In recent years, national policy experts have questioned the overall quality of educational research, and they have suggested that researchers strengthen their scientific methods by maximizing the use of experimental designs. To promote more rigorous methodology, we discuss several new and often-overlooked opportunities for incorporating…

We reviewed the body of published research in the journal "Teaching of Psychology" ("ToP") concerning diversity issues (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status). Between 1974 and 2002, approximately 7% of articles published in "ToP" substantively dealt with diversity issues, with gender issues…

Describes a special topics course in American popular psychology. Course objectives are to trace the history of the popularization of psychology in America; discuss the efforts of William James, G. Stanley Hall, and others; and evaluate the quality of various examples of popular psychology. (MJP)

Outlines a simple classroom demonstration that illustrates Piagetian conservation. Piagetian conservation refers to the illusion of an increase in mass by changing an object's form. This demonstration, done by forming an ellipse with an extension cord, shows that college students are as susceptible to this effect as are young children. (MJP)

Argues that psycholinguistics relies on a number of methodologies that bear little relation to actual language comprehension. Maintains that computer software illustrating classic experiments in psycholinguistics can introduce students to these techniques. The software examines experiments concerning reaction time, reading time, and recognition.…

Presents an interview with Susan Lederman that contains a fascinating and informative overview of the recent developments in neuropsychological research concerning the sense of touch. Discusses the physiological processes that support this sensory experience and reveals them to be much more flexible, intricate, and adaptive than previously…

Provides some cursory guidance on the mechanics of establishing and instructing in a virtual classroom. Briefly discusses the history and central issues of distance education, describes how to teach an online virtual seminar, and offers recommendations for future courses. Discusses such issues as instructor availability, directing discussions,…

Examines text and photographs in 28 introductory textbooks published between 1990 and 1992 for coverage of diversity issues (minority group members and gay and lesbian lifestyles). Although the quantity and quality of diversity coverage has improved, the content and images in 1990s textbooks has varied substantially. Includes statistical tables.…

Presents the results of an assessment of undergraduate courses and instruction-related services. Students answered a 148-item questionnaire concerning advising services, career services, departmental communications, research and field experiences, and departmental courses. Discusses the results and includes statistical tables of the collected…

Reviews studies and journal articles to collect suggestions for increasing individual student involvement in small-group activities. Briefly addresses the lack of student productivity during these activities. Includes a descriptive table of all articles appearing in "Teaching of Psychology" between 1974 and 1995. (MJP)

Describes an undergraduate course project where students helped mentally alert senior citizens write their life stories. By assisting senior citizens to organize memories and interpret life decisions, the students experienced stages they had not yet lived through. Students evaluated the course project as a positive learning and personal growth…

Examines aspects of the introductory psychology textbook market through a publishing house survey. Aspects covered are the current and future number of introductory texts, fewer textbook publishers, custom publishing, changing content, and computer technologies. Discusses the results of the publishers' responses and provides statistical tables of…

Presents the results of a study that tested students in a research methods and a developmental psychology class on methodological and statistical reasoning at the beginning and the end of the term. Reasoning scores of research methods students improved more than the scores of developmental psychology students. (MJP)

Discusses the results of a content analysis of student journals in which the students applied concepts from their social psychology course to their daily social experiences. Reveals that students applied each of four cognitive operations (labeling, explaining, reducing consequences, and self-assessing) to various aspects of the self. (MJP)

Maintains that having students estimate the size and width of a class waste paper can (placed on a desk) is a simple and effective way of illustrating perceptual distortion. Tests show that people will consistently overestimate the height of the can, allowing for a useful discussion on sensory distortion. (MJP)