From: web-form@Oswego.EDU
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 12:18 PM
To: ucc@oswego.edu
Subject: Web Form: Course_Submission

Department_Chair: Karen Wolford
Department_Chair_Email: wolford@oswego.edu
Additional_Contact: Pam Brand, dept. curric. comm. chair
Additional_Contact_Email: brand@oswego.edu

Course_Number: Psy 190
Course_Type: New Course
Course_Title: Gateway to Research in Psychology

Catalog_Description: An experience in the research process, supervised by a psychology department faculty member. Activities will include discussions and observations of faculty-conducted research, such as laboratory studies, survey research, archival research and field studies. The H, S, U grading system will be used.

Prerequisites: Psy 100, first-year or sophomore standing, and permission of the instructor. 

Fl_irregular basis: Yes
Semester_Hours: 1-3

Justification for course: This course is designed to motivate students to become involved with research at an early stage of their college careers.  As students observe a faculty member’s research process, we believe that the student will acquire a better understanding of psychological research, and will be more likely to pursue independent research projects.  Such an experience should help students delineate their own research interests. This “apprenticeship” model was employed successfully by Carsrud (1984), who used doctoral students as mentors for undergraduate researchers.  Kierniesky (2005) states that the apprenticeship model had its roots in graduate school, but has “filtered down to the undergraduate level.” Kierniesky also discusses the increase over the past 20 years in undergraduate research experiences, and the benefits of these research experiences to students and faculty.

This experience will also benefit the student, in that outstanding students will work more closely with a faculty member, and that this may lead to the student being interested in enrolling in the Honors program, serving as a research assistant, or becoming a peer advisor.
It is expected that sections of this course will be offered each semester, and that the amount of credit (1-3) will depend on the amount of time the student wishes to devote to the project.

We do not anticipate large numbers of students to take this course, but it will be an option for students who desire an introductory research experience. Non-majors will also be eligible for the course. Students with majors such as zoology, biology, business, communications, curriculum and instruction, cognitive science, philosophy, public justice, and sociology may wish to conduct research that matches psychological issues to their major.


Course_Objectives: The objective is to provide the student with the practical experience in how data collection is done; statistical analysis of the results; written report of the research; receives constructive feedback to improve future performance.

Course_Description: The nature of the specific material to be covered will depend on the topic. The faculty supervisor will provide reading lists or other relevant resources. (This is similar to our PSY490 Research Assistantship)

Resources: None.
Bibliography: Carsrud, A. L. (1984). Graduate student supervision of undergraduate research: Increasing research opportunities. Teaching of Psychology, 11, 203-205.

Kierniesky, N. C. (2005). Undergraduate research in small psychology departments: Two decades later. Teaching of Psychology, 32, 84-90.

Other_Comments: 
IP_Adress: 129.3.51.1