University of Evansville

SYLLABUS

Psychology 490

Senior Review and Senior Thesis

Class of 2013

 

INSTRUCTOR

John R. Lakey, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

206 Hyde Hall: 488-2531 or 488-2520 (Home: 858-9378)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Considers contemporary issues, developments, trends and leaders in psychology through readings, discussion and independent study summarized in a major paper, the Senior Thesis.  Includes preparation for Senior Comprehensive Examinations.  Prerequisite: Senior psychology majors and minors or neuroscience majors in their last year.  Fall.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

(1) Weiten, W.  (2013). Psychology: Themes and variations (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson (ISBN: 978-1-35474-9).  Packaged with Concepts Charts. 

(2) Rosnow, R.L., & Rosnow, M. (2012). Writing papers in psychology (9th ed.). Wadsworth/Cengage (ISBN: 1-111-72613-2).

(3) Struck, W., Jr., & White, E.B. (2000). Elements of style (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Longman (ISBN: 020530902X).

 

RECOMMENDED TEXT:

(4) American Psychological Association (2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition.  Washington DC: APA.  (ISBN: 978-1-4338-0561-5) [Corrections to the First Printing].  [Free APA Tutorial]

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Systematic review of psychology and identification of topics supportive of personal career goals.  Specific objectives include:  Establishing a solid knowledge base in one area of your major field of study.  Learning how to search and access the literature with modern technology.  Gaining a clearer understanding of personal interests and values.  Developing skills in oral presentation and in substantive writing.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

(I) SENIOR REVIEW:  Required attendance, participation, and presentations. 

(II) SENIOR EXAMINATIONS:  Review of general psychology for the Senior Comprehensive Examinations and the ETS Major Field Test in Psychology (similar to the ETS Graduate Record Examination in Psychology).

(III) SENIOR THESIS:  The Thesis Proposal, Prospectus, and Thesis with Portfolio.  The Thesis must extensively review a selected topic in contemporary psychology related to your career goals. Original research is not required but may be presented in the context of that extensive review.

I.  THE REVIEW [325 points and one-third the course grade]

PARTICIPATION:  The Review is a “large seminar” which means that all participants share responsibility for making it a worthwhile experience.  You are expected to be attentive to presentations, display interest, and positively participate in discussions.  As a simple rule, at least three good questions should be asked of each presenter.  Also, includes points for good attendance, prompt attention to schedule, early submission of prospectus and thesis, and early thesis presentation.  [25 points]

(1) SEARCH ARTICLE:  You will present a brief, 5-minute report of a recent article obtained from your literature search for a thesis topic. You must use a PowerPoint outline (2-3 slides).  These PowerPoint slides should include the article’s title, its author(s), their institution(s), the abstract, and an outline of the points you wish to emphasize. The presentation schedule is tight, and individual presentations must adhere to time limits. Individual presentations are scheduled for specific time slots (see Class Calendar). [25 points]

(2) CHAPTER REVIEW:  You will assume responsibility for one full class (50 minutes) to provide a thorough review of an assigned chapter in Weiten (latest edition), Psychology: Themes and Variations.  You will be provided with a basic PowerPoint slide on Blackboard set that is to be significantly improved (new slide design, rewritten text, added video clips, and new slides with material from past courses and online searches).  A final copy of your enhanced PowerPoint file must be submitted to the Instructor to be placed on our Blackboard website for later class review.  Presentations will be graded with these criteria: (1) effectiveness in preparing us for the MAJOR FIELD TEST IN PSYCHOLOGY, (2) inclusion of appropriate supplemental material, (3) construction of an improved multimedia slide set, (4) effective oral presentation (talk, explain things and “tell the story” -- don’t just “flash slides”), and (5) worthwhile utilization of the entire class period.  With multiple presenters, you may elect team presentation (both receive the same grade) or divided presentation (presenters receive separate grades).  With divided presentation, each person will present half the material using half the class period (25 minutes).  [200 points]

