Senior Project in Psychology
The Senior Project consists of a one-semester-long course focusing on intensive independent research that culminates in a written thesis and oral presentation. Many Psychology concentrators elect to complete a empirical project in which they collect and analyze data and interpret the results. Other students choose to complete a synthesis of research in the relevant literature of an area (or areas) and a proposal for an empirical study or intervention. The Senior Project provides the opportunity for students to synthesize what they have learned in coursework in the concentration by requiring them to take an in-depth look at a particular question in psychology and to produce an original piece of scholarship. In order to have sufficient background in a topic area to pursue a Senior Project during the senior year, students should elect appropriate advanced courses during their junior year.
During the spring semester of the junior year, students complete an online form in which they rank order their preferences for a faculty supervisor and the semester in which they want to complete their Senior Project. Every effort is made to accommodate students’ preferences, but assignments must take into account the balance of load across faculty supervisors as well as other factors, including laboratory resources. Students are encouraged to reach out to faculty members prior to completing their preference survey to discuss possible projects.
The written thesis is due on the last day of classes of the semester in which the work was completed. All students submit one copy of the thesis to the faculty supervisor. The thesis is to be prepared in the style of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual. An example of a title page for the thesis is presented below. Each student will make an oral presentation of the Senior Project work at a meeting held during one of the last weeks of classes of the semester when the project is completed.
In addition to the Senior Project requirements described above, students will have meetings with their faculty supervisors to discuss progress on their research, issues of relevance to all students working in a given specialty area, and other work assigned by the faculty supervisor. The final grade for the Senior Project will be determined by the faculty supervisor on the basis of the written thesis, the oral presentation, and the progress in theoretical, laboratory, or field work throughout the term.
| Sample Title Page | Past Thesis Titles | Theses of Distinction |