PSY202 Research Methods in Psychology
PSY202 Research Methods in Psychology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2026
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Psychology
Mersiha Jusić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the logic and practice of psychological research. Students examine science as a way of knowing, ethical requirements, observational and survey methods, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, introductory data analysis, and the communication of research. Throughout the semester, students develop a research proposal that integrates conceptual, methodological, ethical, and analytical decisions.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S. (2015). Research methods in psychology (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Additional Literature
Coolican, H. (2004). Research methods and statistics in psychology (4th ed.). Hodder Education. Goodwin, J.C. (2008). Research in Psychology- Methods and Design (5th ed.) WileyTeaching Methods
Lectures combined with class discussions with examples
Active learning through demonstrations and group work on relevant tasks in the classroom
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Course. | |
| 2 | Psychology as a Science. Thinking Like a Researcher. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 1 |
| 3 📍 | The Scientific Method: Questions, Concepts, and Hypotheses. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 2 |
| 4 | Ethics in Psychological Research. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 3 |
| 5 | Observational Methods. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 4 |
| 6 | Survey Research and Sampling. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 5 |
| 7 | Experiments and Independent-Groups Designs. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 6 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | relevant chapters from the textbook, articles |
| 9 | Repeated Measures and Complex Designs. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 7 |
| 10 | Single-Case Research Designs. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 9 |
| 11 | Quasi-Experimental Designs and Program Evaluation. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 10 |
| 12 | Qualitative Approaches. | Coolican, Chapters 9 and 19 |
| 13 | Communicating Psychological Research. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 13 |
| 14 | Research Projects Presentations. | relevant chapters from the textbook, articles |
| 15 | Research Projects Presentations. | relevant chapters from the textbook, articles |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY202.1 | Course | Monday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.26 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 14:00 | B F1.15 | |
| Friday | 11:00 - 13:00 | B F1.15 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Research Project Proposal and Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4 5 6
Glossary Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Assignments and quiz
20 hours ⏳ (4 week × 5 h)
Active Tutorials
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Home Study
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
In-term Exam Study
24 hours ⏳ (2 week × 12 h)
Final Exam Study
30 hours ⏳ (2 week × 15 h)
Assignment
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY202] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY202 | Research Methods in Psychology | 2 | 1 | 6 | Mon 9:00-11:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | PSY103 | It is a prerequisite to | PSY214, PSY402 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mersiha Jusić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-14:00 Friday: 11:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| mjusic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to the logic and practice of psychological research. Students examine science as a way of knowing, ethical requirements, observational and survey methods, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, introductory data analysis, and the communication of research. Throughout the semester, students develop a research proposal that integrates conceptual, methodological, ethical, and analytical decisions. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S. (2015). Research methods in psychology (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures combined with class discussions with examples. Active learning through demonstrations and group work on relevant tasks in the classroom. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the Course. | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Psychology as a Science. Thinking Like a Researcher. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | The Scientific Method: Questions, Concepts, and Hypotheses. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Ethics in Psychological Research. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Observational Methods. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Survey Research and Sampling. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Experiments and Independent-Groups Designs. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 6 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | relevant chapters from the textbook, articles | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Repeated Measures and Complex Designs. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 7 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Single-Case Research Designs. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 9 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Quasi-Experimental Designs and Program Evaluation. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 10 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Qualitative Approaches. | Coolican, Chapters 9 and 19 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Communicating Psychological Research. | Shaughnessy et al., Ch. 13 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Research Projects Presentations. | relevant chapters from the textbook, articles | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Research Projects Presentations. | relevant chapters from the textbook, articles | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Research Project Proposal and Presentation | 1 | 25 | 2,3,4,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Glossary Quiz | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 2 | 14 | 28 | Assignments and quiz | 5 | 4 | 20 | |||
| Active Tutorials | 1 | 14 | 14 | Home Study | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| In-term Exam Study | 12 | 2 | 24 | Final Exam Study | 15 | 2 | 30 | |||
| Assignment | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 28/09/2026 | |||||||||