(3) THESIS PRESENTATION:  You will present a 15-minute formal summary of your Thesis. You must use a PowerPoint outline.  Presentations will be graded with these criteria: (1) an effective PowerPoint slide set and (2) an effective oral presentation.  Individual presentations are scheduled in advance, must be delivered when scheduled, and limited to the allotted time.  If you miss your assigned slot, you may standby to fill in for any opening that occurs (with multiple standbys, lower presentation numbers get the open slot).  Faculty and students are invited to your presentation and it may be recorded for department review.  [100 points]

II.  THE EXAMINATIONS [400 points and one-third the course grade]

(1) First Preliminary Senior Examination consists of approximately 100 questions covering the first half of the textbook and APA format (Rosnow & Rosnow’s Writing Papers in Psychology, APA’s Publication Manual, and APA Format reviews linked in our class website). [100 points]

(2) Second Preliminary Senior Examination consists of approximately 100 questions covering the second half of the textbook and composition rules (Rosnow & Rosnow’s Writing Papers in Psychology, Strunk & White’s Elements of Style, and reviews on good writing linked in our class website). [100 points]

(3) Comprehensive Senior Examination, currently the Educational Testing Service’s Major Field Test in Psychology, consists of 140 questions covering all psychology.  This test is very similar to ETS’s GRE in Psychology, and it requires a two-hour period scheduled outside of class during the evening (see the Class Calendar to reserve that date: Everyone is required to sit as one group for standardized administration).  The Major Field Test is our final examination, and we will not use the two-hour period normally scheduled during finals week.  [200 points]    

III.  THE THESIS [400 points and one-third the course grade]

All Senior Theses are required to thoroughly review the literature concerning a topic related to your career goals.  All literature relevant to that topic will be methodically searched, effectively organized, and concisely presented.  The current state of our knowledge about that topic is then to be evaluated for unique insights, valid conclusions, and noteworthy perspectives.  Any original research (your own study) will be integrated into this review.  Most acceptable Theses will range from 30 to 60 pages and cite at least 25 references with copies of key references, or parts thereof, in your accompanying Portfolio.  You are to become an expert about this topic.  Topics are individually proposed and must be approved by the Instructor.

(1) THESIS PROPOSAL:  See Rosnow & Rosnow (2012), 3.5.  After your name, insert the name of your reader, “Thesis Supervisor:  [Name].”  If an outside reader, someone other than the course instructor, that person must have agreed to supervise and grade your work, and you will provide them a copy of this proposal.  As part of the first section, “Objectives of the Proposed Review,” you will explain your career goals and how the selected topic relates to those goals.  This proposal establishes your thesis topic and Thesis Supervisor, and both must be in place by the due date.  [25 points]

(2) THESIS PROSPECTUS:  See Rosnow & Rosnow (2012), Chapter 5.  The Thesis Prospectus is due about six weeks before submission of the Thesis (see Class Calendar), and submitted to the instructor and, if different, your Thesis Supervisor.  This Prospectus will provide both an outline and the initial working draft to be expanded into your thesise.  The Prospectus is graded by Dr. Lakey, but you will also submit a copy to any other Thesis Supervisor for suggestions and comments. Format:  See Rosnow & Rosnow (2012), Appendix B, for basic expansion format.  In place of the “Author Note,” substitute “Thesis Supervisor: [Name].”  Title Page, Abstract (a brief restatement of your proposal for time being), as a Table of Contents, your tentative outline using entries that will become section headings and subheadings, References, etc.  [75 points]

(3) THESIS PORTFOLIO:  As part of your literature search, you will collect PDF files burned to a CD, printouts, and photocopies of key journal articles and sections of books. These will be organized in a Portfolio to be used to prepare your Prospectus and Thesis.  The Portfolio will be submitted to your Thesis Supervisor and graded as part of your Thesis.  Articles available on the CD will be asterisked in your References [*Smith, J., and Jones, R. (2011)….] to alert your reader that they may access the original article when needed.  Double-asterisk photocopied articles [**Smith, J, and….].

