Psychology Honours Psychology Honours Thesis Information Thesis Information SessionSessionWritten by: Prof. Geoff NavaraWritten by: Prof. Geoff Navara Presented by Prof. Fraser Bleasdale Feb. Presented by Prof. Fraser Bleasdale Feb. 7th, 20147th, 2014

Contact Information

Honours thesis co-ordinator: Fraser Bleasdale

fbleasdale@trentu.ca

Psychology dept. coordinator: Trudy Kirschner

tkirschner@trentu.ca

AgendaAgenda

IntroductionsIntroductions

What is an honours thesis?What is an honours thesis?

Why do an honours thesis?Why do an honours thesis?

Admission requirementsAdmission requirements

Application processApplication processFinding a potential supervisorFinding a potential supervisor

TimelineTimeline

What is an honours What is an honours thesis?thesis?

Coursework vs. thesis option for the Honours degreeCoursework vs. thesis option for the Honours degree

It is more than just a ‘big paper’It is more than just a ‘big paper’

The workload is high! (PSYC 4020D = approximately The workload is high! (PSYC 4020D = approximately 20 hours per week for two semesters)20 hours per week for two semesters)

Thesis requires the students to:Thesis requires the students to:Search and read relevant literatureSearch and read relevant literaturePlan an empirical studyPlan an empirical studyWrite a substantial thesis proposal Write a substantial thesis proposal Collect and analyze dataCollect and analyze dataReport the results via written, oral and poster Report the results via written, oral and poster presentationspresentations

PSYC 4010Y vs. 4020DPSYC 4010Y vs. 4020D

PSYC 4010Y is only for those students PSYC 4010Y is only for those students doing a Joint Honours Thesis with doing a Joint Honours Thesis with Psychology and another program (one Psychology and another program (one credit from Psychology, the other comes credit from Psychology, the other comes from the other program)from the other program)

If you are interested in PSYC 4010Y please If you are interested in PSYC 4010Y please see Trudy Kirschner in the Psychology see Trudy Kirschner in the Psychology OfficeOffice

Why do an honours Why do an honours thesis?thesis?

Good:Good:If you are planning to go on to a graduate program in If you are planning to go on to a graduate program in psychology (or many other social science based psychology (or many other social science based programs);programs);

Competitive edge in job market (demonstrates Competitive edge in job market (demonstrates marketable skills);marketable skills);

Are unsure of future goals (issue of limiting options);Are unsure of future goals (issue of limiting options);

Networking with professors; better letters of referenceNetworking with professors; better letters of reference

Believe it or not, research can be fun, educational and Believe it or not, research can be fun, educational and stimulating; the best educational experience we offerstimulating; the best educational experience we offer

Please see my presentation on getting into grad Please see my presentation on getting into grad school (available on the Psychology Department’s school (available on the Psychology Department’s website) website)

Admission Admission RequirementsRequirements

For getting into PSYC 4020DFor getting into PSYC 4020DCompleted PSYC 3015 with 75% average Completed PSYC 3015 with 75% average required!required!At least 0.5 credit from each of the A2, B2, A3, At least 0.5 credit from each of the A2, B2, A3, and B3 categoriesand B3 categories75% average over all Psychology courses 75% average over all Psychology courses requiredrequiredPermission of Psychology DepartmentPermission of Psychology Department

Several faculty supervisors have specific Several faculty supervisors have specific requests as far as content courses, etc. requests as far as content courses, etc. required to work with them (see student required to work with them (see student handbook)handbook)

Application processApplication process

You must apply to be in the Psychology You must apply to be in the Psychology Honours Thesis Program!Honours Thesis Program!

Forms are available from the Psychology Forms are available from the Psychology Office and online www.trentu.ca/psychologyOffice and online www.trentu.ca/psychology

Do not fill-in both sides of the application Do not fill-in both sides of the application (one or the other)(one or the other)

Space restrictionsSpace restrictions

Application deadline: March 14, 2014 by Application deadline: March 14, 2014 by 12:00 noon in the Psychology Office, 12:00 noon in the Psychology Office, DNA/LHS C 104.DNA/LHS C 104.

Finding a potential faculty Finding a potential faculty supervisorsupervisor

Your academic Your academic careercareer begins in undergraduate begins in undergraduate studies, it is important to act studies, it is important to act professionalprofessional and and respectfulrespectful to your colleagues and the to your colleagues and the professors (but you don’t need to ‘kiss butt’)professors (but you don’t need to ‘kiss butt’)

Networking is an important skill (both in life Networking is an important skill (both in life and in getting into graduate programs) – start and in getting into graduate programs) – start nownow

Approach faculty whose research work Approach faculty whose research work interests you (see student handbook or online interests you (see student handbook or online for faculty research interests)for faculty research interests)

Finding a potential Finding a potential faculty supervisorfaculty supervisor

Identify which faculty members you are Identify which faculty members you are most interested in working with most interested in working with

Look for a ‘good fit’ personally and Look for a ‘good fit’ personally and professionally professionally

Contact potential faculty to see if they are Contact potential faculty to see if they are taking on new studentstaking on new students

the student handbook is a good resource the student handbook is a good resource for you.for you.

Finding a potential Finding a potential faculty supervisorfaculty supervisor

If you have a faculty member willing to work with you, If you have a faculty member willing to work with you, please complete, sign and have the faculty member please complete, sign and have the faculty member sign the first page of the application form.sign the first page of the application form.

If you do not have a faculty member lined up to If you do not have a faculty member lined up to supervise you, please complete and sign the second supervise you, please complete and sign the second page of the application form.page of the application form.

Please note: if you do not have a supervisor lined up to Please note: if you do not have a supervisor lined up to work with you, you may still be accepted into the work with you, you may still be accepted into the program, but we cannot guarantee that you will work program, but we cannot guarantee that you will work with any of your preferred choices. with any of your preferred choices.

You may be paired with a faculty member whose You may be paired with a faculty member whose research interests and thesis work do not match with research interests and thesis work do not match with your personal interestsyour personal interests

TimelineTimelineApplication forms are available as of today (in this Application forms are available as of today (in this meeting or later from the Psychology Office or meeting or later from the Psychology Office or online)online)

Application deadline: March 14, 2014 by 12:00 Application deadline: March 14, 2014 by 12:00 noon (in the Psychology Office, LHS C 104) noon (in the Psychology Office, LHS C 104)

If you meet course requirements, you will be If you meet course requirements, you will be notified late May when your marks become notified late May when your marks become availableavailable

If you are completing course requirements in the If you are completing course requirements in the summer, you may apply after the March 14summer, you may apply after the March 14thth deadline and your application will be considered deadline and your application will be considered when summer final grades are available.when summer final grades are available.