What??? Written assignments? Hold on! These aren't really a big deal. They are assigned because we want you to learn about the area that you will be helping to do research in for at least two quarters. The work that you signed up to do for this 199 is really important! Therefore, you should have at least some background knowledge. You will be a better researcher for it.
Other reasons why these assignments are handy:
1. When you put together a resume, you can write more than "Psychology 199. October 2000-March 2001. Duties: Did research."
2. When you go on a job interview,
you will be able to say something impressive about the work that you did
other than "I used a computer and entered data." Boring!!
This also applies to graduate and law
school apps.
3. You will learn how to go to the library or look online to get an article if you don't already know how to do so. Is there really anything else to say???
4. The assignments will help you to figure out whether you like research in general or psychology and the law in particular, and whether you want to continue on to the honors program, grad school, a research job, etc.
5. If you are interested in law school, you will learn a thing or two about the legal system.
6. The papers will give you a
head start on the paper required for the B.S.
degree in Psychology.
Weeks 4-5 of the First Quarter:
Read the following article and write a
one page typed reaction paper. Reaction paper = Your response to
an issue presented in the article. Pick a point from the article
that especially interested you and go with it. Don't worry too much
about the style or format of the paper. The goal of these assignments
is to get you thinking critically about a research area. (It's also
to let me know that you are thinking critically about a research area and
reading the articles.)
Wells, G. L. (1978). Applied eyewitness testimony research: System variables and estimator variables. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 1546-1557.
Weeks 6-7 of the First Quarter:
Read the following article and write a
one page typed reaction paper.
Eyewitness Memory Research: Probative versus Prejudicial Value (Ebbesen & Konecni, 1996).
Weeks 8-9 of the First Quarter:
Read the following article and write a
one page typed reaction paper.
Frazier, P. & Haney, B. (1996). Sexual assault cases in the legal system: Police, prosecutor and victim perspectives. Law & Human Behavior, 20(6), 607-628.
Second Quarter as a 199 and Beyond
There are no assignments planned for the
second quarter.