School of Humanities
and Social Sciences
Department of History and Philosophy
Introduction to Psychology Lab
Course Syllabus
Faculty: Dr. Most. Aeysha Sultana
Designation: Professor
Office: NAC1143
Office Hours: 10:50 AM – 1:30 AM (RA)
Email: [Link]@[Link]
Initial: MAS1
Sections: 16, 17, 18 and 19
Class Time: RA (Thursday & Saturday)
Sec 16: Only Thursday - 08:00 AM – 9:15 AM, Room- NAC 202
Sec 17: Only Saturday - 08:00 AM – 9:15 AM, Room- NAC 202
Sec 18: Only Thursday - 3:05 PM – 4:20 PM, Room- NAC 202
Sec 19: Only Saturday - 3:05 PM – 4:20 PM, Room- NAC 202
Course Number and Title: PSY 101L: Introduction to Psychology Lab
Credit: 1
Course Type: GED
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
COURSE CONTENTS
According to Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (Bloom et al., 1956, 1994), there
are knowledge-based goals (understanding, recall), affective goals (values, attitudes, and
interests) and skills-based goals (how to do something practically). PSY 101L course is
designed to achieve several integrated knowledge-based goals, affective goals and skills-based
goals that are important to understanding and conduction of a psychological experiment or test
in a laboratory setting. This is an experimental laboratory course on psychology designed to
provide students with hands-on practice with psychological experiments and testing. The course
intends to familiarize students with the concepts essential to psychological experiments and
testing. The course will introduce a couple of interesting topics to work on in a laboratory
setting. Thus, students will learn how to design and conduct a psychological experiment or test
and write a report on its result.
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Department of History and Philosophy
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate the following outcomes:
(i) Gain basic knowledge of a psychological experiment, and psychological test, (ii) Distinguish
between a psychological experiment and a psychological test., (iii) Become aware and care
about research ethics for human/animal participants, (iv) Design and conduct a psychological
experiment and a test with human participants, (v) Analyze simple behavioral or psychological
data, (vi). Write a report on experimental or testing results. 01 Credit
INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD
The course uses lecture and audio-visual presentations. Demonstrations or group activities will
also be used to promote active learning and apply course material to issues outside of the
classroom. Students are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and participate in classroom
discussions. Both online and in-person teaching use web services such as Google Classroom and
Canvas (if active). For help beyond the class period, students can have an appointment with the
instructor during office time.
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Department of History and Philosophy
COURSE CONTENTS AND TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Class Schedule Date(s)
Lecture(s)
Sec: 16 & 18 Sec: 17 & 19
Unit/Activity Topics (Thursday) (Saturday)
Icebreaker Session Getting to know students 1&2 20/07/2023 22/07/2023
1 Introduction to Psychological Experiment 27/07/2023 12/08/2023
2 Demonstration on Laboratory Work 1 (Experiment) 3 03/08/2023 19/08/2023
and Writing an Experimental Report
Class Test 1: Unit 1 4 10/08/2023 26/08/2023
3 Conduction Laboratory Work 1 (Psychological 5 17/08/2023 02/09/2023
Experiment)
4 Introduction to Psychological Testing 6&7 24/08/2023 09/09/2023
31/08/2023 16/09/2023
Class Test 2: Unit 4 8 07/09/2023 23/09/2023
5 Demonstration on Laboratory Work 2 (Testing) and
Writing a Testing Report
6 Conduction of Laboratory Work 2 (Testing Human 9 14/09/2023 30/09/2023
Participant)
Comprehensive viva / learning outcome 10 21/09/2023 07/10/2023
Lab Report Submission Deadline: TBA TBA
Final Exam 11 05/10/2023 14/10/2023
TBA= To be announced
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School of Humanities
and Social Sciences
Department of History and Philosophy
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying each unit, students should be able to:
Unit/Activity 1:
• Define the scientific method.
• Explain what role theories and hypotheses play in psychological research.
• Describe the research methods that psychologists use.
• Explain how psychologists establish cause-and-effect relationships in research studies.
• Discuss how psychological researchers deal with ethical issues.
Unit/Activity 2:
• Define research questions and study variables.
• Describe the rationale and hypothesis of a psychological experiment.
• Explain the design and procedure of a psychological experiment.
• Explain the ethical considerations while conduction psychological experiment.
• Describe the procedure to write the report of psychological experiment following APA format.
Unit/Activity 3:
• Conduct psychological experiments and collect data.
• Identify and control extraneous variables while conducting experiments.
• Process data and report findings.
Unit/Activity 4:
• Define the basic concepts of psychological tests.
• Describe essential characteristics of psychological tests.
• Assess whether a test has required psychometric properties.
• Explain the ethical considerations while using psychological tests.
Unit/Activity 5:
• Give examples of the uses of psychological tests.
• Describe the procedure of administering psychological tests.
• Describe the procedure to write the report of psychological test following APA format.
Unit/Activity 6:
• Use psychological tests to measure psychological constructs.
• Collect and process data obtained from psychological tests.
• Explain psychological test scores.
