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2024/2025  KAN-CPSYO1802U  Experimental methods

English Title
Experimental methods

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Psychology, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Georgios Halkias - Department of Marketing (Marketing)
Main academic disciplines
  • Methodology and philosophy of science
  • Statistics and quantitative methods
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 24-06-2024

Relevant links
Learning objectives
The purpose of the course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, design, and implement rigorous experiments to investigate causal hypotheses. Thus, central to the course is the idea of causal reasoning as well as the ability to (a) transform vague research questions into specific cause-and-effect relationships and (b) devise an appropriate methodological architecture to conduct experimental studies that test these relationships in a valid and reliable way.

To achieve a grade 12, students should meet the following objectives with no or only minor errors:
  • Describe the logic of causality, critically assess causal claims, and develop meaningful causal hypotheses.
  • Apply alternative experimental study designs to test causal research hypotheses.
  • Utilize appropriate techniques and operationalizations of experimental procedures and elements.
  • Recognize the relative strengths and weaknesses of different methodological choices by reflecting on the external, ecological, and internal validity of experimental studies.
  • Discern (and avoid) questionable research practices, evaluating their impact on the veracity and reproducibility of experimental results.
  • Describe the role of statistical testing and explain how key statistical concepts apply to empirical experimental research.
Examination
Eksperimentel metode:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 15 pages
(assignments may reasonably be shorter but - with all relevant material considered- should not exceed the maximum page length)
Assignment type Written assignment
Release of assignment An assigned subject is released in class
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam.
Description of the exam procedure

Students have to identify a novel research idea/phenomenon within a subject area that is relevant to "business and psychology" (eg,  marketing, consumer behavior, advertising, behavioral economics, creativity, innovation, organizational psychology , etc.), formulate causal hypotheses , and  propose  the complete methodological architecture of an experimental study designed to address these hypotheses.

 

More specifically, the assignment should start with the motivation behind the overall research idea, along with a justification of the main research hypotheses (Objective 1) , and then focus on developing a detailed methodological plan for an experiment (or more) that can test the hypotheses in a valid and reliable way. The latter should address all aspects necessary to conduct the experiment (eg,  design, participants, stimuli and experimental material, pretests, manipulations, instructions, dependent measures, procedure , and so on) and should also consider real-life practicalities and the feasibility of implementation (eg,  resources and other constraints ) (Objective 2-3, 6) . All decisions regarding the methodological approaches adopted need to be justified and properly backed up! The proposed study should be pre-registered and the pre-registration plan should be part of the assignment (Objective 5-6) .

 

The assignment should conclude with a critical reflection on the specifications of the proposed experimental methodology, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and potential threats in establishing internal and external/ecological validity (Objective 4) .

 

Overall, the assignment requires identifying a theoretically substantiated causal claim and proposing a robust and feasible methodological plan that relies on justified experimental design options and which critically reflects on the methodological and analytical consequences of these options.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The course content does not involve cramming and memorization. Instead, it develops an experimental way of thinking and places emphasis on critically understanding the mechanics of experimental methods. The topics discussed include: 

 

  • Philosophy of Science and Research Paradigms
  • Causal Inference and Experimental Research
  • Fundamental Elements and Procedures of Experimentation
  • Different Experimental Designs
  • Validity and Reliability
  • Applied Research: Behind the scenes 
  • Statistical Inference & Analyzing Experimental Data
  • Research Ethics: Replicability, Reproducibility, and Questionable Research Practices (QRPs)
Description of the teaching methods
The course follows a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face with online (live and recorded) sessions. Lectures do not have a normative nature and involve elaborating on a topic through in-class discussions and by utilizing hands-on examples and cases of experimental studies to illustrate the relevant ideas and concepts.
Feedback during the teaching period
In all sessions, students are expected to actively participate, ask questions, and raise issues relevant to the course. Among other things, such interaction offers the possibility to make relevant adjustments and ensure that the learning objectives are delivered effectively.

Throughout the semester we will hold interactive sessions (in-class or online), dedicated to problem-solving, clarifications, and additional feedback. In these sessions, students can voluntarily present their ideas and receive feedback both from the professor and their peers. Such interactive activities provide additional time and space for inquiries and allow students to reflect on the course’s material from different angles.
Student workload
Teaching 36 hours
Preparation 153 hours
Examination 65 hours
Expected literature

The course draws on recent (as well as classic) published papers and online resources which incorporate the best and most up-to-date practices in the field of experimental methods. Hence, the study material is primarily guided by a selection of articles and online resources that is provided through Canvas as well as by the lecture slides and the lecture notes (if available). The content of the course is also covered by the following textbooks:

 

Shadish, William R., Cook, Thomas D. & Campbell, Donald T. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference . New York: Houghton Mifflin.

 

Shaughnessy, John J., Zechmeister, Eugene B. & Jeanne S. Zechmeister. (2012)  Research methods in psychology (9 th ed.), McGraw-Hill.

 

Price, Paul C., Jhangiani, Rajiv S. & Chant A. Chiang. (2015). Research Methods in Psychology , 2nd Canadian Edition [licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License].

 

 

 
Last updated on 24-06-2024