proposed Proposed sample
including both was adequately sampling strategy was not identified
quantitative and identified and was confusing, or described. The
Experimental Psychology
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Course Project
qualitative described. The lacked relevance sampling strategy
descriptions. The size of the to the purpose, was inappropriate
proposed population, was incomplete, for the research
sampling process sample, and or failed to questions.
was reasonable comparison identify specific
for recruiting a groups were quantitative or
representative identified. qualitative details.
sample of the
population.
Attention was
given to
controlling for
extraneous
factors and
sampling error.
Methods: Proposed Proposed Proposed Procedures for
Procedures procedures were procedures for procedures for treatments and
thorough, implementing the implementing the gathering data
manageable, Study study were omitted.
coherent, and (permissions, (permissions,
powerful for treatments, and treatments, and
generating valid data gathering) data gathering)
and reliable data. were identified were poorly
They were and described in a identified and
chronological and chronological described.
replicable, with fashion.
clear distinctions
between the
experimenter's
and participant
actions. Clear and
reasonable
strategies were
presented for
seeking
permissions and
for the ethical
treatment of
target
participants/subj
ects.
References Properly and Properly cited. The manuscript The manuscript
explicitly cited. May have a few has several lacks proper
Reference list instances in which instances of citations or
matches citations. proper citations improper use of includes no
are missing. citations. citations.
Overall Consistently Manuscript Weak, incomplete, Failure to apply
Organizatio applied conformed to ambiguous, or standard rules for
n and assignments, most standards of inconsistent manuscript
Writing English English application of APA presentation,
composition, and composition and guidelines, English
APA APA guidelines. manuscript composition, and
Guidelines. organization, and timeliness.
rules of English
composition.
