You will need to read Forty Studies that Changed Psychology, 6ed. (Hock, 2008). Please note that there are several editions- read the 6th edition or higher. Students are encouraged to purchase books at websites such as half.com or Amazon.com. You can also read the pdf or borrow a copy from Mrs. Greene, there will be a few in the IB Office over the summer.

Over the summer, consider reading and take notes on 20 of the studies. You will finish the rest in the first quarter of the course. There will be a project and assessment on all of the covered studies within the first term of the school year.

While you read and take notes, you will want to consider the "ITSMAGEC". This is an acronym that we use to analyze psychological research.

I: IMPORTANCE. Consider why this study is important to the development and understanding of the field of psychology. Did the research present a new perspective toward human behavior?

T: TRIANGULATION is a way of determine if the research is valid. Can you think of research, theories, or phenomenon that can support or refute the findings of the study?

S: STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES. Can you find confounding variables to the research? Is it replicable, relevant to the real world?

M: METHODOLOGY. In psychology, methodology is the way that the research is conducted. There are two categories of methodology- quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research is completed through an experiment, in which a psychologist presents one or more independent variables to the condition and that creates a change in the dependent variable (or what is being measured at the end of the research). Qualitative research shows correlation and not the causation of an experiment. Observations, case studies, interviews and surveys are all examples of qualitative methodology.

A: ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION. Analyze whether there could be another reason that the researcher can to the conclusion that (s)he came to. Could there have been a confounding variable that changes the results? Would a different population sample led to the same results? Would a different perspective or level of analysis of psychology guide the research differently?

G: GENDER. Determine if all gender considerations were met. Was the population sample an equal distribution of males and females?

E: ETHICAL. Determine if all ethical considerations were met. Was the research confidential? Were the participants briefed and debriefed, and were they told about their rights and were deceptions later revealed?

C: CULTURAL. Determine if all cultural considerations were met. Would the results be the same in all cultures? Did the population a cross cultural sample?