Firstenberg is a clear lecturer and I would recommend her! The class exams were a little tricky but were all multiple choice. A lot of the pain and workload from this class comes from the lab section, in which case it just depends on how strict and rigorous your TA is.

Whew this class was pretty hard for me. The tests were horrible and confusing as heck for no reason, like what is the purpose of making the tests so confusing!? The lab section wasn't that bad, it honestly depends on your group members. They switched everything up and made it completely group-based, even the final paper is a group project. So if you have horrible group members, PLEASE speak up, either to your members or your TA, because your lab grade is very important. They also offer more extra credit this year (in the lab section) so that's cool. Class is curved, so just stay above the mean and you should be just fine! SELLING THE TEXTBOOK ( beth morling, research methods in psychology, 3rd edition) FOR 45$! email: ************* for more info. Good luck!

Selling the 12th Edition of the textbook and the APA Manual for $10. Used the 12th when she required the 13th and still got an A.
Text me: **********

Do not take this class if you are not a good test taker. The exams are very tricky- beyond how it's like in other classes. The lectures and the exams are totally different. Even if you think you understand a concept, you don't. The exams are written in a way to make you choose the wrong answer even if you think it is the correct answer. Firstenberg is an amazing professor but the exams are something else.
The lab part of the class was ok. I had a really good TA and helpful lab partners so it made the experience a little bit better. However, the lab requires SO much work. You can lose points easily for not following the APA format or for not including details. Pay attention to what your TA wants and write your paper according to what your TA is looking for AND follow everything from the APA manual.
Go to office hours early on in the quarter if you are struggling. This REALLY isn't a class you can do overnight. Also make sure you are in a good mental state when taking this course. This class can really mess with you. Overall, I had a horrible experience. I'm afraid there aren't words that can adequately capture what this class is like but something along the lines of hell I would say. Honestly, good luck.

Selling the textbook for this class :
Methods in Behavioral Research (B&B Psychology) Standalone Book ,Cozby, Paul C.
price is negotiable , text **********

Now having finished Psych 100B, the class known to be the folly of us Psych / Psychobio / CogSci majors, I want to write an honest review because the class is surrounded with many rumors that even Firstenberg addressed at the beginning of the quarter.

First off, Firstenberg herself is an amazing professor. I'm serious when I say that she is an OG, and honestly she did her best to make lectures entertaining and understandable. Never went to her office hours because they conflicted with my other classes, but I imagine she's quite helpful and approachable. I came in thinking that it was because of the professor that it was difficult - totally not the case. The class is structured in a way to make things difficult - you'll see when you see the grading scheme. The lecture is one day a week for two hours, so usually there was a 10 minute break after the first half of class. People asked questions during that time, so when we reconvened, she clarified those questions and made sure the material she just taught made sense. She also had the Master TAs write out notes for lectures, which were SUPER helpful (they really helped me consolidate the information Firstenberg discussed in class, and I am super grateful for them). Since y'all probably will have taken Psych 100A before this class, the material isn't too abstract and unfamiliar. Just stay on top of the material and make sure you understand differences between vocabulary terms and differences in applying which to what situation.

Tests consisted of 40 MC usually (I think), and they were a bunch of experimental scenarios or situations that she asked you questions about (for example, what is the independent variable?) Sounds straightforward. What trips people up is that she has options that are like A is this, B is this, C is this, A and B, B and C, A and C (someone posted a meme about this on the UCLA memes page...there you can see what I mean). SO KNOW YOUR STUFF. 2 or 3 questions were always from the textbook. I skimmed the textbook, but I still got them wrong (but skimming should be sufficient if you're cramped with time). The rest of questions were from lecture. She provides one practice exam for each "midterm" and has the Master TAs hold review sessions before each "midterm," so super helpful. These are about 60% of your entire grade I think, so take them seriously.

Labs really depend on your TA. This is the unfortunate part. Some TAs grade more harshly than other TAs, but there is a curve, so don't worry too much about it. Just follow the TAs specific instructions, and make sure you comply with APA format! Can't stress this enough. These are easy points the TAs can use to dock off. I had an amazing TA (not going to say their name out of respect for them, and they're probably not going to TA for this class for a while), so I was super fortunate and blessed. But it's pretty much chance on who you get as a TA (you won't know who they'll be until the class is full, and even then, if they've never taught before, then you're kind of stuck until you meet them the first day). Don't exactly remember the breakdown of the papers and stuff, but lab grade is 40%. Papers are of course the majority of your lab grade. Take your TA's feedback into account whenever you write a paper. Go to office hours. Ask questions. Clarify things during section. Really know what your TA likes and is looking for. Hence, don't wait until last minute. I started and wrote my paper gradually, so I did better on my papers (even go to writing center if you know your writing isn't the best). Lab grade also consists of participation, attendance, and quizzes. You can drop your lowest quiz grade, but basically just study the previous Monday's lecture material, and you'll be fine. They're basically scenario questions like those on the exams.

