Facilitating Undergraduate Research Instruction with an Integrated Computer Network

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The Psychology Department emphasizes research and has a required three course research sequence. The ten PC-AT computers currently on hand do not have the software or hardware to update this research sequence. Therefore, the students do not have an adequate exposure to the development and completion of contemporary research. With equipment in this award, these PC computers are linked in a network which makes it practical to use experimentally oriented software. In addition to the network, hardware and software is being purchased that a) simulates theoretical models and typical research results, b) runs the students in classic and contemporary experiments, and c) allows students to use these computers for stimulus presentation, data collection and analysis for their own independent research projects. Additional course materials are being developed locally. Results of this project will be presented at professional meetings and published to encourage other departments to extend their use of computers into undergraduate instruction. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.