2020-2021 / PSYC4027-1

Experimental planning in biological psychology

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in psychology (120 ECTS)3 crédits 

Lecturer

Ezio Tirelli

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

- Meta-research and scientific methodology
- The publication bias
- Questionable research practices (QRPs) and the lack of methodological quality
- The basic logic of the NHST statistical inference
- P-hacking and other conscious or unconscious bias (or QRPs)
- Effect size, sample size and statistical power
- False-positives inflation and the decline effect
- Replications and irreproducibility of the scientific results
- Pseudo-replications and experimental or observational units
- Randomization and blinding procedures
- Neglected experimental designs that favor power
- Basic introduction to the software G*Power

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

- Critical reasoning and statistical thinking
- Better knowledge of the "scientific behaviors"
- Ethical aspects of scientific research

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basics in psycho-statistics, psychometrics and experimental psychology and possibly an overall view of the contemporary scientific disciplines.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Analysis of publications in the fields of meta-research and scientific methodlogy.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

The participation of the student is necessary.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Recommended or required readings

A number of recent and classical papers will be provided by the teacher.
 
Recommended reading: 
Chambers C.  The 7 deadly sins of psychology.  Princeton University Press.
 
Some suggested important titles:
Kirk RE. Experimental design: Procedures for the behavioral sciences. New York: Sage, 2012.
Kline RB. Behond significance testing. Washington DC: APA, 2013.
Makel MC & Plucker JA (eds) Toward a more perfect psychology. Washington DC: APA, 2017.
Motulsky H. Intuitive biostatistics: A nonmathematical guide to statistical thinking. Oxford University Press, 2014.
Williams M, Curtis MJ, & Mullane K (eds) Research in the biomedical sciences: Transparent et reproducible. London: Academic Press, 2018.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

Written examination/test.

Work placement(s)

Possible. To be decided separately.

Organizational remarks

None.

Contacts

Idem