Research Project Description: Psychology 366

Dr. Lantinga|Dordt College|http://homepages.dordt.edu/~lantinga/expsych.htm |Fall 2010


Purpose IRB Materials Project Timeline
Partnership Choice Collecting Data Feedback/Evaluation Checklists
Needs Interview Results & Discussion Sections  
Lit Review & Design #1 Full Draft  
Lit Review & Design #2 Conference Program Info  
Brown Bag Final Paper  
Method & Materials Conference Presentation  

Purpose & Inspiration: In addition to developing the many skills needed to conduct and professionally present original psychological research, you will also learn to creatively deal with "stuckness," address interpersonal conflicts, manage your time well, and synthesize information to formulate and defend an argument. These are valuable life skills, no matter where you serve in God's Kingdom.  I know we have a lot to accomplish in our semester together, but I also know, after teaching this course 15 times, that every one of you can succeed.  Along the way, though, are some possible pitfalls:

  • You may feel overwhelmed.  Even though this is a 4-credit course, pulling off an entire research project in 14 weeks is not easy.  Following the recommended due dates should keep your work on track and prevent LOTS of stress in late November. Please feel free to talk to me about feeling overwhelmed, panicky, etc.

  • You may feel frustrated with difficult concepts (especially in the stats section).  New learning - especially of things you have to use right away in your own research - takes a lot of time and patience (and sleep) - which you may not have in abundance.  I want to help you learn, so please keep asking questions and hang in there - some concepts take time and practice to grasp.

  • You may feel defeated or inadequate.  I will praise the strengths of your work along the way, but I will also give you a lot of critical feedback and will raise the bar a little for each section draft.  Try to learn something from the feedback and not take it personally - you can't become a strong sailor if you just sail on calm waters (not that you want to be a sailor, but you get the point).  Learning happens best when you get specific feedback and work to improve. 

  • You may be tempted to cheat (plagiarism, making up data, peeking on tests, etc.).  Don't do it.  As men and women before God, we must avoid dishonesty. Talk to me and your classmates if you're feeling tempted to cheat and we can help hold you accountable.  As you know, because of the serious nature of academic dishonesty, any such behavior will result in an F on the particular assignment or test, which could even result in failing the class - which means you don't graduate. Don't do it.  Ask for help from your classmates, from me, from a counselor, etc.

BUT (here's the inspiring part):

Despite all these scary-sounding things,

you will produce the best paper you have ever written and you'll be very proud of yourself by the end of our conference.

The growth you will experience and skills you will develop really are worth your effort! 

Partnership Decision (due Sept 3): Nearly all scientific research is collaborative, and I strongly encourage you to work with a partner.  That said, you may choose whether to work with a partner or alone. Some factors to consider:

     I am happy to give you suggestions for a research partner and can help you work through any conflicts.  Use this form to indicate your partnership decision by September 3.

Needs Assessment Interviews (choice due Sept 3; report due by Sept 16): To use research to serve others, we must first discover what needs exist. Therefore, you will interview members of a campus office and determine which issues can be addressed using empirical methods with an experimental (or quasi-experimental) design. 

Lit Review and Design Draft #1 (due no later than September 28): This is the first draft of your introduction and method sections.  As such, you'll need to find and read the literature on your main topic (your DV), explore what variables have been studied related to that topic (IVs), and outline your proposed methodology. The more complete and detailed it is, the better feedback you'll get and the better position you'll be in to move forward on your project. I'm happy to read drafts or talk with you about your ideas.  :)

     E-mail your paper to me (intro, method, and references):

Lit Review & Design Draft #2 (due no later than Oct 6): After you receive feedback on your first draft, read more literature to develop a fuller context and stronger argument for your study and to refine your methodology (see chapter 7 in your Martin text).

     E-mail your paper and ethics documents to me (intro, method, title page, references page, informed consent, debriefing):

Brown Bag Meeting (October 13): "Brown Bags" are informal meetings where colleagues discuss their research over lunch (thus the strange title for the meeting). Participants briefly present their work, and colleagues ask questions or make suggestions for improvement. Our Brown Bag gives you an opportunity to give your "Grandmother speech" and get feedback on your proposed research from the psychology profs and your classmates. 

Method & Study Materials (due no later than October 19): This package includes a revised version of your method section (reflecting feedback from the Brown Bag) and your study materials, as listed below; I am happy to review drafts of these documents with you.

     E-mail your method and materials to me:

IRB Materials (due no later than October 27): After I've approved your methodology and study materials, go to Dordt's IRB web site (https://denis.dordt.edu/academics/irb/):

Collecting Data (after receiving IRB approval; finish by November 12): Once your study is approved by the IRB, it's time to collect data! You can give me any materials for photocopying 12+ hours in advance so the Psychology Department can cover the costs; also submit any receipts for other, pre-approved costs.  Here are some tips for collecting your data.

Results & Discussion Sections (due no later than classtime on Nov 16): Congratulations -- you've collected, coded, cleaned, analyzed, graphed, and interpreted your data!  Now write and submit the following materials (I'm happy to help you):

     E-mail your material to me before 7:30am:

Full Draft (due no later than 4pm on Nov 19):  We're almost done!

Conference Program Information (e-mail by Nov 30): Send me the following information in the body of your e-mail:

Final Paper (due in my office no later than 4pm on Friday, Dec 3; late papers are not accepted):

    In a large envelope or folder with your name(s) on the outside, submit:

    Before submitting your paper, self-evaluate and make revisions using the evaluation criteria.  Here are two serious issues to keep in mind; please let me know if you have questions or concerns:

Conference Presentation (3:30-5pm on Dec 8 in the Eckardt Lounge): Our Psychology Student Research Conference each fall gives you an opportunity to professionally present your work to the campus community. You are also required to present your research at the annual meeting of the Siouxland Undergraduate Social Sciences Research Conference (normally held the 3rd or 4th Thursday in April). This requirement must be met or your course grade will be reduced retroactively.  The Psychology Department believes it is very important for students to practice presenting their work in front of an audience, and we therefore require both presentations for the psychology major. 

     The evaluation criteria are shown at the bottom of the research paper feedback/evaluation checklist.

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 page last revised August 2010