Psychology 4850 51 52E 001 FW23
Psychology Honours Thesis
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON CANADA
Department of Psychology
2023-2024
Psychology 4850E Section 001 Honors Thesis
Psychology 4851E Section 001 Honors Thesis (Science)
Psychology 4852E Section 001 Honors Thesis (DCN)
- CALENDAR DESCRIPTIONS
All honors psychology students registered in the 4th year of the Honors Specialization programs in Psychology, Animal Behavior, or Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN) are required to take Psychology 4850E - Honors Thesis OR Psychology 4851E – Honors Thesis (Science) OR Psychology 4852E (DCN). Please note that although these are listed as separate courses they are completely merged together for all honors thesis-related activities, assignments, and meetings.
Psychology 4850E - Honors Thesis. Independent research under the direction of a faculty member. Antirequisite: Psychology 4851E, 4852E. Prerequisites: Psychology 3800F/G and 0.5 from Psychology 3184F/G, 3185F/G, 3285F/G, 3480F/G, 3485F/G, 3580F/G, 3780F/G, or 3840F/G and registration in fourth year Honours Specialization in Psychology. Students in fourth year Honours Specialization in Animal Behaviour may also enrol in this course. 4 seminar hours. 1.0 course
See timetable
Psychology 4851E – Honors Thesis (Science). Independent research under the direction of a faculty member. Topics focus on fundamental psychological processes, their underlying neural mechanisms, their development within individuals, and their evolutionary and ecological contexts. Antirequiste: Psychology 4850E, 4852E. Prerequisites: Psychology 3800F/G and 0.5 from Psychology 3184F/G, 3185F/G, 3285F/G, 3485F/G, and registration in fourth year Honours Specialization in Psychology. Students in fourth year Honours Specialization in Animal Behaviour may also enrol in this course. 4 seminar hours. 1.0 course
See timetable
Psychology 4852E - Honors Thesis (DCN). Independent research under the direction of a faculty member on a topic that is both theoretically and methodologically relevant to developmental cognitive neuroscience (DCN). This course is exclusively for students in the DCN module. Thesis supervisors must be approved by the DCN Module Coordinator, as well as the honors thesis co-ordinator. Antirequisite: Psychology 4850E, 4851E. Prerequisites: Psychology 3800F/G and Psychology 3485F/G, and registration in fourth year Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. 4 seminar hours. 1.0 course
See Timetable.
Distinctions between Psychology 4850E, 4851E, and 4852E. Psychology 4851E is reserved for students in the Honors BSc Psychology program who are conducting psychological research in cognition, sensation and perception, behavioral or cognitive neuroscience, or developmental cognitive neuroscience and are being supervised by a psychology faculty member conducting research that would fall under the NSERC mandate. Psychology 4852E is reserved for students in 4th year of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN) Module. All other students (i.e., those not in 4851E or 4852E) must register for Psychology 4850E [including all HBA students, and HBSc students supervised by faculty conducting research that does not fall under the NSERC mandate (e.g., HBSc students doing a thesis project that falls under SSHRC research domains such as personality, measurement, social psychology, educational psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, developmental psychology, and clinical psychology)].
Unless you have been given special permission to enroll in an honors thesis course, you may be removed from the 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 obtained special permission to enroll. If you have been assigned a thesis supervisor by the course instructor, then you will be granted special permission to enroll.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Honors Thesis Coordinator: Dr. Ryan Stevenson
Office: WIRB 6128
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: ryan.stevenson@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistants:
Madison Tutton mtutton2@uwo.ca
Cailey Salagovic csalagov@uwo.ca
Leila Moradkhani lmoradkh@uwo.ca
Samantha Jones sjone49@uwo.ca
Delivery Method: In person only
Time and Location of Classes: Fridays 9:30-12:00 WIRB 1170; on 2 Fridays each term there will be small group meetings outside these times.
Course Materials and Announcements: All course information, announcements, etc. will be available on the Western OWL thesis course website. When you have a question about a course activity, please consult this course outline or OWL first BEFORE contacting the instructor. You are responsible for checking OWL on a regular basis. Announcements will be automatically sent to your UWO e-mail address, so please ensure that your email inbox is not full.
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western
https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
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 Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca or at 519-661-2147.