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Department of History and Philosophy
EVALUATION
Assessment Item Name Marks
1. Class Test (the better one of two CTs will be counted): …………………. 15%
2. Conduction 1 (Psychological Experiment):………………………………. 10%
3. Conduction 2 (Psychological Testing):…………………………………… 10%
4. Lab Report:.……………………………………………………………….. 15%
6. Comprehensive Viva (on experiment and testing) /Learning Outcome:…. 15%
7. Class Attendance:…………………………………………………………. 10%
5. Final Exam …………….............................................................................. 25%
Total 100 %
Score in Attendance:
Your score in attendance will be calculated based on the percentage of classes you attended. For
example, if you attend 90% of the classes, you will receive a score of 9. If you attend 10% of the
classes, you will receive a score of 1.
EXAM POLICY
Exams and tests will be held in physical classroom setting. Canvas will be used for course
announcements, providing reading materials and assignment submission. You can use the same
service to download reading materials and post your questions and comments. Meet or
CANVAS will be used for the viva voce examination and online class if the situation demands.
Class tests and exams will be closed-book and closed-notes. Electronic or digital devices (e.g.,
cell phones, laptops) except non-programmable calculators are prohibited during exams.
Calculators cannot be shared with friends. Students can leave the exam hall only after finishing
the exam. Because there will be two class tests and the better one will be counted for grading, no
make-up class tests will be given. Students will earn a score of zero on any missed test/exam.
Academic dishonesty, such as cheating or copying in an exam/test, may result in an ‘F’ grade.
Unless there are emergencies, students will sit for a test/exam only with their section.
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School of Humanities
and Social Sciences
Department of History and Philosophy
GRADING POLICY
A student’s course grade will be determined according to NSU’s Grading Policy as stated in the
following scale. In doing so, any decimal score will be converted to the next upper whole
number (for example, both 92.4 and 92.8 will become 93), irrespective of the conventional
mathematical rounding rule.
Numerical Scores Letter Grade Grade
Points
93 and above A Excellent 4.0
90 - 92 A- 3.7
87 - 89 B+ 3.3
83 - 86 B Good 3.0
80 - 82 B- 2.7
77 - 79 C+ 2.3
73 - 76 C Average 2.0
70 - 72 C- 1.7
67 - 69 D+ 1.3
60 - 66 D Poor 1.0
Below 60 F Failure 0.0
CODE OF CONDUCT
Class attendance and Participation: Students are expected to arrive on time for class. In case of late
arrival, they will be requested to enter as quietly as possible to minimize distractions. However, if tardiness
becomes habitual, the faculty member will speak to the student individually.
If a student leaves in the middle of the class, he/she will receive a zero for class attendance and participation.
Students might be prompted and required to answer thought questions, basic trivia fun questions based on
what was discussed, or additional readings during a lecture. If someone prefers not to participate, he/she will
not get any points for participation.
Class etiquette: There will be zero tolerance for disrespect. Students should avoid distracting the instructor
and other classmates during class time. If a student has a question regarding a class topic, they should raise
their hand and wait until the instructor gives their turn.
Use of cellphone and similar electronic devices are not allowed during class time. Students must keep their
cell phones and/or any device that makes noise off or silent during class (including turning off any vibrate
settings that still make noise and are disruptive). Activities such as answering a phone call, text messaging,
sending emails, using social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), or shopping online during class are
inappropriate and distracting. Leaving the class to use the phone should only be done in the case of an
absolute emergency, and the potential for such a situation should always be cleared with the faculty member
before class if possible. Students must be respectful of their fellow students and the instructor. On the
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School of Humanities
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Department of History and Philosophy
premises of the University or at the University-Sponsored Program, students must abide by the Student Code
of Conduct: [Link]
Cheating: All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct and will not be tolerated.
This includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information, misrepresentations, and
abetting any of the above. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy at NSU will be followed in the
event that academic misconduct occurs. Please refer to the NSU policy for more information:
[Link] Additionally, students are
expected to uphold the NSU’s Codes of Academic Conduct Statement, which reads:
“NSU strives to maintain a healthy academic atmosphere on its campus. The students are expected to do
their part in achieving this goal by attending classes regularly, making appropriate use of all campus
resources in a way as to enhance their academic achievements, maintaining discipline, keeping the campus
clean, and being good neighbors and models of good citizenship.”
Grade dispute: If students dispute their score/grade on any test or exam, they have one week from the date
that the scored/graded test script or exam script was returned to them to make a request for a valid change in
the score/grade. After this time, no request for a change in their score/grade will be considered. The
instructor reserves the right to re-grade or not to re-grade their course performance.
Special Needs: The faculty member will make appropriate accommodations for the student who requires
assistance in the classroom due to a disability of any type.
READINGS
Anastasi, A. & Urbina, S. (1997). Psychological Testing (7th Ed.). Pearson.
Anderson, B.F. (1971). The Psychology Experiment: An Introduction to Scientific Method (2nd Ed.).
Brooks/Cole Pub. Co.
Andreas B.G. (1972). Experimental Psychology (2nd Ed.). John Wiley & Sons London
Feldman R.S. Understanding Psychology 14th Edition Chapter 2 Mc Graw Hill
McGuigan, F.J. (1996). Experimental Psychology: Methods of Research (7th Ed.). Pearson.
Osgood, C.E. (1964). Method and Theory in Experimental Psychology. Oxford University Press.
Note. The instructor will provide updated reading materials or references if necessary. Downloadable PDF
copies of these materials are available on CANVAS.
