Course Information
- Course Title: Experimental Psychology
- Course Code: —
- Course Type: Compulsory
- Credit Hours: 3 (2 lecture + 1 lab)
- ECTS: 6
- Language of Instruction: English / Arabic / Kurdish
- Level: Undergraduate – Year 4
- Department: Psychology
- College: Education
- Academic Year: 2025–2026
- Semester: Fall (7th semester)
1. Course Description
This course introduces students to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes using the experimental method. It covers the scientific method, research designs, variables, measurement, and data analysis, as well as replication and open science practices. The course provides extensive training in ethical issues, including human and animal research, fraud, and modern debates such as the replication crisis and preregistration. Students will practice designing and conducting experiments, analyzing results, and writing research reports that meet academic standards.
2. Course Objectives
- Introduce the foundations of experimental psychology and the application of the scientific method to the study of behavior and mental processes.
- Develop research skills in designing, conducting, and analyzing psychological experiments in both laboratory and real-world settings.
- Foster understanding of variables, measurement, and research designs to evaluate psychological evidence critically.
- Promote ethical awareness and research integrity in studies involving humans and animals.
- Strengthen scientific communication skills through writing APA-style research reports and presenting findings effectively.
3. Learning Outcomes
- LO1: Explain the scientific method, types of research questions, and the role of experimental psychology.
- LO2: Identify and classify variables; construct operational definitions; and evaluate measurement reliability and validity.
- LO3: Differentiate between research designs (descriptive, correlational, experimental, quasi-experimental, factorial) and apply appropriate sampling methods.
- LO4: Conduct and report simple laboratory experiments; apply replication and open science practices.
- LO5: Demonstrate knowledge of ethical standards in research with humans and animals, including misconduct and modern issues (plagiarism, p-hacking, preregistration).
- LO6: Write structured research reports following academic standards.
4. Weekly Schedule
| Week | Lecture (Theory) | Subtopics | Practical (Lab/Activity) | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Experimental Psychology | Steps of the Scientific Method | Case analysis: Stroop Task (cognitive) & Bystander Effect (social) | LO1 |
| 2 | Research Questions in Psychology | Descriptive, correlational, causal questions | Case analysis: Working Memory Span (cognitive) & Stereotype Threat (social) | LO1 |
| 3 | Variables in Psychology | Independent, dependent, control variables | Case analysis: Serial Position Effect (cognitive)& Social Facilitation (social) | LO2 |
| 4 | Measurement in Psychology | Reliability & validity | Case analysis: Wisconsin Card Sorting (cognitive) & Asch Conformity (social) | LO2 |
| 5 | Research Designs | Descriptive, correlational, experimental, quasi-experimental, factorial | Case analysis: Task Switching (cognitive) & Social Loafing (social) | LO3 |
| 6 | Sampling Methods | Probability vs. non-probability | Sampling activity (student-generated survey on campus) | LO3 |
| 7 | Report Writing in Psychology | Components of scientific reports | Mini-report: Lexical Decision Task (cognitive)data | LO6 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | Review of Weeks 1–7 | — | LO1–LO3 |
| 9 | Replication & Open Science | Direct, conceptual, extension | Case analysis: Flanker Task (cognitive) & Contact Hypothesis (social) | LO4 |
| 10 | Historical Foundations of Ethics | Nuremberg, Tuskegee, Belmont Report | Case study: Little Albert (cognitive) & Milgram Obedience (social) | LO5 |
| 11 | Research Ethics with Humans | APA principles; informed consent; confidentiality; debriefing | Role-play: informed consent scenario | LO5 |
| 12 | Animal Research Ethics | 3Rs principle | Case study: Conditioning in animals (Pavlov)and discussion of animal ethics | LO5 |
| 13 | Research Misconduct | Plagiarism, falsification, fabrication | Video analysis: Stanford Prison Experiment (social) & report critique | LO5 |
| 14 | Research Transparency | HARKing, p-hacking, preregistration | Drafting report summary; discussion of modern alternatives (VR conformity, computerized paradigms) | LO4, LO5, LO6 |
| 15 | Comprehensive Review | Integration of cognitive & social examples | Group presentations linking projects to course concepts | LO1–LO6 |
| 16 | Final Exam | — | — | LO1–LO6 |
5. Assessment
| Activity | Description | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| In-Class Participation | Active participation in discussions and activities | 1% |
| Quizzes (2) | Three short quizzes (2 points each) covering key concepts | 4% |
