Psychology 3184F-001
Research in the Psychology of Language
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This course will introduce students to the variety of research methods used in the psychological study of language. Methods used to study reading processes, speech perception and comprehension, and spoken language production will be covered.
Prerequisites: Psychology 2800E, 2810 and one of Psychology 2115A/B, 2134A/B or 2135A/B, plus registration in third or fourth year Honors Specialization in Psychology or Honors Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience.
Third or fourth year Psychology Majors and Psychology Special Studnts who receive 70% or higher in Psychology 2820E (or 60% or higher in Psychology 2800E and 2810), plus 60% or higher in one of Psychology 2115A/B, 2134A/B, or 2135A/B also may enrol in this course.
2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course.
Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Debra Jared
Office and Phone Number: SSC 7330 (519) 661-2111 x84631
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: djjared@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Xuan Pan
Email: xpan55@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: MW 10:30-12:30 in SSC 3133
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Strongly Recommended but not required: (Either of these)
The 6th edition of the APA Publication manual
Northey, M., & Timney, B. (2012). Making sense in psychology: A student’s guide to research and writing. Don Mills, Canada: Oxford University Press
Required articles will be posted on OWL
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The aim of the course is for students to gain an understanding of the research methods used in the psychological study of language, from simple observation to complex brain imaging, and of the types of questions each method can address. Students will have the opportunity to observe and participate in demonstrations of many of these methods and will design and conduct a research project in a small group. Two important skills-related objectives of the course are for students to enhance their ability to read primary journal articles in the psychology of language and to improve their written communication skills.
5.0 EVALUATION
Students will complete three pre-programmed experiments and write a method and results section for each one. These reports are worth 15% of the final mark. Students will also design and carry out their own research project in a small group. An oral presentation of a research proposal is worth 5%, an ethics form is worth 5%, an oral presentation of the completed project is worth 5%, and the written report is worth 40% of the course grade. The written report is expected to be at least 2500 words in length. There will be a mid-term data analysis test worth 10%, and a final exam worth 20%. The final exam will be short-answer format.
Policy on Attendance and Late Assignments
Because of the hands-on nature of the course, students are expected to attend every class. Lab experiments can be done only in class. Students who do not complete an in-class experiment will lose half of the marks associated with the related assignment, unless a medical note is provided. Students are responsible for finding out from classmates about any missed material. Students who have more than 4 undocumented absences from class will be reported to the Dean and may be prevented from writing the final exam. Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day (including weekends) unless a medical note is provided. Medical notes in all instances are to be provided through the Academic Counselling Office and not directly to the instructor. They should clearly indicate the time period for which you are to be excused. The Academic Counselling office must be contacted immediately if you are unable to write the final exam. Permission of the instructor, department Chair, and Dean are required to obtain permission to write a make-up exam. For details on the procedures involved in documenting an absence see 9.0.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2100-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf)
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 ASSIGNMENT AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
Lab 1 Sept. 30
Lab 2 Oct. 7
Lab 3 Oct. 21
Data Analysis Test Oct. 26
Proposal Presentation Nov. 9
Complete Project Presentation Dec. 9
Written Report Dec. 11
Final Exam December Exam period
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Sept. 14 Course Introduction
Sept. 16 Overview of experimental methods
Sept. 21 Excel spreadsheet instruction
Sept. 23 Lab 1-Lexical decision
Sept. 28 Lab 1-analysis
Sept. 30 Lab 2- Priming
Oct. 5 Lab 2: analysis
Oct. 7 Group project: choose topic, initial research
Oct. 12 Thanksgiving- no class
Oct. 14 Lab 3-Self-paced reading
Oct. 19 Lab 3: analysis
Oct. 21 Consultations on projects: research question
Oct. 26 Data Analysis Test
Oct. 28 Speech perception methods
Nov. 2 Consultations on projects: methodology
Nov. 4 Speech production methods; Ethics
Nov. 9 Project proposal presentations
Nov. 11 Writing Introductions
Nov. 16 Consultations on projects: programming
Nov. 18 Eye tracking
Nov. 23 Project Testing
Nov.25 Language development studies
Nov. 30 Project data analysis
Dec. 2 ERP & fMRI
Dec. 7 ERP lab visit
Dec. 9 Project presentations
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2015/pg117.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2015 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.
