The goal of this project is to restructure the General Experimental Psychology (GEP) course (60 percent non-majors; 60% female enrollment) to give all students a more comprehensive, research-intensive view of psychology. To accomplish this objective, five modules (each containing menus of projects that share common equipment and protocol) are designed to permit a greater number of projects and more individualized instruction. Students will select projects from each module which are presented in a developmentally-oriented progression. The initial modules offer group projects that are more prescriptive, obliging each student to practice skills that are necessary in later, more independent projects available in subsequent modules. Computerizing and networking the laboratory will serve to increase the menu of available research projects and is the basis for a complete reorganization of this course into the core of a program designed to produce independent researchers. It will enable students to design, conduct, analyze, write-up, and print research projects using the same equipment, often within the time limits of class sessions. By presenting their projects during discussion sessions, all will benefit from a diverse view of each area of research.
