Nathaniel Herr, PhD (CAS: Psychology)
What research methods course(s) do you teach? 
Psychology 313: Quantitative Methods in Psychology
How long have you taught the course(s)?
4 years
How would you describe your approach to teaching research methods?
My approach is to try to create lectures and materials that meet each student where they are at in terms of understanding the course material. Teaching a research methods course that focuses on statistics can be challenging because there is a wide range of previous experience and interest in the topic that students bring to the course. I try to quickly cover the basics, not taking for granted that everyone is already up to speed on what they need to know to learn the new content. I also work to provide low-stakes situations for students to make mistakes, such as in-class group practice exercises, low-point value homework assignments with prompt feedback, and cold-calling students during the lecture. The latter strategy can be controversial, but I work very hard to create an environment that welcomes mistakes rather than punishes them. I teach that the best way to improve your statistics skills is to make a mistake, diagnose why it happened, and then fix it the next time around. My own learning process for statistics involved many many mistakes, so I try not to expect something different from my students!
What is your favorite part about teaching a research methods course?
My favorite part about teaching research methods is when I defy the expectations that a student brings to the class that this will be a terrible experience. I ask students on day one to throw out any sense they might have that “I am bad at statistics” and try to approach the class with an unbiased view. The most rewarding moments have been talking at the end of the course with students who had previously hated statistics, but took this idea to heart and found the class to be the first time they felt mastery when working with statistics.
Are there any resources (general or domain specific) that you have found helpful in teaching?
I wish I could recommend some, but the main resources I draw from are emulating the successfully strategies that I have seen used by others.
What is your favorite teaching text to use?
I don’t really have a favorite!
What tips/recommendations would you give to an instructor teaching a research methods course for the first time?
I would recommend trying to take the perspective of a student in your class, who may feel like the course is simply a box they need to check to progress with their major. Don’t feel defeated by that sentiment, rather notice that it leaves a lot of room to show them how the knowledge and practice of research methods will enhance their engagement with the other courses they care about more. Help them see the connections between the topics they love and research methods, and you’ll have a student who is happy to be a part to your class.