There's 1% EC, but you have to participate in a SONA research study on campus. I suggest you sign up early on - these fill up quick, and friends I knew who waited until 9th or 10th week couldn't get the EC (makes a difference!)

Materials needed: textbook, course reader? (i think it's called), APA manual
- getting access to textbook is necessary, since she tests on it on exams
- course reader necessary cause you write in them for discussions, and turn in some stuff (you can maybe get away by asking someone who took it already and using theirs, but if you can't, you have to buy it (not too expensive though))
- APA manual can help if you're not that great of a writer, but I found it helpful because they had a sample paper, and I used that for formatting and writing

Overall, I had a great experience. I personally like application-based courses, and it's kinda cool figuring out what's lacking in each study (or not) and seeing how you can apply what you know to different situations. However, most people I've learned are different from me, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Great teacher. Okay course. Variable TAs. Should be fine. Good luck!

I've never written a review for a class before but I feel like as a Psychology major a personal review for 100B is necessary.
First things first, Iris Firstenberg was overall a great professor. She gave really interesting lectures. I was never bored or zoning out even with it being a 2 hour lecture. When I went into office hours, she was really easy to talk to and explained everything really well. Although I thought her exams were pretty tricky. The issue when I took the final exam was just overthinking the questions. I went into the final thinking she was trying to trick us with which lead to me doing worse than the midterm. If you don't overthink what you know, the exams shouldn't be terrible. It was important to study for them since the lecture portion is worth more than the lab.
As for the lab section, it is a lot of work. The key I think is to really understand your topic and COMMUNICATE with your partners. If you work together and understand your study, the paper will come easily. TIME MANAGEMENT is the second most important aspect. Give as much detail as you can with each assignment you turn in (i.e. Project Proposal, First Submission, and Final Submission). The APA format is important but not difficult if you just follow the example paper exactly the way it is in the APA Manuel you have to buy for the class.
I did really well in the lab portion, but struggled with the lecture exams (simply because I was overthinking the multiple choice questions) and I ended up with a B+
Getting a good grade in this class IS doable if you put in the work. I made the mistake of taking it along with three other classes but still managed to do well.
Alll in all this class was a struggle and the source of all my stress BUT as psych majors we have to do it and get through it together. Best of luck taking this class. If you're taking it with Iris, you're in good hands, just stay focused.

lolz good luck!!!!

I would not recommend this class mainly because of the grading breakdown. Read previous reviews to see grading breakdown. Take the class with Ankowski if possible, b/c the grading breakdown in that class is much more fair. The professor is engaging but her tests are so tricky that you think you did well and you end up failing :).
I have to retake the class in the summer because even though final grades aren't up yet, there is no way I passed if I failed both exams :) (I am trying not to stress out about it because it is over and there is nothing I can do except do better the next time) Best of Luck Everyone!

I, like you, was scrolling through reviews before deciding on this class. I made the mistake of underestimating negative reviews.
The class consists of 2 Midterms (60% of your grade) and a group project in your lab section (40% of your grade).
The TA will intentionally grade everyone harshly. Everyone in my section got D's and F's on the Method Section.
Now, when you submit your 'first submission', THE APA MANUAL IS YOUR BIBLE. Link your seed articles and your additional research to your current research ("this relates to the current research because..."). I had to use those exact words, because my TA marked me off for lack of clarity.
We were not allowed to see the rubric, even though I came during office hours and asked for it.
In the lab section, the class average was consistently a C.
The lecture material makes sense, and Prof. Firstenberg explains with perfect clarity. Her tests, however, are phrased in a way that is meant to trick you.
What did I study?
The textbook, the notes, the quizzes from the lab section, and the example problems. I also studied the slides from the two review sessions. On the day of the exam, if you told me that I had an extra day to study, I'd say that I didn't need it, because I knew the material inside and out. And yet...
My grades:
First Exam: 70%
Class Average: 76%
Second Exam: 47% (yes, I know, it's bad!)
Class Average: 78%
Our professor curves the class, but I don't think I'll pass. What I'm trying to say is that I can't be the only 'dumb one'. I wish I could go back in time and do it all again. Instead, I'm giving you advice. Don't ignore my negative review. Don't take this class with Firstenberg.
DON'T. DO. IT.