2.1 ONLINE LEARNING NOTICE:
Please note: For courses delivered in an online format, that include an online component, or are required to pivot online, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements. Some courses may also require the use of a remote proctoring platform to ensure assessments are taken fairly in accordance with Western’s policy on Scholastic Discipline for Undergraduate Students and Scholastic Discipline for Graduate Students
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Since each student conducts an individualized thesis research project, there are no textbooks for this course. However, students should use the latest version of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition) when preparing their written thesis. You are not required to buy this Publication Manual but may find it convenient to own a personal copy, especially if you are contemplating going on to graduate school in psychology. Copies may be available in the Bookstore, but it (including an e-copy) can also be obtained through the APA website (https://apastyle.apa.org/products/publication-manual-7th-edition) or on Amazon. If you were familiar with the 6th edition, here is a helpful video noting some of the changes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeSIXD6y3WQ&feature=emb_rel_end
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
In this course, you will complete a psychology honors thesis research project and then present this project as both a written thesis and a poster. The thesis is a major research project in psychology carried out by a 4th year honors psychology student, under the direction of a qualified psychology thesis supervisor (typically a full-time psychology professor in Western’s Department of Psychology). This is typically an empirical project that requires analysis of data. Some honors thesis projects may involve the collection of original data whereas other projects may draw from existing data sets that may be available from the student’s supervisor.
Please note that if any proposed project is unsuitable for an honors psychology thesis, the honors thesis coordinator may require modifications or the development of an alternate project that is suitable.
4.1 Student Learning Outcomes
- Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
|
Learning Outcomes
|
|
Learning Activities
|
|
How Assessed
|
- Knowledge of Methodologies
|
Learning Outcomes
|
|
Learning Activities
|
|
How Assessed
|
- Application of Knowledge
|
Learning Outcomes
|
|
Learning Activities
|
|
How Assessed
|
- Communication Skills
|
Learning Outcomes
|
|
Learning Activities
|
|
How Assessed
|
- Awareness of Limits of Knowledge
|
Learning Outcomes
|
|
Learning Activities
|
|
How Assessed
|
- Autonomy and Professional Capacity
|
Learning Outcomes
|
|
Learning Activities
|
|
How Assessed
|
5.0 EVALUATION
SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENTS % OF FINAL GRADE DUE DATES
- Research Ethics Status Form 2% Oct. 13
- Talk 1: Thesis Introduction 5% Oct. 20 & 27
- Paper: Preliminary Introduction 4% Nov. 10
- 4. Paper: Introduction Revised draft 8% 8
- OSF Form 2% Jan. 19
- 6. Talk 2: Thesis Method 5% 26, Feb. 2
- 7. Paper: Preliminary Method 5% Feb. 9
- 8. Thesis Poster Presentation 10% March 22
- 9. Completed Written Thesis 45% April 8
- 10. Participation in class and group meetings 4%
- 11. Lab participation/engagement 10%
This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least one week before the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty. You must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.
None of these components or their weightings will change in the event of a lock down due to covid-19. A lock down will affect whether an in-person poster session can be held (and whether a print version of the poster is needed), but students will still be required to produce a poster of their research.
COMPLETED WRITTEN THESIS. The completed written thesis will be submitted on OWL in PDF form. The final thesis will be marked by the thesis supervisor and a second reader. The second reader (selected by the honors thesis coordinator) is usually familiar with the general topic domain of the thesis. The thesis marks assigned by the supervisor and second reader will be averaged by the honors thesis coordinator, and will contribute 45% of the final overall grade in the course. A class meeting will be held on Friday Feb. 9, 2024 to review the format and type of material to be included in the thesis. The final written thesis is due Monday, April 8, 2024.
THESIS POSTER. Students will present their completed thesis research in a poster form on Friday March 22, 2024. Precise details regarding poster preparations will be given in the class session on Feb 9, 2024. Posters will be graded by the supervisor and second reader, with their averaged marks contributing 10% of the final grade in the course. The poster sessions will give each student an opportunity to present and discuss their completed thesis project, and also to meet their second reader, prior to having the final written thesis graded.