(4) THESIS:  As determined by your Thesis Supervisor, but evaluation of the Thesis is usually based on (1) content: (a) thorough review of the primary literature and (b) your appreciation and evaluation of that literature, and (2) construction:  (a) organization, (b) effective writing, and (c) adherence to APA format.  The Thesis is graded by your Supervisor’s specific criteria, and you should review these with you reader when you discuss your Proposal and Prospectus.  [300 points]

Good Thesis Content:  Theses will thoroughly review the literature, including “primary” journal reports with data and statistical analyses, not just the “secondary” literature (books and review articles) that summarize those reports.  Avoid overuse of a few secondary references.  All literature relevant to the topic should be methodically searched, effectively organized, and concisely presented.  This review is then intelligently evaluated for unique insights, valid conclusions, and noteworthy perspectives.  Any original research on the topic (your own study) should be integrated as a primary report following this review and evaluation (good research begins with a good literature review—your results should contribute to that literature).   As a goal, you are to become an “expert”—knowing more about the topic than your faculty reader (the best Theses are those that educate or update the Reader).  This expertise can help you achieve your career goals.       

 

Good Thesis Construction:  Senior Theses will be well written and carefully edited.  Effective writing skills must be demonstrated to pass the course—regardless other performance.  If needed, you are authorized to obtain assistance writing and editing your Thesis from our Writing Center (you must acknowledge this and any other assistance with a title footnote).  See the Rosnow & Rosnow’s Writing papers for psychology, APA Publication manual, and linked APA Format websites for good construction information.  See Rosnow & Rosnow’s Writing papers for psychology, APA Publication manual and Struck & White’s Elements of style for basic style information.  Avoid verbosity.   Avoid awkward and nonparallel constructions.  Avoid discursive and logical transition errors.  Avoid lexical and grammatical (semantic and syntactic) errors.  Avoid APA citation and reference errors.  Don’t over-cite references.  Direct quotations may not exceed 5% of the total word count.  Start early to have the time to write, rewrite, edit, and rewrite some more!

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

LITERATURE SEARCH:  The literature search is the basis of all scientific effort as well as the mark of advanced scholarship; you are required to master this important facet of intellectual endeavor.  You will search on-line databases including the Annual Review, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES,and MEDLINE.  These searches will usually provide abstracts and full text that can be downloaded as PDF files to your hard drive and eventually burned to a CD for submission with your Portfolio.  Abstracts will suffice for less important articles, but for the more important ones, the full text should be obtained.  If not available online, usually the article can be obtained through interlibrary loan.  You may also directly request a “reprint” from the author by email (also ask for “preprints” of any more recent work):  these simple contacts can you help identify possible graduate programs.  NOTE:  Do not include “junk web references” in you Thesis (see Weiten, Appendix D & E).   

THESIS CONTENT:  The majority of your review must deal with primary literature -- journal articles that present the actual data with statistical analysis.  Quotations may not exceed five percent (5%) of the total word count of the Thesis:  Instead of quoting text, paraphrase and summarize in your own words.  Avoid inadvertent plagiarism with correct APA citation.  Papers that have been submitted in previous courses are not acceptable as Senior Theses, in whole or in part -- do not plagiarize yourself.

FORMAT:  As generally specified by the latest edition of the APA Publication Manuel and Rosnow & Rosnow’s Writing Papers in Psychology (Appendix B with a Table of Contents and figures inserted in the text body).  Best Theses are posted online and provides reliable examples of what your thesis should look like.   Review articles in recent issues of the Annual Review of Psychology, American Psychologist, or Psychological Science also provide models for your thesis.

THESIS ORGANIZATION:  Title Page (add your Supervising Professor’s name), Preface, Abstract, Table of Contents (your original Proposal outline), Text (with section headings and subheadings), References (asterisk those references with PDFs or double-asterisk photocopies in your Portfolio), Footnotes (explain Reference asterisks).  Insert tables and figures with captions in the text body as it would appear in print.  Make sure that every text citation has a Reference entry, and vice versa.  Don’t over-cite:  Avoid repeatedly citing the same reference in the same paragraph!  [Start the paragraph with “Smith and Jones (2011) studied…,” keep the discussion to that study, and you need not cite it again in that paragraph.]

