381 SYLLABUS

 

I. COURSE TITLE: PSY 381 Student Research I – 1 Credit Hour

 

II. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing; Psy 201 and instructor=s consent.

 

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a course that involves students in conducting library research in psychology.

 

IV. RATIONALE: Students of psychology need to have an in-depth understanding of the procedures involved in conducting library research in psychology.  The skills involved in doing library research form a foundation for all subsequent research in the discipline.

 

V. COURSE OBJECTIVES: As a result of taking this course, students should be able to:

 

1. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of library resources.

2. Analyze, compare and contrast various research and speculative articles on the selected                       topic.

3. Analyze and evaluate the different library materials available on whatever topic is                                     chosen for the course.

4. Apply library research skills in locating and utilizing library resources.

5. Apply critical thinking skills in order to synthesize a paper on the topic selected for the                               course.

 

VI. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: (Mississippi College Undergraduate Bulletin).

AMississippi College students are expected to be scrupulously honest.  Dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, or furnishing false information, including forgery, alteration or misuse of College documents, records or identification, will be regarded as a serious offense subject to severe penalty, including, but not limited to, loss of credit and possible dismissal@. Students should see the Bulletin for a complete description of cheating and plagiarism.

 

VII. COURSE TOPICS:

Because this is an independent library research course, the student, in consultation with the instructor, will select the topics to be studied.

 

VIII. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:

Because this course involves independent research and study, the student can meet with the instructor when turning in articles on due dates, or at other scheduled times if necessary, to discuss progress on the library research and receive mentoring.

 

IX. ASSIGNMENTS:

 

a. Select, with the instructor=s consent, a topic for the library research project.

b. Read, analyze, and evaluate ten research articles on the selected topic from refereed                                     journals.

c. Write a two page paper on each of the ten journal articles. 

Page One.  Start out the first page of the paper at the top with the bibliographic information about the article.  Then, mention the research question(s) and hypotheses the author(s) of the article addressed.  Next, the student will write out a brief summary of the article.  Finally, the student will develop a few questions they have on the topic of the article that were not raised or answered by the author. 

Page Two.  One the second page, the student will write a detailed outline of the specific methodology the author(s) followed to conduct the study.  This should include who the subjects were, any instruments used in the study, the procedures employed in using the instruments or equipment to collect data.

 

d. Turn in 2 two-page papers on each Friday due date (see list of Friday due dates under XIII Course Calendar).

 

e. On Friday, December 2, 2005, turn in a 7 page paper (including cover page and a reference page that includes all 10 articles) summarizing what was learned about the selected topic and questions about the topic that still remain to be answered, citing specific information from various articles read.

 

X.  EVALUATION: Students can earn the following 300 points:

 

1. 200 points for one page papers on the 10 journal articles related to the topic selected for the course.  Each paper will start by mentioning bibliographic information about the article and then the research question and hypothesis the author of the article addressed.  Next, the student will write out a brief summary of the article.  Next, the student will develop one or more questions they have on the topic of the article that were not answered by the author.  Next, the student will discuss the methodology of the article, including subjects, instruments and procedures.

 

20 points for each two-page paper. 

  2 point penalty for each day a paper is late.

 

2. 100 points for a paper that synthesizes what the student has learned regarding the topic                            selected for the course.

 

5 point penalty for each day the paper is late.

Grading Scale:

270-300 points (90%-100%) = A

240-269 points (80%-89%) = B

210-239 points (70%-79%) = C

180-209 points (60-69%) = D

    0-179 points (0%-59%) = F

 

 

 

XI. ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION:

 

Attendance: The student is expected to arrange a time to meet with the instructor to select the topic for the research project.  On each due date for the two-page journal article summaries/critiques, the student can arrange to meet with the instructor, if needed, to discuss his or her progress on the research project.

 

Students with disabilities: Any student with an identified disability that affects his/her ability to perform the work required for this course should notify the instructor immediately as well as Dr. Buddy Wagner in the Counseling and Career Center.