RESEARCH ETHICS STATUS FORM. A completed and signed Research Ethics Status Form is due Oct. 13, 2023. There will be a class meeting on Sept. 15, 2023 to discuss the format and type of material you must include in this form. This form consists of a brief description of the procedural aspects of the research that will form your thesis project, including specific consideration of how ethical research concerns relating to your thesis project will be dealt with. Both the student and supervisor sign this completed form to acknowledge awareness and compliance with all ethical issues and responsibilities associated with the thesis project. This form reports on the status/need for a review of your project by a Western research ethics board, it is not an application for an ethics review. All students must also complete the Tri-Council Integrating Sex and Gender in Research training modules found here: https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/49347.html. The tutorials end by giving you a certificate of completion; that needs to be submitted together with the Research Ethics Confirmation Form.In addition to the Research Ethics Status Form, you must complete one of the following, depending on your research participants:
Human Participants. All students conducting research with humans or analyzing data collected from human participants are expected to complete the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans TCPS 2 (2018) CORE Tutorial here: http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/education_tutorial-didacticiel.html TCPS 2 (2018) is the statement of ethics principles that guides all human research conducted in Canada, and is available here: http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-politique_tcps2-eptc2_2018.html The CORE Tutorial ends by giving you a certificate of completion; that needs to be submitted together with the Research Ethics Confirmation Form. Appropriate completion of this form, along with confirmation of research ethics approval for your thesis research (by the Western Research Ethics Office), is required BEFORE data collection or analysis can begin.
Nonhuman Animals. All students conducting research with nonhuman animals must complete the required ethics training courses provided by ACVS. In addition, you must be listed on the appropriate approved Animal Use Protocol that is held by your supervisor. The animal training courses must be completed BEFORE data collection or analysis can begin. Students must submit proof of completion of animal training courses, as well as a copy of their supervisor’s animal use protocol that lists the student as an animal user.
Your completed form will be reviewed and graded by the honors thesis coordinator to ensure that your research is: (1) suitable for an honours thesis project, (2) that all ethical issues pertaining to your research have been dealt with appropriately, and (3) that both the student and supervisor have signed the form. Appropriate completion of this form, along with confirmation of research ethics approval for your thesis research (by the Western Research Ethics Office), is worth 2% of your final grade in the course.
THESIS TALKS. During the year, each student will give two talks in small groups. The first talk will be scheduled in late October and will focus on the introduction to your thesis. The second talk will be in late January/early February and will focus on the thesis method. Both talks will be graded by the TA in charge of your small group and each will contribute 5% towards your final grade in the course. Further information about the content of the talks will be provided in class on September 22, 2023 (Talk 1) and January 12, 2024 (Talk 2). The specific date and time for each presenter will be provided in a schedule posted on OWL by early October for the Fall Term presentations, and by mid-December for the Winter Term presentations. You are expected to attend two group meetings for each talk and to provide feedback to peers. Additional sessions will not be scheduled in the event that you do not attend when you are scheduled to present. Accommodations will only be considered if they are approved by Academic Counselling.
THESIS INTRODUCTION AND METHOD SECTION WRITTEN DRAFTS. A preliminary written version of your thesis Introduction is due Friday, November 10, 2023, and a revised draft is due on December 8, 2023. The preliminary draft must be uploaded on OWL and the same draft must be sent to your thesis supervisor by the due date. This preliminary draft is worth 4% of your final grade in the course and the revised draft is worth 8%. Class meetings on September 29, October 6, and October 13 will be devoted to instruction on writing your thesis introduction.
A written draft of your thesis Method section is due Feb. 9, 2024. This method paper is worth 5% of your final grade. The written drafts of your introduction and method sections, along with the final written version of your thesis, should meet the essay requirement for this course (i.e., a minimum of 5000 words of cohesive discourse).
PARTICIPATION. You will be given a mark for participation in the small group meetings (4%) and in your lab (10%). In small group sessions you will be required to ask questions of other presenters, and to give them written feedback to help them improve their presentation skills. The lab mark will be assigned by your supervisor. Supervisors will be asked to consider your commitment to and time spent on the project, specifically your attendance, enthusiasm, attitude, active participation in the project, active engagement with other member of the laboratory, active reading of the literature, understanding of the project and tools used in the project, and laboratory record keeping.
