PSYb2660 Good research practices

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Edita Chvojka, MSc (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Petr Palíšek (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Edita Chvojka, MSc
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 17. 2. 16:00–17:40 P21a, Thu 24. 2. 16:00–17:40 P21a, 18:00–19:40 P21a, Thu 3. 3. 16:00–17:40 P21a, 18:00–19:40 P21a, Thu 10. 3. 16:00–17:40 P21a, 18:00–19:40 P21a, Thu 17. 3. 16:00–17:40 P21a, 18:00–19:40 P21a, Thu 24. 3. 16:00–17:40 P21a, 18:00–19:40 P21a, Thu 31. 3. 16:00–17:40 P21a, 18:00–19:40 P21a, Thu 7. 4. 16:00–17:40 P21a
Prerequisites
The course builds upon conceptual issues. It is impossible to completely omit some statistical or research terminology from the debates, as the topics of research and statistics are tightly intertwined, however, the course is more methodological and/or philosophical than statistical. Basic knowledge of methodology (having passed an equivalent of Fundamentals of psychological research at FSS) is, however, strongly recommended. Having passed or simultaneously studying a lvl one statistics course (equivalent to Statistical data analysis I at FSS) is strongly recommended as well. Basic high-school background in philosophy and/or having passed a lvl 1 philosophy course (an equivalent of The philosophical fundamentals of psychological knowledge at FSS) should put you at ease.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Psychology has sustained a heavy hit during the ongoing replicability crisis (also called “the crisis of confidence”). The GRP course teaches students how to conduct research adhering to principles of scientific rigor, ethics, and open science, and how to recognize studies and research projects that can be trusted as examples of serious scientific endeavors. By these means, the course aims to prevent the students from committing one of the many sins of questionable research practice. The six modules of the course illustrate the dire consequences of not adhering to the GRP principles, not only for the researchers guilty of committing one of the sins, yet also for psychology as a scientific field.
Learning outcomes
Towards the end of the course, the students will be able to:
a) build constructive arguments for good research practices and educate their peers and colleagues about the importance of these principles
b) critically reflect on how different types of research pose different challenges of scientific rigor and ethics
c) grasp fundamental statistical, philosophical, and conceptual mechanisms which constitute the backbone of good research practices
d) understand that conducting statistical tests in exploratory research does not make any sense
e) last but not least, be able to preregister (or write the first half of a registered report of) their own research
Syllabus
  • Module 1: The Sin of Corruptibility
  • Module 2: The Sin of Bias
  • Module 3: The Sin of Hidden Flexibility
  • Module 4: The Sin of Unreliability
  • Module 5: The Sin of Data Hoarding
  • Module 6: Redemption
  • The Sins of Internment & Bean Counting will be discussed at a seminar within one of the aforementioned modules.
Literature
  • CHAMBERS, Chris. The Seven Deadly Sins of Psychology: A Manifesto for Reforming the Culture of Scientific Practice. Princeton University Press. 296 pp. doi:10.1515/9780691192031. 2019. info
  • Open Science Collaboration. (2015). Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science. Science, 349(6251).
  • Munafò, M., Nosek, B., Bishop, D. et al. (2017). A manifesto for reproducible science. Nat Hum Behav 1, 0021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-016-0021
  • Benjamin, D.J., Berger, J.O., Johannesson, M. et al. Redefine statistical significance. Nat Hum Behav 2, 6–10 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-017-0189-z
  • Lakens, D. (2016). Improving Your Statistical Inferences. Coursera. https://www.coursera.org/learn/statistical-inferences
  • OBELS, Pepijn, Daniël LAKENS, Nicolas COLES, Jaroslav GOTTFRIED and Seth GREEN. Analysis of Open Data and Computational Reproducibility in Registered Reports in Psychology. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science. vol. 3, No 2, p. 229-237, 8 pp. ISSN 2515-2459. doi:10.1177/2515245920918872. 2020. URL info
Teaching methods
lectures, practicals, discussions with the teachers and the invited guests, teacher's feedback on assignments, and pitch presentations with feedback from the lecturers and fellow classmates
Assessment methods
Each weak (with exception of the first one), students either hand in a group assignment (2 group assignment in total) or partake in a short quiz (3 quizzes in total). The MEDIAN grade from the three quizzes is worth 30% of the grade. The average grade from the two group projects is worth 15% of the grade. At the end of the course, students hand in a final project – a preregistration/the first part of a registered report of their own research. Each submission (be it a quiz, a group project, or a final project) is graded on a 10-point grading scheme. Students need a minimum of 5.5 to successfully pass the course (be awarded the credits). Should you miss the deadline for the assignment submission, please notify the lecturers and provide an explanation. Late submissions are possible (with a penalty of 1 point/day).
THE GOAL OF THE COURSE IS TO LEARN SOMETHING. THE GOAL OF THE COURSE IS NOT TO GET AN INSTANT 10 FROM EVERYTHING.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Teacher's information
Communication in the course is conducted primarily on the discussion forum in IS. This medium (hopefully) ensures that the lecturers can answer your queries in a quick and flexible way, and also that all people in the course can learn from the responses. Should you have a private matter to discuss, write the teachers a PM.

The language of instruction is English.Please keep that in mind and try to refrain from speaking Czech. The course aims to be a safe space for practicing academic English, as well as scientific writing in English.

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