PSY491:Senior Project
Introduction to the Course
Outline
• What is the Senior Project?
• Empirical Research
• Assessment: Written Report and Presentation
• Rubrics
• Role of supervisor and student
• Advice & Support
• Common Questions
What is the Senior Project?
What does it entail?
What is the Senior Project?
• It is a semester-long empirical research project carried out
individually by a student while in close supervision with a
faculty member.
Empirical Research
• Empirical research include studies in which data are
gathered to answer research questions.
What is the Senior Project?
It is an opportunity to engage in intensive, independent
research.
To propose and carry out a study on your own while supervised
by your instructor!
What is the Senior Project?
It culminates in a written report and an oral or poster
presentation.
PSY 491 Assessments
Two Assessments
• Written Report
• PowerPoint or Poster Presentation
Outline for WR
• Outlines of what is to be included in both written report and
presentation on Blackboard.
• Faculty Members will upload them into BB.
Outline for WR and Presentation
1. Abstract (200 to 250 words)
2. Introduction and Literature Review (1200-1500 words minimum)
3. Methods
4. Results
5. Discussion incl. Limitations & Conclusion
• Appendices
• References
APA-style
Outline for Presentation
The presentation should clearly include the following:
1. Key background/Literature
2. The research question/ hypothesis
3. Design & Methodology
4. Main results
5. Discussion & Conclusion
• References
Assessment
• Written Report is worth 80%
• Presentation is worth 20% of final grade
Rubrics
• Rubrics are uploaded into Bb.
Role of supervisor and student
What is the role of my supervisor?
• To guide and support you.
• Answer questions, make suggestions, give feedback.
What is my role as a senior
student?
• Take ownership of your research project.
• Propose a topic.
• Look for research articles.
• Decide how to structure your introduction.
• Find the measurement instruments (questionnaires).
• Collect the data
• Write the paper
• Your supervisor simply guides and supports you.
• Answer questions, make suggestions, give you feedback.
• The work is primarily completed by you!
Advice
• Start working on your project early
• For example, today you can start by:
• Reviewing the syllabus and paying special attention to the
weekly outline
• Check what are the tasks you are supposed to complete
next week
• And do this checking every week.
• And if you have questions ask.
Advice
• Keep watching the weekly
outline in the syllabus
Common Questions
1. I wrote a proposal for PSY466 but I want change the topic,
is it fine?
Yes, you can!
Common Questions
2. What is the word count for each section of the paper?
Please see outline posted on Blackboard.
Common Questions
3. May I work in pairs for the senior project?
No, you cannot.
However, data collection can be done in pairs if topic overlaps,
but research question should not be the same.
Common Questions
4. How often should I meet with my supervisor?
Meet regularly. Consult your supervisor for questions and
feedback.
Common Questions
• When is the due date for WR and Presentation?
• Written Report: April 25, 2025
• Presentation: May 2, 2025
• Senior Project Day: May 6, 2025
Common Questions
SECTION DEADLINE
Ethical Approval Feb. 14, 2025
• Are there other due dates, for
example, for introduction draft,
methods draft and so forth? Draft Introduction & Feb. 28, 2025
Literature Review
• YES! Draft Method Section March 14, 2025
• Counts towards Punctuality = 5 Raw Data File March 21, 2025
% of final grade.
Draft Result Section April 11, 2025
Common Questions
• Do I lose points if I do not turn in my work on time?
• Yes, marks are deducted from it. Punctuality & Work Ethics
are now part of the rubric for the written report.
Academic Integrity
• The Senior Project represents the pinnacle of your academic journey,
showcasing the culmination of your studies and skills. It is essential to maintain
the highest standards of integrity throughout this process. Any suspicions or
attempts at cheating or plagiarism will be thoroughly investigated and met with
severe consequences, ensuring that the integrity of the academic process is
upheld.
• No submissions will be accepted after the last day of classes.
• Students who face serious and documented emergencies, or severe and
debilitating conditions that require inpatient hospitalization, should notify the
appropriate faculty member as well as the department chair ahead of the
deadlines.
Violation
• Inappropriate collaboration without acknowledgement
• Deliberate falsification of data
• Inappropriate help with your writing.
Inappropriate collaboration without acknowledgement
• a) Buying, borrowing, commissioning or otherwise obtaining
academic work from someone else and handing it in as if it
were one’s own.
• b) Working with someone not authorized by the faculty
member in the development, organization, revision or editing
of academic work without acknowledging that person’s help.
Deliberate falsification of data
• Inventing or counterfeiting data or research procedures to give
the appearance of results being achieved from procedures
that were not undertaken.
Disciplinary Action for Academic
Misconduct
Questions
• Any other questions?