Open Science Framework form. You will be required to create an account at https://osf.io/ and submit a preregistration for your study. This preregistration does not need to be made public (and you should check with your supervisor before you make it public if you are considering it). Preregistration is due on January 19, 2024, just before the methods talk begin. Details on how to complete a preregistration will be given in our lecture including open science practices.
Completion of All Assignments. The assignments in this course are sequential and build upon each other. Accordingly, it is expected that students will complete each and every oral and written assignment in this course on time, in the proper sequence. Failure to do so may result in serious penalties, up to and including not passing this course. If you are having difficulties in completing assignments on time you should see an academic counsellor.
Late Penalties. Please note that all assignments must be completed by their due date – there are no extensions. Accordingly, late penalties will be assessed for assignments not completed in time (10% of the worth of that assignment will be deducted for each day you are late). You are responsible for ensuring that the final copies of your assignments are correctly uploaded on time. “I uploaded the wrong version” is not an acceptable excuse for submitting an assignment late.
Grading Expectations. The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario 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
Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
You will receive the grade calculated based on the assignment weightings described in 5.0. Grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number, however no further rounding will be done (e.g., marks of 84 and 89 will NOT be bumped up to 85 and 90). No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade, nor will any requests be considered for additional marks because they are needed for a future program (grad/law/med school application, etc). To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assignment during the course.
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
There are no tests or examinations in the honors thesis course.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Attendance is required for all scheduled classes and your assigned small group meetings. In addition to class time, you should expect to spend at least 200 – 260 hours between Sept and April working on your project, including reading, writing and participating in lab activities.
- 1. 8
Overview of the Thesis Course
- Sept. 15
Ethics in Research and Completing the Research Ethics Status Form
- 3. Sept. 22
Instruction on Talk 1 presentations
- Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Oct. 13
Writing Workshops- Writing your Introduction
- 5. Small Group Meetings: Talk 1 - Thesis Introduction
Oct. 20 9:00 am - 10:30 am, 10:30 am-12:00 & 1 pm - 2:30 pm
Oct. 27 9:00 am - 10:30 am, 10:30 am-12:00 & 1 pm - 2:30 pm
(The presentation schedule for all talks will be posted on OWL. Students will attend 2 of the 6 slots. Please reserve all 6 slots in your calendar until the schedule is posted)
- Nov. 10 & 17
Research Methods Workshops – Qualtrics, SONA; Open Access
- 7. 12
Instruction on Talk 2 presentations and writing your Methods section
- Small Group Meetings: Talk 2 - Thesis Method
Jan. 26 9:00 am - 10:30 am, 10:30 am-12:00 & 1 pm - 2:30 pm
Feb. 2 9:00 am - 10:30 am, 10:30 am-12:00 & 1 pm - 2:30 pm
(The presentation schedule for all talks will be posted on OWL. Students will attend 2 of the 6 slots. Please reserve all 6 slots in your calendar until the schedule is posted)
- 9. Feb. 9
Information about the format for Posters and the Thesis
- 10. March 22
Poster Presentation Day
7.1 Meetings with your supervisor. It is highly recommended that you schedule a regular meeting time with your thesis supervisor. A regular series of meetings (e.g., on a weekly basis), will help ensure the timely completion of each major phase of your thesis (i.e., Research Ethics Confirmation Form, Introduction, Method, Data Collection, Data Analyses, Poster Presentation, and Final Write-up). To assist you in planning your time, an illustrative schedule for completing the various phases of your thesis project is presented later in this course outline.
Your thesis supervisor should be prepared to offer you help on various thesis-related concerns, such as conceptual and ethical issues, research design considerations, data analysis and interpretation questions, and write-up issues. During the initial phases of your project, your thesis supervisor may also recommend readings associated with your thesis topic. Throughout the year, your supervisor should also be prepared to provide you with feedback on written work you may submit for review and comments.
In turn, as a thesis student, you should recognize that there are many other demands on your thesis supervisor's time. Thus, you should be well prepared for each meeting with your supervisor. As one specific example, you are expected to show initiative in searching for and becoming knowledgeable about the research literature in your thesis domain. If you wish to receive feedback on written work, you should ensure that this work is submitted to your supervisor well in advance of the time that feedback is sought (here, well in advance is probably on the order of a few weeks).
