Scientific Project in Psychology for Exchange Students, 30 credits

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. Three years of university studies with psychology as a main field of study. Knowledge of statistics and scientific method corresponding university studies at undergraduate level (e.g. the knowledge and skills needed to study with a high degree of independence).

The objective of the course is for students to further deepen their knowledge in psychology and psychological methods building on previous knowledge by planning and executing an scientific project independently under supervision for a 30 ETCS scientific project in the field of psychology.

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• search in scientific databases, extract relevant journals, review and evaluate, and summarise the contents of journals with relevance for the contents of the scientific project
• distinguish and formulate a scientific problem within the main field area of psychology considering the resources and time that stands at disposal.
• independently under supervision search, collect, evaluate and interpret relevant information in relation to scientific issue
• independently under supervision compile, analyze and interpret collected data in relation to a scientific problem present in written form and with scientific stringency that are practice within the main field of academic psychology
• independently critically discuss, evaluate and argue around own and others scientific project, based on relevance for the subject and from methodological and ethical considerations
• independently conduct an oral presentation in English with a summary of the scientific project using relevant technical equipment (power-point, Skype, etc.) 
• show ability to follow good research practice, follow ethical rules, show integrity in research and documentation as well as consciousness about the responsibility that relay research that involves people or animals
• discuss and understand the importance of cooperation in different parts of the research process

At the course introduction, the students choose topics and methods of analysis within psychology, the main subject psychology in discussion with the examiner/course director. The by the student suggested topic is discussed with that is based in the research faculty around the Division for psychology in consultation with a scientific committee.

These topics can for example include different subareas in psychology, and various approaches, e.g.:

• Implementation, analysis and reporting of psychological experiments
• Analysis and reporting of data from an established research project
• Psychometric evaluations of instrument with relevance for psychology
• Systematic literature surveys, containing quality assurances with help from quantitative methodology, for example meta-analytical methodology, of current published psychological research
• Primary analysis of collected data against an in advance set issue
• Secondary analysis of published data from a new research angle

The scientific project work should be delimited and defined, and a time plan should be defined (se next section “Teaching methods”). Suggested topics are provided by the supervisors according to instructions, and the student should relatively quickly choose a topic and cooperate with the supervisor in order to further define and narrow down the specific scientific question to focus on. The student must then get the examiner’s approval before the scientific project starts. Under supervision, the scientific project is then carried out, and the student should during the course be able to develop deeper knowledge and methodological skills relevant for the topic chosen.

The course includes an introductory lecture on scientific writing and how to search for literature / scientific articles. Suggested topics are often suggested beforehand by different supervisors to the examiner. The examiner gives information regarding how supervisors are to be contacted. Each proposed topic should be documented briefly by the supervisor beforehand and include a defined problem area, definition of key literature and methodology, as well as for paper-specific learning objectives.

During the course introductory weeks, students and tutors together shall delineate and define topics further and establish a timetable for the work. With the examiners approval and the support of regular supervision by a supervisor the student then conduct and finally report on an independent scientific work within the time given.

The project report can be written alone or with another student on the course. In the latter case the students should be able to show which student that is responsible for each part in the scientific work and the final project report.

The project report is examined during a scientific discussion between respondent and opponent when the supervisor decides that the project report is ready to be discussed. The project seminar may be live, or accomplished by Skype or similar techniques if needed and include an opponent that will discuss the project report with the respondent.  The respondent shall show ability to orally summarize and present his/her scientific project for about 15 minutes, in English, using necessary technical equipment (powerpoint presentation). Slides/material used in this presentation should also be written in English.

Achieved learning objectives are examined through presentation of the scientific project at a “project seminar” where the project report, the respondentship as well as the opponentship are evaluated by examiner. The respondent’s presentation of the scientific project report should also be evaluated. The student must also show ability to serve as an opponent on another project report during the course.

The following grades can be given on each of the course requirements 1-4 :

1) Written report: 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 means that some additional work is required. Grade E means that the performance meet the minimum criteria, and A that the performance are outstanding with only minor errors).
2) Respondentship (defense and discussion of report): either Sufficient (E) or Fail (Fx or F).
3) Oral presentation and summary of the report for about 15 minutes, in English with the aid of a powerpoint presentation: either Sufficient (E) or Fail (Fx or F).
4) The ability to oppose (discuss) another student's report: either Sufficient (E) or Fail (Fx or F).

Active participation in three other scientific seminars is also required.

Rating for the entire course: At least the grade E on all four parts above (1,2,3 and 4) are required in order to get the grade “E” (Sufficient) on the entire course. Active participation in three other scientific seminars is also required. For a grade of A, B, C or D on the entire course, at least the grade E on all part 2-4 is required, as well as a grade of either A,B,C or D on the written project report (part 1). Active participation in three other scientific seminars is also required. If course requirements on any of the parts 1-4 on the course are not met, and/or if compulsory attendances are not met, the examiner decides in each individual case, depending on previous performance, how the course objectives should be met. Below are some guidelines for each part of the course requirements:

1) The supervisor has a responsibility to give advice regarding the project’s current status and if it is ready to be presented on a project seminar. If the project report is not ready to be presented in the end of the course, the student will receive some additional supervision. If the student chose to present the project report on a seminar and receive a grade of Fx or F, the examiner decides how the student can meet the course objectives for the written project report. A new examination of the project report can take place, sometimes only after a new seminar. Failed submission date for revised projects report follow the dates for prevalent re-examinations during the following examination period.
2) The project seminar is an occasion for feedback. Possibility to supplement is given after the seminar. Final ratings on the project report (as well as the entire course) is given to the student after the final version is submitted to the examiner. Active participation in three other scientific seminars is also required.
3) or 4) Failed respondentship only (part 2) - or opponent review (part 4) may either require written supplementary assignments as instructed by the examiner or a new occasion/seminar to meet the criteria for the grade of at least E, depending on previous performance.
4) Failed presentation (part 3) of the project by the respondent may either require written supplementary assignments as instructed by the examiner or a new occasion/presentation to meet the criteria for the grade of at least E, depending on previous performance.

The transition rules follow KI's local guidelines for examination.

If the project work draws expands in time (longer than 1 semester from course start) the student can not count on supervision of original supervisor. This can limit the possibility for the student to complete the scientific project according to original plan.