PRINT SUBMISSION:  The printed Thesis must be stapled together -- without binder or cover -- and placed in the front section of your Portfolio folder.  Large heavy-duty staplers are available in the department office.  The paper-copy Thesis  and Portfolio are submitted only to your Reader, and that person will return both of these to you directly.

FILE SUBMISSION:  The WORD file (or other acceptable file) that printed your Thesis must be uploaded to http://www.TurnItIn.com (course ID# and password posted on Blackboard); if your thesis is not submitted for electronic review, your thesis grade is zero.  This file copy must be submitted on or before the class calendar due date to avoid penalties (one letter grade step and an additional step each week until F).  TurnItIn.com upload records the date and time of formal submission. 

RETURN OF THESIS:  Your Reader will return your Thesis and Portfolio to you directly, preferably with the Assessment Report (form download form from Class Website):  You Reader will review their evaluation with you.  If permitted by your Reader, you may elect to make revision that will raise your grade no more than one full letter (B to A, C to B, etc.).  The Reader will forward your thesis letter grade or notice of pending revision to Dr. Lakey by our final examination day.  If pending revision, the course grade is recorded as I (Incomplete) until the revision grade is received and the revised file is uploaded to www.TurnItIn.com.  No late penalty will be assessed, but if no grade is received by the one-year anniversary date, the I automatically reverts to F.

LATE THESIS REVISION:  Revisions must be submitted on or before our final examination period to avoid report of an Incomplete grade. 

 

DISSEMINATION:  Please include one of the following statements as a footnote to the thesis title:  (1) “*Dissemination Permission: The author grants permission for distribution and duplication of this thesis for non-profit scholarly activities.” –OR-- (2) “*Dissemination Restriction: The author withholds permission for any distribution or duplication of this thesis in whole or in part.”

 

THESIS SUBMISSION:  The Thesis will be submitted to http://www.TurnItIn.com on or before the due date (see the Class Calendar).  After that date, the thesis grade will be penalized one letter grade step (A to A-, A- to B+, etc.) and an additional step each week late until submitted or the possible grade is F.

 

OUTSIDE READERS AND THESIS SUPERVISORS:  You may ask any full-time faculty member, in any department, to supervise and grade your thesis.  This person should have the special expertise to provide sound guidance and advice for your review of the thesis topic.  You should contract early, and your Supervisor should forward a short email to Dr. Lakey stating that they have agreed to supervise and read your thesis.  You must supply your Thesis Supervisor with a copy of this Syllabus and a copy of the Assessment Report (both hyperlinked at our class website), but the specific requirements and grading criteria are solely at the discretion of you Reader (discuss their requirements and criteria beforehand using the Assessment Report form). Your Supervisor will report your thesis grade to Dr. Lakey by email.  Your Supervisor will return your graded Thesis and Portfolio directly to you (Dr. Lakey and the Department have access to your TurnItIn.com copy).  Remember to promptly submit your Thesis and any revision to TurnItIn.com -- the date and time of initial submission determines any late penalty.  Remember to personally invite your Reader to your Thesis Presentation.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

>BLACKBOARD & FACULTY WEBSITE:  This course will use Blackboard (http://acebb.evansville.edu/) and the linked instructor’s faculty class website (http://faculty.evansville.edu/jl3/psych490/index.htm).  The class website will post our current “official” syllabus and class calendar, and you will refer to these “master copies” for schedule changes, new due-dates, and course modifications.  Changes in the syllabus will be alerted by Blackboard email.  Generally, we will communicate with one another by email, especially when a formal record is required.  You must maintain your university email account and check it often.  If you have problems accessing Blackboard, accessing the Faculty Website, or maintaining your email account, please contact the OTS Help Desk (helpdesk@evansville.edu or 488-2077) for assistance.

