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 pass in the TISUS test. Three years of university studies with psychology as main field of study. Knowledge of and skills in statistics and scientific method corresponding to university studies at first cycle level (i.e. the knowledge and skills needed to study with a high degree of independence).

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 disposal
• use scientific databases, extract data from relevant journals, review, evaluate and summarize the contents of journal articles with relevance to the scientific problem
• collect and 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 30 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 project report.

At the beginning of the course, the student chooses topics, methods and form of the final project report, in collaboration with 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 at 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 studies, 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 discussed. Finally, the scientific project is presented in writing (e.g. a lab report, poster or thesis). Once the supervisor has decided that the scientific project is ready to be discussed, it is examined in a project seminar through a scientific discussion between respondent (student) and opponent (a fellow student). The project seminar should be held at Karolinska Institutet. As an exception, and only after 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 scientific project 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.

Examination

The examination consists of a project seminar where the scientific quality of the project 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 project report after the seminar. Final grade of the final project report (as well as the whole course) is determined after the final version of the report has been submitted to the examiner.

Grades are as follow: failed (F), insufficient (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.

Absence from compulsory course elements
The examiner decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up for. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Possibility of exception from the course syllabus' regulations on the examination
If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus' regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and attitudes may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Transitional provisions

The transition rules follow KI's local guidelines.

Other directives

If the scientific project work expands in time (more than a semester after the start of the course) 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

Mandatory literature

Articles according to supervisor's instructions.

Additional readings

• 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