A Computerized Laboratory to Enhance Undergraduate Psychology Education and Research

该学院提供强大的实验心理学及相关课程。在过去的十年里，心理学专业的学生在密苏里州科学院的本科生论文竞赛中做了更多的演讲，获得了更多的奖项，超过了该州其他任何一所大学的学生，无论他们的学科是什么。近年来，该项目的重点已开始转向更多的计算机辅助教学。所有心理学专业的学生现在都要接受使用电子邮件、文字处理器、电子表格、网络浏览器(如Netscape)和基本统计分析软件的培训。此外，学生们一直将他们的独立项目放在学院的万维网服务器上。过去，尽管该学院可供课堂和独立使用的计算机资源有限，但这些资源被课以重税，并与校园内的所有其他院系共享。此外，计算机实验室没有进行统计分析或收集数据所需的软件或技术支持。这个项目开发了一个全面的计算机化实验室，允许学生将他们所学的计算机技能更好地整合到他们目前的学术工作、他们未来的专业工作和他们未来的科学努力中。这个实验室可以提高我们本科生的研究成果的数量和质量。在这个实验室获得的技能应该会给学生提供现代社会批判性思维所需的技术知识。另一个目标是通过使用现代技术来增加本科生研究人员之间的交流。该项目创建了一个由17个站点组成的教学/研究实验室，学生可以在这里学习和实践科学研究过程的所有步骤。这一目标是通过四个部分实现的：基本研究技能、统计分析、数据收集以及模拟和演示。这四个部分应该会提高心理学学生已经出类拔萃的独立研究记录，并促进对科学事业的热情。*

The college offers a strong program in experimental psychology and related courses. Over the past decade, psychology students have made more presentations, and earned more awards, in the Missouri Academy of Science undergraduate paper competitions than students from any other college in the state, regardless of discipline. In recent years, the focus of the program has started to shift to more computer-assisted instruction. All psychology majors now receive training in the use of electronic mail, word processors, spreadsheets, web-browsers (e.g., Netscape), and basic statistical analysis software. In addition, students have been placing their independent projects on the college's World Wide Web server. In the past, although the college had limited computer resources available for both in-class and independent use, those resources were heavily taxed and shared with all other departments on campus. Moreover, the computer laboratories did not have the required software or technical support for conducting statistical analysis or for data collection. This project develops a comprehensive computerized laboratory that allows students to integrate better the computer skills they learn into their current academic work, their future professional work, and their future scientific endeavors. This laboratory allows an increase in both the amount and quality of research that is produced by our undergraduate students. The skills acquired in this laboratory should give students the technical knowledge required for critical thinking in modern society. A further goal is to increase the communication among undergraduate researchers through the use of modern technology. The project creates a 17-station teaching/research laboratory where students can learn and practice all steps of the scientific research process. This objective is accomplished through four components: Basic Research Skills, Statistical Analysis, Data Collection, and Simulation and Demonstration. These four components should enhance the psychology students' already exceptional record of independent research and promote enthusiasm for careers in science. *