St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan Department ...

3. Due date depending on schedule: Jan. 30 & Feb. 6 &13 Feb. Weight: 10%. Brief in-class presentation
and discussion of the research proposal (including your handout).
4. Date due: Feb. 27. Weight: 20%. Full research proposal presenting the theoretical rationale for the project,
detailed description of the proposed method and measures, limitations and implications, appendices, etc.
5. Due date: 26 Mar. Weight: 10%. Poster presentation of the project results to class(undergraduate poster
presentation date not yet set but likely to be during the first week of April.). .
6. Due date: 2 April. Weight: 40%. Final written report of the project.
7. Evaluation date: 6 April. Weight: 10%. Class attendance and participation.
Guidelines for projects (individuals or pairs):
1. The research project must be on one or more aspects of social or emotional development. In other words,
change over time must be one research issue of interest. Normally, the project must focus on the normal
range of development rather than on children or adolescents selected for some disorder or problem. Proof
of timely ethical access to a population of children or adolescents with some disorder or problem must be
established by the end of January. Note that additional ethical approval steps are likely required for such
access. Due to the extra time and effort involved, these non-normal projects are not recommended.
2. Students must be prepared a) to indicate their preferred general domain of research for their project by the
end of the second class (Jan 16); b) by the third class, to have identified a research question and to have
drafted an ethics application (Jan. 23); and c) by the fourth class to be prepared to present that choice
(beginning on Jan. 30). Some potential areas of study will be discussed at the first class on 10 Jan.
3. Students are encouraged to investigate potential collaboration with faculty or graduate students currently
doing research in developmental psychology in active labs. Students should seek approval of the course
instructor if they wish to participate in ongoing research led by faculty or graduate students. Students will
need to demonstrate that their role in the project is sufficient to warrant credit for their contribution.
4. The project must be theory-driven. (This will be discussed in the first class.) In other words, the testable
hypotheses must be derived from theory with appropriate rationale. The hypotheses in the study must be
psychological in nature. Recall from your 315 class that reasons for conducting projects may include:
testing the implications of a specific developmental theory, extending previous research into a new domain,
expanding upon a previous study by improving upon methods, or asking a different question or pitting one
theory against another.
5. The project must be feasible. That is it must be able to be completed within the time frame of the deadlines
in the course outlines with the resources available to you. It maybe a pilot project for an anticipated
honours thesis or other research which you plan to complete in the future. You can extend your work from
PSY 315 if it meets all of these criteria, or you can change topics. If you choose to pursue the same topic
you covered in PSY 315, it is expected that you will extend and update your work significantly.
Depending on the nature of the project, you may not be able to collect enough data to complete a valid
statistical analysis but nevertheless a statistical analysis is expected. Be sure to consult with your instructor
if you expect trouble collecting enough data. In other words, in consultation with your instructor, data from
a small numbers of participants may suffice. You will still be able to complete statistical analyses on small
numbers.
6. Ethical issues: There are departmental procedures for obtaining ethical approval for projects in the 300 –
level lab courses. An application for ethics approval must be submitted and approved before recruiting
participants or beginning data collection. The required forms and guidelines are available at the psychology
website (see Appendix for access information). Because the matter is time sensitive and in order to obtain
approval in time for data collection, a first draft of the ethical application must be submitted by Jan. 23.
However, earlier applications are strongly encouraged. The instructor will help arrange for appropriate
(depending on the age of the participants, the setting, and the presence of parents and other adults)
supervision and accountability for each project.
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TAKE PSY316
1. College Women’s Body Image Satisfaction: The relationship to Positive Parental Messages about
Weight and Shape
2. Perceived nonverbal communication from Parents: the Relationship to College Women’s body
Image
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