Building a Cohesive Curriculum to Promote Psychology Majors’ Success in Research Methods and Statistics Courses

Abstract

This chapter presents a case study of challenges to psychology majors’ success in research methods and statistics courses at Bennett College, and a description and evaluation of measures taken to address these issues. In addition to changes to individual courses and the curriculum pattern, these measures include forming explicit linkages between courses and with relevant co-curricular activities to emphasize the centrality of research and quantitative skills to the psychology major. Particular emphasis is placed on infusing these changes into first-year psychology majors’ experiences and coursework, in order to prepare and motivate students prior to their entry into a significantly revised and expanded sequence of corequisite research methods/statistics courses. These changes are discussed with regard to impact on student achievement in statistics and research methods courses, timely progress toward degree completion, and acceptance into graduate and professional programs. Current challenges, ongoing efforts, and plans for further improvement are also discussed.

Citation

Goble, A., Wrenn, S. and Campbell, S. (2015), "Building a Cohesive Curriculum to Promote Psychology Majors’ Success in Research Methods and Statistics Courses", Infusing Undergraduate Research into Historically Black Colleges and Universities Curricula (Diversity in Higher Education, Vol. 17), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 197-216. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-364420150000017010