>GRADE POSTING: The instructor's grade book is posted on Blackboard Gradebook for your full access. Please report any errors or omissions.

>OFFICE HOURS:  Walk-In Hours are posted on the Instructor’s door and on his Faculty Webpage, and you need not make formal appointments.  If you are waiting to see me, make sure I know you’re waiting for me. I am also available at other times,

>HONOR CODE: The University of Evansville requires your support for the following statement:  "I understand that any work I submit for course credit will imply that I have adhered to the Academic Honor Code:  I will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid nor will I tolerate an environment which condones the use of unauthorized aid."  Please report any problem to the Instructor.

>AUTHORIZED AID:  Acknowledge all aid and outside assistance you obtain in preparing your thesis as a title footnote.  You may freely obtain help from the Writing Center (located in the Excel Center in front of the Library) and the Thesis Supervisor. 

>QUOTATION LIMITATIONS:  Directly quoted material may not exceed five percent (5%) of the word count of your thesis.

>PLAGIARISM:  Any copied words in your Thesis must be in quotation marks (or offset if 25 or more words) with APA citation of their specific source (author, publication date, and page).  Any paraphrased ideas in your Thesis must be attributed to their author (at least by name in the text or by name and date).  Plagiarism occurs when you do not follow either of these two basic rules.  Presenting someone else’s work as your own is never “authorized,” and it is always violates our Academic Honor Code.  It’s also just plain stupid with TurnItIn.com and Google search.

>TURNITIN:  All Theses must be submitted both to the Reader and to http://www.TurnItIn.com/: A paper printout is provided the Reader for grading, and the file (used for that printout) is uploaded to turnitin.com:  you must go to this website, register for the course, and upload the file (our course ID# and password are available at BLACKBOARD Information).  The date your thesis is submitted to turnitin.com is the record date of submission that determines any late penalty. 

>BEST THESIS AWARD: Theses that receive the grade of A will be read by the entire psychology faculty to select the Best Thesis of your class. This Best Thesis will be bound, indexed, and shelved by our Library.  The author usually receives a small cash prize or honorarium.  Since TurnItIn.com copies are read by the faculty, if you receive an A, please make corrections and submit a final “revised” copy to Revisions at TurnItIn.com.  Multiple Best Thesis Awards may be made, and some years, no awards are made.

>DROPPING A COURSE: A course may be dropped without a designated grade during the first two weeks of a term of the regular academic year.  From the third through the eleventh weeks, a grade of W is assigned.  After the eleventh week, a grade of F is assigned in this course (a higher grade requires that you actually complete the course).  Discontinuance of attendance does not automatically constitute a withdrawal; you must formally withdraw at the Registrar’s Office. 

>INCOMPLETE GRADE: Outside of thesis revision, the grade report of I (Incomplete) grade will be submitted only when justified by personal crisis or legitimate sickness precludes timely completion of the course; otherwise, missing scores are zeroes for the course grade.  You should present your extenuating circumstances, your request for an Incomplete, and, if possible, your time schedule for completion of the course in writing.  To be assured of the Incomplete Grade report, you must receive the instructor's approval in writing (make sure you keep a copy for future reference).  All I grades become F on the one-year anniversary of the scheduled final exam date. 

>LATE SUBMISSIONS:  All late assignments will be penalized without legitimate excuse.

>MISSING ASSIGNEMENTS:  Recorded as zeros in computation of the course grade.    

>MAKE-UP EXAMS:  All students must sit for the Major Field Test in Psychology.  Should you miss a Preliminary Examination without that absence being excused by Dr. Lakey, the score is zero.  If excused, you will be allowed to take a substitute exam to replace the zero.  If this “makeup” is administered by the Department’s Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Miller, you must schedule it at her convenience (call 488-2520 to make arrangements). 

>DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION:  It is the policy of the University of Evansville to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities.  Written notification to faculty from the Office of Counseling and Health Education is required for any academic accommodations.  If you are eligible to receive and accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it with me and allow two weeks notice.  Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the accommodation can be received on a timely basis.  If you have questions about services for students with disabilities or procedures for requesting services, you may contact the Office of Counseling and Health Education at 488-2663.  

