Psychology 662/599

Research Practicum

Fall 2007

Syllabus

 

Meeting time:     Wednesday 1:50-2:50 in TPH 238

Professor:           Dr. Kelly Madole

Office:               232 Tate Page Hall

Telephone:          745-6475

Office Hours:      MW 9:30-11:30, TTH 12:30-2:00 & by appointment

E-mail:              Kelly.Madole@wku.edu                 

Website:             http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~kmadole/psy662/

 

Course Description.  There are three main goals for this course:  1) Provide the student with an opportunity to obtain research experience under the supervision of a faculty mentor, 2) Allow the student to begin preparation of his/her thesis project and 3) Provide a forum in which students and faculty will present research and engage in productive discussion of research-related issues. Each student will present at least once and discuss his or her research progress and results.

 

Requirements.  Each student will:

 

1. Work at least 10 hours per week in a research setting under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

2. Complete the attached Research Practicum Plan of Action, outlining the mutual goals and responsibilities of the student and sponsoring faculty mentor (due 9/5/07).

3. Attend the weekly colloquia presented by the applied experimental psychology faculty and graduate students.

4. Present their own research proposals or work in progress during one of the weekly colloquia.  First year students will give a 20-25 minute presentation, second year students will give a 40-45 minute presentation.

 

Texts

Required:

Cone, J. D. & Foster, S. L. (1993). Dissertations and theses from start to finish: Psychology and related fields. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

 

Highly recommended:

Bloom, D. F., Karp, J. D., & Cohen, N. (1998). The Ph.D. process: A student's guide to graduate school in the sciences. New York: Oxford University Press.

 

Peters, R.L. (1997). Getting what you came for: The smart student's guide to earning a Master's or a Ph.D.  Noonday Press.

 

Grading

 

á      Laboratory research (60% of grade): The laboratory research grade will be determined by the sponsoring faculty mentor.

á      Seminar attendance & participation (10% of grade): Class attendance is mandatory. Class performance grade will be affected by absences. Class participation means active participation. Attendance does not guarantee a good grade.

á      Seminar presentation (20% of grade): Seminar presentation grade will be based on your presentation during the weekly seminar. The grade will be determined by the applied experimental psychology faculty present during your colloquia.