 |
Step One: Topic
Psychology 985
One course designed specifically for exploring potential research
topics is Psychology 985 (Preparation for the Honors Thesis). This course, offered both semesters and strongly encouraged for all thesis students, involves independent study taken
under the supervision of a department faculty member for the
specific purpose of producing a thesis prospectus. The course is
exploratory in nature, and your thesis idea will take shape over the
semester. Thus, you do not need to have a clearly defined thesis
topic in order to take the course, but you should have an interest in
a specific area of psychology, and within that area some sense of
what question or questions you might like to pursue. You must find your
own Psychology 985 supervisor within the Department, and in most
cases you will have an easier time finding a supervisor if you have
done some thinking and reading about a potential topic.
The course consists of an application, individual meetings with your supervisor, and
several required group meetings with fellow
Psychology 985 students. Fall meetings will be by arrangement with the UGO, and the spring meetings will be run by Craig Smith, a Lecturer in the Department and by Mahzarin Banaji, Head Tutor. These meetings will cover the nuts and bolts of the thesis process, including defining a topic,
finding an adviser, methods, and writing a prospectus. Spring term meetings will be Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in
WJH 105 (specific meeting dates will be announced later, as the course does not meet every Wednesday). If you are not taking Psychology 985, but plan to write a thesis
(or are considering this option), you are strongly urged to attend these meetings also.
Psychology 985 requires a completed prospectus or (if you decide not to
write a thesis) research paper. It is graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and
can count for one concentration elective. (If you take this course, your
concentration grade-point average will be based on your best eleven
concentration course grades, including all required courses; if you do
not take Psychology 985, it will be based on your best twelve.)
|
|
