Why do I have to learn this if i'm not going to graduate school? Teaching research methods in a social psychology of aging course

This paper provides an overview of the introduction and incorporation of re search methods into an advanced undergraduate level course, Social Psycholo gy of Aging. This case serves as an example of the challenges and issues fa cing those who teach aging courses within a broader discipline to students who enroll in the class with various motivations and levels of expertise. I ssues of methodology are incorporated at several junctures, including class lectures, active learning exercises, examinations, a term paper, and criti que of journal articles to increase the students' awareness of the relevanc e of methodology and the benefits of utilizing sound research methods in st udying aging. The development and teaching of this course is illustrative b ecause it requires both the incorporation of two disciplines (Sociology and Psychology) as well as an integration of the discipline of the course offe ring (Sociology) and the study of aging (Gerontology).