| In-Lab Project & Report | Group project: design & execute a cognitive psychology experiment in the lab (EEG, eye-tracking, etc.), with report & group presentation | 10% |
| Out-Lab Project & Report | Group project: design & execute a social psychology experiment outside the lab (replicating a classic study), with report & group presentation | 10% |
| Research Report on Unethical Experiment | Group project: analyze an unethical psychological experiment, discuss methods, outcomes, ethical issues. Includes report & presentation | 10% |
| Midterm Exam | Covers Weeks 1–7 | 15% |
| Final Exam | Comprehensive (Weeks 1–16) | 50% |
| Total | — | 100% |
6. Teaching Methods
- Lectures and interactive discussions
- Laboratory experiments and practical exercises
- Case studies and role-playing for ethics
- Group projects and presentations
- Research report writing
7. References
Textbooks
- كتاب علم النفس التجريبي للمؤلف د. علي عودة محمد – ٢٠١١
- Martin, D. W. (2000). Doing psychology experiments. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Chicago
Additional Literature
Kantowitz, B.H., Roediger III H.L., & Elmes D.G. (2009.), Experimental psychology, 9th ED,. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
8. Curriculum Map
| Week | LO1: Scientific Method & Questions | LO2: Variables & Measurement | LO3: Designs & Sampling | LO4: Experimentation & Replication | LO5: Research Ethics & Integrity | LO6: Report Writing |
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9. Topics of Research Projects
Student groups will select a topic from the list of Unethical Experiments below. For your selected topic, write a report using this Report Template.
- Stanford Prison Experiment
- The Milgram Obedience Experiment
- Little Albert Experiment
- The Monster Study
- Harlow’s Monkey Experiments
- The Landis Facial Expressions Experiment
- The David Reimer Case
- The Robbers Cave Experiment
- The Bystander Effect: The Murder of Kitty Genovese
- Project MKUltra
- The Willowbrook Hepatitis Study
- The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
- The Human Radiation Experiments
- The CIA Sleep Deprivation and Torture Experiments
10. Topics of Experimental Projects
For your selected topic design and experiment. The designed experiment to include the following sections: title – research problem – hypothesis – null hypothesis – the dependent and independent variables – materials – stimuli – setup – procedure – results – analysis of results – conclusions.
For your selected topic, write a report using this Report Template.
- Subliminal messages affecting our decisions
- Selective Attention/Invisible Gorilla Experiment
- Priming and Word Recognition
- Visual Search Task
- Emotional Visual Attention
- Attentional Bias Toward Advertisements
- Scene Perception and Object Recognition
- Reading Comprehension and Attention
- Visual Perception and Change Blindness
- Stroop Effect
- Social Conformity
- Crowding Effect in Visual Perception
- Classical Conditioning
- Memory Recall and Forgetting
- The Impact of Sleep on Learning and Memory
- Facial Expressions and Emotion Recognition
- Effects of Multitasking on Cognitive Performance
- The Placebo Effect
- Attentional Blink
- Eyewitness Testimony Reliability
- Color and Mood
- Effects of Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement
- Reaction Times and Distraction
- Misinformation Effect
- Body Language and Perception
- Mental Rotation and Spatial Ability
- False Memories
- Subliminal Priming
- Prosocial Behavior and Empathy
- Effects of Time of Day on Cognitive Performance
- Personality Traits and Risk-Taking
11. Course Policies
Assignments & Deadlines
- Late Penalty: 10% reduction per day late
- Format: APA style required for all written work
- Extensions: Only granted for documented emergencies with prior approval
- Submissions: Through official university platform
Attendance & Participation
- Minimum: 80% lecture attendance, 100% lab attendance required
- Documentation: Medical/emergency absences require official documentation within 48 hours
- Lab Make-ups: Only available for documented emergencies
- Late Arrival: Students arriving >15 minutes late marked absent
12. Lab Policies
- Attendance: Attendance is mandatory for all lab sessions. Unexcused absences may result in point deductions.
- Safety and Conduct: All students are expected to handle lab equipment carefully and ethically. Respect for participants and their data is paramount.
- Ethical Considerations: All experiments must be conducted with informed consent from participants. Ethical breaches will result in a failing grade for the assignment.
- Deadlines: Assignments and projects must be submitted on time. Late submissions will incur penalties unless a prior extension has been granted.
13. CODE OF CONDUCT
- Plagiarism, cheating, data fabrication
- Unauthorized collaboration on individual work
- Multiple submission without permission
- Participant well-being is must
- Informed consent is required for all research
- Maintain data confidentiality and integrity