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Kingsborough Community College
The City University of New York
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Syllabus
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BEH 70: Behavioral Science - Introduction to Research - 4 credits, 6 hours
(Spring)
Course Coordinators: Professor Joseph Verdino, Catherine Ma
Course Overview:
This course is designed to provide students with the necessary tools for the design
and implementation of original research for the INTEL National Science Talent Search
competition. Topics include theoretical issues in scientific research, research techniques,
design and methodology, data analysis, and proper formatting of scientific reports.
The specifics of the course content evolve in response to issues that emerge as students
develop their projects. Thus, the scheduling of topics listed in this syllabus is
subject to change as the semester progresses.
This course affords talented and hard-working High school students (you!) the opportunity
to participate in scientific research and scholarship. As part of a college community,
you will further your excellence in performance and achievement while developing skills
as a researcher and scientist.
Students who participate to their fullest abilities will accomplish the following:
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Develop the necessary tools for the design and implementation of original research
for the INTEL National Science Talent Search competition.
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Learn about theoretical issues in scientific research
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Research techniques
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Research Design and methodology
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Data analysis
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Correct formatting of scientific reports
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Choose and explore a topic of interest related to psychology or sociology.
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Find and study a variety of journal articles related to topics of interest.
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Learn to write a research study, including:
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Abstract
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Introduction, ending with problem statement and hypothetical questions
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Review of Literature
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Methodology
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Result (analysis of results)
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Discussion/Conclusions
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Reference section
Required Texts:
Russell K. Schutt,
Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press, 1996)
Arthur Aron & Elaine K. Aron,
Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences: A Brief Course. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997).
Course Assignments and Evaluation: Students will be evaluated primarily on the basis of their ability to develop a workable
research project over the course of the semester. There will be short written assignments
throughout the term, which are specified in the following pages. These written assignments,
taken together, form the core of the student's research proposal that will be submitted
to the college's Institutional Review Board for approval.
The course assignments and their grading weights are summarized as follows:
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Class Performance and Assignments
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a)
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Attendance & Class participation
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20%
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b)
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Homework assignments
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20%
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c)
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Research proposal
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20%
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d)
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Completed IRB w/Intrument
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20%
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e)
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Literature review & analysis
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20%
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All written assignments must be typed and submitted in duplicate. E-mailed documents
must be either in Microsoft Word format or saved in Rich Text Format (the latter is
an option under the "File Type" drop down menu in most word processing programs).
Students must do the reading
in advance of the class meeting!
Important: Bring in a flash drive with you to class to save work done in computer lab.
NOTE: ALL WORK MUST BE SAVED ON YOUR HARD DRIVE, ON A DISKETTE/FLASH DRIVE, AND IN
AN E-MAIL ATTACHMENT TO YOURSELF WHICH MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE COMPUTER LAB.
Course Schedule
*HW is due via e mail every Tuesday before class that week on Thursday!
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