Final Project

Appendix A: PY 451 Final Project

GENERAL INFORMATION. All psychology majors are required to complete at least one block of a Final Project. The final project takes one of three forms:

(a) Empirical research: This is supervised empirical research leading to a publishable paper. Students, in collaboration with a faculty supervisor, design a project, collect and analyze data, and write up a paper in a manner appropriate for a peer-reviewed journal. Examples of such research articles can be found in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology, and Cerebral Cortex.

(b) Literature review: This is a critical review of the literature that addresses a particular issue. Students carefully outline the topic they will address, and use (primarily) journal articles to support their thesis. Such a review is not a mere summary of the literature; instead, it critically analyzes existing literature to a particular end. Examples of such reviews can be found in Psychological Bulletin, and Nature Reviews Neuroscience (online).

(c) Directed field study: This is an project completed in the community under the direct supervision of a Colorado College (CC) faculty member. In addition to the service component, the project results in a final paper (e.g., grant/program application, critical summary) that is negotiated between the supervising CC faculty, the student, and the agency director. See Directed Field Study for additional information.

PREPARATION. Considerable preparation is required of all students prior to conducting their final project. Outlined below are the necessary steps that extend over two academic years: the exploratory year and the project year. In the year prior to conducting their final project, students weigh their preference for the type of project they wish to complete, with which professor they would like to conduct their project, and, in collaboration with professors, brainstorm potential project ideas. The following is the general timeline (See also the Final Project Timeline webpage and handout):

Blocks 1-5: Make appointments with individual professors to discuss potential research options. Professors will outline to students prospective projects, opportunities, and limitations. As you speak to each of the professors, take specific notes about each project type and the description of the potential projects. You will need this information to complete the Final Project Application. Failure to meet to discuss potential topics with professors will greatly limit a students’ opportunities regarding the final project.(You can find a list of faculty interests in the Research Opportunities section of this handbook.).

Block 6: By the last Monday of Block 6, complete the application for Final Project, including preferences for professor and type of project to be completed. An application is considered pending, if the student's major declaration is not on file with the chair of the department. Provide the information as requested on the online application. (Link to Final Project Application Form). Department makes final decisions about Final Projects, and notifies students of acceptance.

Block 7: Students register for courses, including PY451: Final Project.

Blocks 7-8: Students meet with their Final Project advisor to discuss individual projects for the next year.

For December graduates:
1. Students must submit the Final Project paper by the last day of Block 3 in the year they are graduating. It will be read by a second reader and feedback will be provided to the students by the end of the second week of Block 4.
2. Students are required to participate in Poster Day on the third Friday of Block 4 or present their work in a forum approved by the supervisor.

APPLICATION PROCESS. After meeting with individual professors and learning about their options, students complete the Final Project application online by the last Monday of Block 6 (Link to Final Project Application Form). On the application students:

1. Select three preferred professors with whom to work. (See Faculty above)

2. Select the preferred type of final project for each of the the professors (e.g., empirical research, literature review, or directed field study).

(a) Empirical Research. This is supervised empirical research leading to a publishable paper. Students, in collaboration with a faculty supervisor, design a project, collect and analyze data, and write up a paper in a manner appropriate for a peer-reviewed journal (following APA format). Examples of such research articles can be found in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology, and Cerebral Cortex. Additionally, empirical projects that involve human subjects may require approval of the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board.
(b) Literature review: This is a critical review of the literature that addresses a particular issue. Students carefully outline the topic they will address, and use (primarily) journal articles to support their thesis. Such a review is not a mere summary of the literature; instead, it critically analyzes existing literature to a particular end. Examples of such reviews can be found in Psychological Bulletin, and Nature Reviews Neuroscience (online).
(c) Directed field study: This is a project completed in the field under the direct supervision of a Colorado College (CC) faculty member. In addition to the service component, the project results in a final paper (e.g., grant/program application, critical summary) that is negotiated between the supervising CC faculty, the student, and the agency director. See Directed Field Study for additional information.

3. Briefly describe the project for each of the professors—a short summary for each will suffice. The better prepared the students are, the more likely they will get their top choice. However, students are not automatically guaranteed their first choice of professor or type of final project. For a student's preferences to be considered, a declaration of major must be on file with the chair of the department.

4. State how many blocks will be involved for each of the potential projects.

Acceptance process. By the end of Block 6, the psychology department meets with all applications in hand to accept and assign applications to professors. Before the start of Block 7, students will be notified with whom they will be conducting their Final Project, and what type of project they will be doing.

Registration. During Block 7, students will register for their courses, including their Final Project course(s). Students, in consultation with their Project Professor, may register for more than one block (i.e., PY451, 452, etc.).

Follow-up. During blocks 7 and/or 8, students will meet with their Project Professor to discuss their Final Project, including expectations, timelines, and overall goals. Students are strongly encouraged to spend time over the summer on familiarizing themselves with the literature and background reading on their project topic.

Final Project Application

PAPER GUIDELINES.

1) The paper may be based on either (a) an empirical study (including case reports or ethnographic research) (b) a literature review (i.e., library research) involving a critical synthesis of current literature, usually to support a specific hypothesis, or (c) directed field study.

2) The paper follows exactly the guidelines of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Publication Manual (5th ed.). Students writing an Final Project (Senior Thesis) manuscript should purchase this manual as part of the their Final Project block (unless a copy was retained when purchased for PY202 Research Design).

3) The paper is well-written and concise. Typically, empirical studies should not exceed 20-25 pages of text, literature reviews should not exceed 25-30 pages of text.

4) The paper, which should make a significant contribution to the field, will be evaluated by all full-time psychology professors according to several criteria: depth of analysis, the importance of the hypothesis being explored, the competence of the work, and the quality of writing.

5) The student must present the research at Psychology and Neuroscience Poster Day during Block 8 (as the date approaches, see Events and Announcements for details). Students are also encouraged to present their research at a professional meeting.

PROJECT EVALUATION.

All final projects must be submitted to the Project Professor by 3PM of the first day of Block 7. Late Final Projects will likely not be evaluated in time for Spring graduation.

Students turn in two copies of their Final Project document to their Project Professor. One other psychology professor, anonymously, evaluates the Final Project, provide suggestions for revisions, and assigns a grade, which comprises up to 50% of the Final Project grade. The student will receive that feedback by the end of the third week of Block 7. Late (i.e. after 3pm of the first day of block 7) or incomplete Final Projects will not recieve the benefit of a second reader, resulting in a NC from the second reader.

Students are required to revise their Final Projects for the Project Professor to grade. If the student meets the GPA criterion for distinction, each of the readers will decide if the paper warrants distinction.

For December graduates:

Students must hand in the Final Prjocet by the last day of Block 3 in the year they are graduating. It will be read by a second reader and feedback will be provided to the students by the end of the second week of Block 4.
Students are required to participate in Poster Day on the third Friday of Block 4.

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