As part of your learning experience in completing an honors thesis, your thesis supervisor may also expect you to regularly engage in various other thesis-relevant research activities in the lab. As such, please ensure you discuss and review with your thesis supervisor, at the beginning of the year, exactly what your supervisor’s expectations are regarding: (1) the frequency of regular meetings for thesis-related activities, and (2) the frequency and extent of participation in additional research-related lab activities. You should ensure you clearly understand the specific details of these expectations, as your thesis supervisor will also be giving you a Lab participation/engagement mark worth 10% of your final grade.
7.2 Illustrative schedule for thesis completion (actual due dates also shown)
- Meet Thesis Supervisor and Complete Initial Work on Thesis Topic: Early to mid Sept.
- Conceptualization of Specific Issue to be addressed in Thesis and Literature search: By early Oct.
- Conceptualize Thesis Procedure and Complete Research Ethics Confirmation Form: By mid Oct.
(Research Ethics Confirmation Form due Oct. 14)
(Talk 1 on Introduction is in late October)
- Write introduction: November
(Preliminary draft due to instructor and supervisor by Nov. 11, revised draft due Dec. 8)
- 5. Finalize experimental method and prepare any materials: November-December
(Talk 2 on Method is during late Jan./early Feb.)
(Preliminary Written Method due Feb. 10)
- 6. Data collection: Completed by Reading Week in Feb.
- 7. Data analysis: Late Feb. to early-March
- Poster Session: Poster given to supervisor for review and comments by early to mid-March
(Poster Presentation Mar. 24)
- Final Thesis Write-up: Completed thesis draft to supervisor by mid-March
(To receive feedback prior to revising and handing in final copy of thesis on April 10)
Note. The above schedule provides a general guide for structuring your time. Your thesis project may vary somewhat. As such, at the beginning of the year, you should establish with your supervisor a specific timetable for completing each major phase of your thesis (keeping in mind the various due dates for assignments). When scheduling your project, you should note that some studies may require a more complicated process (and thus longer time period) for research ethics approval, especially if they involve any form of deception or the use of vulnerable populations (i.e., clinical samples, school children, etc.). Finally, when you are designing your thesis project, you should also note that the Psychology Department does not have any funds available for research support for fourth year honors theses.
8.0 OTHER COURSE-RELATED INFORMATION
8.1 Use of the Department of Psychology Research Participation Pool. If you plan to use the Department of Psychology research participation pool, please note that each Psychology 4850-51-52 student has a maximum of 50 research participation credit hours that can be used for thesis research. General procedures for obtaining access to the research participation pool are on the Psychology Department website. In the purple footer bar, click on Research Participation Pool. On the right-hand side of the participant pool page you will see a link to the form that needs to be competed in order to use the pool. A copy of your ethics approval form and your TCPS2 completion certificate must accompany the application. You must be listed in the SONA system to be able to get access. Contact dchirila@uwo.ca
8.2 W.J. McClelland Thesis Award. The Department of Psychology has established an award for the best 4th year undergraduate thesis written by a graduating student. In order to be eligible for the W.J. McClelland award (worth approximately $500.00), an outstanding thesis must first be nominated by either the student's supervisor, second reader, or the honors thesis course coordinator. A departmental committee then evaluates all nominated theses to determine the award winner. The award winner must be a graduating student.
8.3 Ontario Undergraduate Thesis Conference. The Annual Ontario Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference will be held in May or early June. More detailed information will be provided when available. Students from a number of Ontario universities participate at this conference and give short thesis talks or poster presentations of their research. In past years, students from Western have typically enjoyed the opportunity to talk and meet with students from other universities.
8.4 Western Library - Research Help with Your Thesis Topic: For research assistance, contact Weldon’s Research Help desk in-person, by phone at 519-661-3162, email dbwlib@uwo.ca or use the Ask a Librarian chat service.
9.0 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.
With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.
10.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence 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 offences. 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 offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
- For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
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
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
12.0 CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR RETURN TO LOCKDOWN: IN-PERSON & BLENDED CLASSES
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.
13.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
All classes are expected to be in person. This section is only relevant if we have to return to online learning.
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
14.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: 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
- 2022-2023 Calendar References
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf
Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.