 

Note: Due to the dynamic nature of this class and the topics addressed (as well as other unforeseen events), the schedule and procedures of this course as outlined in this document are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances and without prior notice.

 

Contacting the Instructor: students wishing to contact the instructor in regards to this course or any other matter may do so in a variety of ways:

 

!Office:          105 Lowrey Hall, Office Hours posted, other times are available by appointment.

!Phone:           Psychology Office at 925-3841.

!e-mail:          wheeler@mc.edu --  Please include APSY 381" in your subject line.

 

 

XII. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 

There are no required textbooks for this course.  Journal articles are to be drawn from refereed journals. 

 

XIII. COURSE CALENDAR:

 

The first two two-page journal article summaries/critiques are due by Friday, February 3, 2006 by 4pm.

 

Subsequent batches of two two-page papers are due on the Fridays listed below at 4pm:

 

October 7, 2005

October 28, 2005

November 18, 2005

December 2, 2005

 

The final paper is due on Friday, April 21, 2006 by 4pm.

 

 

 

CONTRACT FOR PSY 381 - STUDENT RESEARCH

 

The undersigned student will:

 

1. Select a topic approved by the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester and read journal articles on the topic obtained from refereed journals.

 

2. Prepare double-spaced, typed, two-page papers on ten (10) journal articles. 

 

3. Type the first page of each two-page paper on the back of a copy of the first page of the article, or type both pages on separate sheets of paper that are then stapled to a copy of the first page of the article.  At the top of the first page be sure to include: your name, course number, bibliographic information, and sequential number of the paper.  The paper will start by mentioning the bibliographic information, research question and hypothesis the author of the article addressed.  Next, the student will write out a brief summary of the article and develop one or more questions they have on the topic of the article that were not answered by the author.  On the second page, include a detailed discussion of the methodology of the study (subjects, instruments, and procedures).

 

4. Turn in two (2) two-page papers on each due date, beginning Friday, September 16, 2005. 

 

5. Meet with the instructor in his office on each due date to discuss progress on the project, if necessary.

 

6. Turn in a seven (7) page type-written report on the selected topic for the course (use APA style for a Review/Theoretical article of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition). The paper must include a cover sheet and a bibliography of all 10 articles.  The paper is due Friday, December 2, 2005.

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Selected/Approved Topic

 

 

_________________________________                              ______________________________

Student Signature                                                                     Instructor Signature

 

 

________________________________                                ______________________________

Date                                                                                         Date

 

 

 

 

 

LAYOUT FOR TWO-PAGE PAPER

 

APA style bibliographic reference for article goes here

 

Student Name                                                            Date

Course Number                                                          Sequential number of paper (1-10)  

 

PAGE ONE:

Research Question the author is discussing:

Hypothesis of the author:

Summary of the article:

Questions about the topic of the article that still remain unanswered after reading the article:

 

PAGE TWO:

Methodology:

Subjects

Instruments

Procedures and Comments

 

PARTIAL EXAMPLE OF A TWO PAGE PAPER

 

Jones, J.K. (2004).  The universal aspects of childhood.  Journal of Child Psychology, 1, p. 12-24.

 

Chris J. Student                                                                     September 16, 2005

Psy 381                                                                                   No. 1

 

PAGE ONE:

Research Question the author is discussing:

Are there developmental events of childhood that are common among all cultures worldwide?

Hypothesis of the author:

The developmental events that occur in childhood are the same from one culture to the next.

Summary of the article:

Here, the student summarizes the content of the article in the student=s own words.

Questions about the topic of the article that still remain unanswered after reading the article:

Here, the student writes out a number of questions he or she has about the topic of the article that have not been fully answered by the author.

 

PAGE TWO:

Methodology:

Here the student writes in detail about the:

Subjects who participated in the study and instruments (equipment, surveys, etc.)

Procedures followed to carry out the study and comments on strengths and weakness