>GUESTS:  As room permits, all members of the university community are invited to attend your Chapter Review and Thesis Presentation.     

>YOUR OBLIGATIONS: (1) Attend class.  (2) Work together for our collective welfare.  (3) Have and share positive attitudes.  (4) Look to your future.

 

SUGGESTED EARLY THESIS start:

 

Step 1:  Establish personal career goals and a five-year plan -- it’s time for commitment!  You may want to use our Career Services and Counseling & Testing Services.   Click http://www.psywww.com/careers/index.htm for some useful grad school and career information.   If considering graduate school, most application deadlines are in January:  you need to get started now.  Preparation for and scheduling GRE or MCAT exams (http://www.ets.org/gre or https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/ )?

 

Step 2:  Select an area of interest and three topics in that area that support your career goals.  Investigate these topics to identify a meaningful concentration for your Thesis.  Your textbook may be helpful.  Consultation with faculty and career-goal professionals is strongly encouraged:  You may ask any full-time faculty member, in any department, for help and to supervise and grade your thesis.  You Supervisor should have the special expertise to provide sound guidance for your review of the thesis topic.  You must obtain formal approval of a tentative Thesis topic from the Instructor, feel free to send an email to Dr. Lakey.  Remember this topic will likely be refined over the course of your literature search.

 

Step 3:   Initiate the literature search as soon as possible – this summer!   Does your topic work?  Start your search with review articles and work to specific research reports in journals.  Concentrate on recent material published within the last 10 years.  Topics usually evolve and change as you learn more about the topic.

 

(a) A good way to start:  Read the most recent article in the Annual Review of Psychology that covers your topic (or the Annual Reviews of Neuroscience, Public Health, Medicine, etc.).  These annual review articles provide a bibliography, and usually direct you to the key articles you need to read.  [If you cannot find an annual review article covering your preferred topic, you may need to select another topic.]

To directly search for Annual Review articles on your topic, click http://psych.annualreviews.org/  You can read the full text of articles on line through our Library website:  Click http://libraries.evansville.edu/, then click A-Z Databases to find the Annual Reviews.  You can access these articles from home with your student ID#. 

 

(b) Conduct PsycINFO (MEDLINE if neuroscience) searches to obtain the most recent reviews and research reports:  Click http://libraries.evansville.edu/ for remote access, under A-Z Databases, click PsycINFO or Medline.   Enter the key search terms for your topic.  When you find articles you want to read, access PsycARTICLES or other database for the full-text and save the PDF to your hard drive or flash drive.  If you cannot access the full text otherwise, you can order photocopies of the article through our Interlibrary Loan (see Request Forms). 

 

(c) PDF reprints of articles are frequently available at the authors’ Faculty Webpage and you can always email the authors to request a copy by email.  Author addresses are a part of the article, and e-mail addresses are readily available at the authors’ institutions (or just enter name and search with http://www.google.com/).  Ask for a “reprint” of the article -- and also ask for reprints or “preprints” of any subsequent or related work.  You may want to ask for suggestions and advice -- these direct contacts can help some seniors select a graduate program. 

 

Step 4:  Start your Literature Portfolio File.   Organize your PDF reprints and scan copies of key book sections or hard journal to a hard drive.  Later, you will burn the files to CD for your Portfolio to be submitted with your Thesis.  Make sure you backup all files to a flash or cloud drive periodically.

 

Step 5:  Prepare your Thesis Proposal before classes start. See Rosnow & Rosnow (2012), Section 3.5.  After your name, insert the name of your reader, “Thesis Supervisor:  [Name].”  If an outside reader, someone other than the course instructor, that person must have agreed to supervise and grade your work, and you will provide them a copy of this proposal.  As part of the first section, “Objectives of the Proposed Review,” you will explain your career goals and how the selected topic relates to those goals.  Take some time to really think about your future:  Where will you be this time next year?  2016?.