401A Syllabus

Senior Research Project

(PSYC 401A)

Academic Year 2001-2002

Paul Mallery, Coordinator

This class is designed for psychology majors and requires the completion of an original research project and the writing of a senior paper. Research plan must be filed within the first two weeks of the third term prior to the expected date of graduation, although enrollment may occur any quarter during the senior year. In general, senior research projects will be based on empirical work; theoretical papers may be acceptable under special circumstances (e.g., the student has already done significant empirical work).

Prerequisite: Psychology major with senior standing.

Grades will be assigned based on the following percentages:

Class Percentage	Grade
93%+	A
90-92.9%	A-
87-89.9%	B+
83-86.9%	B
80-82.9%	B-
77-79.9%	C+
73-76.9%	C
70-72.9%	C-
67-69.9%	D+
60-66.9%	D
0-59.9%	F

Seventy-five percent of the grade for this class is based on a senior thesis. The primary faculty sponsor (who must be a member of the Psychology Department faculty) assigns eighty percent of the thesis grade, and the secondary faculty sponsor assigns 20% percent of the thesis grade. If the secondary sponsor is not a member of the Psychology Department, the Psychology faculty must approve her or him.

Ten percent of the grade for this class is based on the Area Concentration Achievement Test, a test that covers all of the subject matter in the Psychology major. The student generally takes exam during the quarter in which he or she is enrolled; special arrangements must be made if exam is to be taken during a different quarter.

Anything that is late gets 5% taken off for each school day that it is late. Excuses for late assignments are only allowed with appropriate documentation for a medical excuse (i.e., a note signed by a doctor or nurse) or bereavement excuse (i.e., documentation of a death in the family).

The Psychology Department faculty expects total and complete honesty in your academic behavior in general and in writing the Senior thesis in particular. The student is responsible to get acquainted with the Academic Dishonesty Policy published both in the Student Handbook and in the University Bulletin. In the unfortunate occurrence of academic dishonesty, the instructor of this course will enforce all the provisions of the policy.

Grading will be based on:

Assignment		Due Date		Grade Assigned By		Type of Grade		Percentage of Final Grade
Research Plan		Within the first two weeks of the third term prior to the expected date of graduation		Coordinator		Pass/No Pass		2%
20-50 page thesis in APA format		Friday before Finals Week during the quarter before student’s graduation. This date is referred to below as the “Due Date.”		80% Primary faculty sponsor, 20% secondary faculty sponsor		Percentage		75%
Project Checkpoints	Literature Review turned in on time		No later than eighteen weeks before due date		Coordinator		Pass/No Pass		2%
	Experimental design and materials draft turned in on time		No later than sixteen weeks before due date		Coordinator		Pass/No Pass		2%
	Institutional Review Board Application turned in on time		No later than fourteen weeks before due date		Coordinator		Pass/No Pass		2%
	Draft of thesis turned in on time		No later than two weeks before due date		Coordinator		Pass/No Pass		2%
	Poster and 1-2 page handout for departmental Research Poster Day		Tuesday, June 4, 2002, 11am		Coordinator		Pass/No Pass		5%
Exam: Area Concentration Achievement Test		Friday, November 16, 1-3:30pm or Wednesday, May 15, 9-11:30am or Tuesday, May 21, 6-8:30pm		ACAT percentile scores are used as percentages		Percentage		10%

Senior Research Project (PSYC 401A)

Contract and Research Plan

2001-2002

This contract is due no later than the Friday of the second week of the third term prior to the expected date of graduation. Please type; an electronic copy is available from the Psychology Web site.

Student’s Name: _______________________________________________________________

Primary Faculty Sponsor: ________________________________________________________

Note: The primary faculty sponsor must be from the Psychology Department.

Secondary Faculty Sponsor: ______________________________________________________

Note: If the secondary faculty sponsor is not from the Psychology Department, the Psychology Faculty must approve her or him.

Student will take the Area Concentration Achievement Test on (check one):

___ November 16, 1-3:30pm ___ May 15, 9-11:30am ___ May 21, 6-8:30pm

Project Description (50-100 words):

____________________________________________________________________________

Timeline:

Assignment	Notes	Due Date
Literature Review	No later than eighteen weeks before thesis due date
Experimental Design and Materials Draft	No later than sixteen weeks before thesis due date
Institutional Review Board Application	No later than fourteen weeks before due date
Draft of thesis	No later than two weeks before due date
Thesis	No later than the Friday before Finals Week during the quarter prior to the expected date of graduation
Poster and handout	No later than June 4, 11am

I agree to the above timeline.

Student’s Signature:_____________________________________________________________

Date:________________________________________________________________________

I have worked with the student, and agree to be her or his primary sponsor them for the above described project and timeline.

Primary Faculty Signature: _______________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________________

I have spoken with the student and the student’s primary sponsor, and agree to be her or his secondary sponsor for the above-described project and time line.

Secondary Faculty Signature: _____________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________________