Assignments
Assignment points breakdown
- Lab assignments: 24%
- Reading quizzes: 16%
- Final policy presentation: 10%
- Final research paper: 20%
- Participation: 20%
- Participation reflection: 5%
- Syllabus quiz: 5%
Lab assignments (24 points)
Each week after lab, you will be assigned a coding exercise due before lab the following week (Wednesdays). These labs are designed to help you apply what we’ve learned in class and to guide you through the process of conducting a psychology research project with found data. There will be 9 assignments, but you will only be responsible for completing 8 of them, worth 24 points in total. This means you may skip one with no penalty, or you can receive extra credit for the extra assignment you complete. Students will receive 3 points for on-time assignments and 2 points for late assignments and no points for incomplete assignments. All assignments will be completed via Posit Cloud, which you will learn how to use in class. (Note: Prior knowledge of coding is NOT a prerequisite for this course. You will learn the skills you need in class to help you complete these assignments.)
Reading quizzes (16 points)
There will be 9 reading quizzes throughout the semester, to be completed at home before the start of the class when the reading is due (Mondays). The reading quizzes are designed to test your knowledge of basic research methods concepts – as outlined in the textbook readings – and will be “open-book.” However, they will require you to apply and extend these concepts to research in the context of justice and public policy. There will be 9 quizzes, but you will only be responsible for completing 8 of them, worth 16 points in total. This means you may skip one with no penalty, or you can receive extra credit for the extra quiz you complete. Each quiz is worth 2 points. Late quizzes will receive 0 points. All reading quizzes will be completed in a single Google doc. Please use this template as a starting point.
Final policy presentation (10 points)
Throughout the semester, you will conduct a research project using found data. The project must link psychological theory with social/policy change, and you will analyze data to make your case. You have the option to do this project alone or with a partner. At the end of the semester, you will give a final presentation structured for a policy audience. The goal of this presentation will be to summarize your findings in an easily digestible way with the purpose of affecting policy. Presentations will be 15 minutes long and will take place on 12/3 and 12/8. Instructions for the final presentation can be found here.
Final research paper (20 points)
In addition to your presentation, you will also write up your project in a 10-15 page academic research paper. Regardless of if you work with a partner on the research project, you will write your own research paper. The paper should follow APA format with an introduction to the topic that includes some background literature, a detailed methods section, a thorough results section (including statistical analyses and visualizations), and a concise discussion. The final paper is due on 12/15, and a project outline is due on 11/12. Instructions for the final presentation can be found here.
Participation reflection (5 points)
Midway through the course, you will write a reflection (250-500 words) on how you think you are doing in your participation in the course. You should use the participation rubric to help you write your reflection. I will give you feedback on your reflection about where I agree and disagree. The purpose of this assignment is for you to be honest with yourself about your relationship to the course while also getting a concrete sense from me about how are you doing. You will receive full credit on this assignment if your reflection touches on all aspects of the participation rubric.