Course syllabus for Scientific Project in Psychology for Exchange Students

Vetenskapligt projektarbete för utbytesstudenter

Specific entry requirements

A very good command of English, corresponding to 550 TOEFL scores, or a very good command of Swedish, corresponding to a pass in the TISUS test. Two years of university studies with at least one course in psychology. Basic knowledge of and skills in statistics and scientific method.

Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

* define a scientific problem within the field of psychology with considerations to the resources and time at hand
* use scientific databases, extract data from relevant journals, review, evaluate and summarize the contents of journal articles with relevance to the scientific problem
* evaluate relevant data in relation to the scientific problem
* compile, analyze and interpret collected data in relation to the scientific problem
* present data in written form with scientific stringency
* carry out an oral presentation in English with a summary of the scientific project work using relevant technical equipment (powerpoint, Skype, etc.)
* discuss, evaluate and argue in relation to student's own and others students' scientific projects with relevance to the subject as well as methodological and ethical considerations
* show ability to follow good research practice, follow ethical rules, show integrity in research and documentation and be aware of the specific responsibility of research that involves people or animals
* discuss and understand the importance of cooperation in different parts of the research process

Content

The objective of the course is to deepen the student's knowledge and skills in psychology and psychological methods through the execution of a 19.5 ECTS scientific project under supervision. The scientific project can be carried out by the individual student or by two students in cooperation. In the latter case, the students will be required to show which student is responsible for each of the parts of the scientific work and the final written report.

At the beginning of the course, the student chooses topics and methods of analysis, andtype of final written report in collaboration with the examiner/course director. Topics for the scientific project are provided by supervisors according to instructions. The topic chosen by the student is discussed by the research faculty of the Division of psychology in consultation with a scientific committee, and is approved by the examiner of the course.
The topics for the scientific project may origin from different subareas in and approaches to psychology:
* implementation, analysis and report of psychological experiments
* analysis and report of data from an established research project
* psychometric evaluations of instruments with relevance for psychology
* systematic literature surveys, e.g., meta-analysis
* primary analysis of collected data
* secondary analysis of published data

The student continues to work on the scientific project under supervision. Data is further interpreted and is discussed. Finally, the scientific project is presented in a written report (i.e., lab report, poster, or thesis). Once the supervisor has decided that the written report is ready to be discussed, it is examined in a project seminar through a scientific discussion between respondent (the student) and opponent (a fellow student). The project seminar should be held at Karolinska Institutet. As an exception, and only after a decision by the examiner, it may be held at distance through digital devices. As a respondent, the student summarizes and presents his/her scientific project orally for about 15 minutes in English, using necessary technical equipment. Slides/materials used at the presentation should also be written in English. As an opponent, the student discusses constructively another student's written report according to separate instructions.

Teaching methods

The student is to a large extent expected to work independently with continuous feedback from the supervisor. The student is also expected to participate in possible lectures during the course as well as at the compulsory project seminar at the end of the course.

The course director decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be compensated for. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in the compulsory course elements or compensated absence in accordance with the instructions of the course director.

Examination

The examination consists of a project seminar where the scientific quality of the final written report as well as the student's ability to serve as a respondent and an opponent is assessed by the examiner. The project seminar is an occasion for feedback. It is possible to revise the final written report after the seminar. Final grade of the written report (as well as the whole course) is determined after the final version has been submitted to the examiner within two weeks after the project seminar.

Grades are as follow: fail (F), fail (Fx), sufficient (E), satisfactory (D), good (C), very good (B), or excellent (A). (Grade F means that considerable additional work is required and grade Fx that some additional work is required. Grade E means that the performance meets the minimum criteria).

Transitional provisions

The transitional provisions follow KI's local guidelines for examination.

Other directives

If the scientific project work expands in time (more than a semester from course start) the student cannot rely on supervision from the original supervisor. This may limit the possibility for the student to complete the scientific project according to the original plan. The course is offered in English.

Literature and other teaching aids

Compulsory literature

Articles according to supervisor's instructions.

Recommended literature

• Bem, D.J, Writing a review article for Psychological Bulletin, Page 172-177. The article is included along with about 30 additional articles in the most recent or earlier editions of Kazdin, A, E (Ed). Methodological issues and strategies in clinical research (3 ed), Washington, DC: American Psychological Association
• Kazdin, A.E, Preparing and Evaluating Research Reports, Page 228-237. The article is included along with about 30 additional articles in the most recent or earlier editions of Kazdin, A, E (Ed). Methodological issues and strategies in clinical research (3 ed), Washington, DC: American Psychological Association
• Kazdin, Alan E. (ed), Methodological issues & strategies in clinical research, 3rd ed. : Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, c2003. - xix, 913 p. ISBN: 1-55798-958-3, LIBRIS-ID: 9326851,
• Kazdin, Alan E., Research design in clinical psychology, 4. uppl. : Boston, MA : Allyn and Bacon, cop. 2003 - xvii, 637 s. ISBN: 0-205-33292-7, LIBRIS-ID: 8835326,
• Rosenthal, R, Writing meta-analytic reviews: Psychological Bulletin, 118, Page 183-192. The article is included along with about 30 additional articles in the most recent or earlier editions of Kazdin, A, E (Ed). Methodological issues and strategies in clinical research (3 ed), Washington, DC: American Psychological Association
• Wilkinson, L, Statistical methods in psychology journals:: Guidelines and explanations, 54 : Page 594-604. The article is included along with about 30 additional articles in the most recent or earlier editions of Kazdin, A, E (Ed). Methodological issues and strategies in clinical research (3 ed), Washington, DC: American Psychological Association

APA (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (Sixth ed.). Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Writing references according to APA style:
http://kib.ki.se/en/node/9571