The University of Texas at Dallas

Course Syllabus

Course Information
Course number: PSY 3393.0u1 www.turnitin.com
Course title: EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS IN PSYCHOLOGY Class ID: 4037754
Term: SUMMER 2011 Password: variable
Meeting times: Mon & Wed, 10:00-11:50am, GR 4.208
Every Wednesday from June 1 through July 20, we will meet in computer lab GR 3.206.

Professor Contact Information

Professor’s name: Dr. Huxtable-Jester
Phone number: 972-883-6434 (I can return calls to local numbers only)
Email: drkarenhj@utdallas.edu
Office location: JO 3.116
Office hours: Mon & Wed 12-1:30pm, Tues 4:30-5:30, and by arrangement (or just stop by!)
Other information: The fastest and best way to reach me is direct email. Please put the course name in your
subject line [EXP].

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

Required prior knowledge or skills: PSY 3392 or PSY 3490.

Course Description
This course offers laboratory and field experience in designing and conducting psychological research. Because the
major emphasis is on the writing of research reports, this course fulfills the advanced writing requirement for
Psychology majors. You will learn how to understand, conduct, and write about research in psychology.
Specifically, you will learn how to 1) become better consumers of research, 2) design and conduct research studies,
and 3) effectively share research findings with others. Additional course goals include promoting independent and
critical thinking, developing your abilities to communicate more effectively orally and in writing, and giving you
greater appreciation for statistical analysis, research methods, and Psychology as a science.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Learning Objectives
After completing this course, students should be able to:
2.1 Identify and explain different research methods used by developmental psychologists, educators, and other
researchers.
2.2 Explain and apply basic statistical analyses and employ critical thinking to evaluate the appropriateness of
conclusions derived from their use.
2.3 Locate, accurately summarize, and evaluate bodies of scientific literature in psychology; incorporate and
interpret source material in scientific writing.
2.4 Use critical thinking to design and conduct basic studies to address psychological questions using appropriate
research methods.
2.5 Demonstrate proficiency in writing research reports following APA Style Guidelines that include an abstract,
introduction, methods, results and discussion sections.
3.2 Use critical thinking to construct effective written arguments.
3.3 Engage in creative thinking in identifying research questions and designs.
4.1 Demonstrate effective oral communication skills for scientific presentations.
4.2 Demonstrate basic computer skills in using statistical, word processing, and simple graphics software.

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 1

10.1 Write using effective technical requirements, including organization, mechanics, style, and thesis
development.
10.2 Demonstrate sensitivity to written language by being able to employ and apply effective and appropriate
rhetorical devices directed at a defined audience.
10.3 Demonstrate an ability to conduct research, apply source material, discuss general information, and apply
logical processes when writing.

Course Textbooks and Materials (please be aware that I may add to or change this list at any time)
1. American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
You can see the new, 6th edition APA Style Manual at http://apastyle.apa.org/, along with some useful
supplemental information.
2. Cronk, B. C. (2010). How to use PASW Statistics: A step-by-step guide to analysis and interpretation, 6th
ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing. Note: “PASW” and “SPSS” are identical programs, but this book is
the one you need for the software we will be using. You MUST bring this book to every lab session, June 8
through July 20.
3. Additional chapters, journal articles, and other readings WILL be assigned.
4. It will be helpful for you to have a flash drive to store your data and other information. Bring it every day,
and keep it backed up, just in case. Keep a copy of every paper and assignment you submit for a grade. If
something happens to it, YOU will be responsible for replacing it. You also can email documents to yourself
or use a site like www.dropbox.com. Better yet, use a combination of these.
5. You should be ready to do some printing and/or photocopying in the library and computer labs also. The lab
in GR 3.206 has a printer, but you need to bring your own paper.
6. Create a user profile at www.turnitin.com using your Class ID and password. Submit
ALL papers to the website 1-2 days ahead of time so that you can check your
originality report in time to make changes and resubmit, if needed.
7. We will be using eLearning throughout the semester. Please check it frequently for updated information.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Topics, Reading Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates: See calendar on next page.

IMPORTANT: I want to help you do well in this class! To get the most benefit from your time in this class, read
the material to be discussed before we discuss it in class. You will find classes to be much more interesting and
involving if you come prepared to discuss each day's topic.

Please do not make video and/or audio recordings of class sessions without my explicit permission.
Video and/or audio recordings of class sessions made with or without permission may not be distributed
in any way. This includes but is not limited to postings on the internet, websites, eLearning, or email.

Remember, what follows is a preliminary course calendar. It is going to change as we

progress through the semester. Changes will be discussed in class.

I want to help you be successful in this course in every way I can before the end of the semester. If you
are having trouble, come see me before it is too late. You NEVER need to struggle on your own in this
course, but please remember that I can help you only if you tell me that you need help.

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 2

 PSY 3393.0U1  EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS  SUMMER 2011
MONDAYS WEDNESDAYS
MAY 23 MAY 25
Course overview 3 article abstracts due
Planning research—generating useful questions, finding Dissecting research articles—use of supporting
ways to answer questions evidence, development of hypotheses
Ethics in research—beyond the Golden Rule
MAY 30 JUNE 1
No classes Research summary due
LIBRARY SEARCH, REFERENCES & CITATIONS

JUNE 6 JUNE 8
References list due PASW 1-3
IRB Certificate & Plagiarism tutorial quiz due
Anatomy of a research article—APA format and style
JUNE 13 JUNE 15
INTRODUCTION/OUTLINE DUE IN CLASS (& PASW 4-5
submit to www.turnitin.com)
Planning the method
JUNE 20 JUNE 22
IRB requirements IRB FORMS DUE—MUST BE READY TO BE
Planning data collection SUBMITTED TO IRB OFFICE
PASW 6-7
JUNE 27 JUNE 29
REVISION 1 DUE IN CLASS (& submit to Data collection
www.turnitin.com)
Data collection
JULY 4 JULY 6
No classes Data analysis

JULY 11 JULY 13
REVISION 2 DUE IN CLASS (& submit to Preparing tables and figures
www.turnitin.com)
Writing the discussion section
JULY 18 JULY 20
Creating your poster presentation Writing

JULY 25 JULY 27
REVISION 3 DUE IN CLASS (& submit to Class presentations (5)
www.turnitin.com)
Class presentations (5)
AUG 1
Writing

AUG 8—No Class

REVISION 4 DUE IN JO 3.116, 10am (& submit to Course grades will be ready Aug 15
www.turnitin.com)

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 3

Grading Policy
The basis for assigning grades in this course will be as follows:
Points % of final grade
Class activities/homework 60 20%
INDEPENDENT PROJECT
Introduction 25 8%
Proposal 25 8%
Results 25 8%
Full report 25 8%
Final report 100 33%
Poster 20 7%
Presentation 20 7%
TOTAL 300 100%

Assignment of letter grades is as follows:

Percent Letter grade
93-100% A
90-92% A-
88-89% B+
83-87% B
80-82% B-
78-79% C+
73-77% C
70-72% C-
68-69% D+
65-67% D
0-64% F

Your grade on the final paper will not necessarily equal the sum of the grades of the initial versions of its
component parts. Rewriting is an integral part of the process of academic writing, and you are expected
to revise every version of your paper as the semester progresses. My comments and feedback must be
addressed with each new draft.

Course & Instructor Policies

Extra credit: Absolutely no individualized extra credit will be available. If you are concerned about your grades,
come see me. I am always available to answer questions about grades and assignments. Please come to see
me early to clear up points of confusion rather than waiting, which may simply add to your frustration and
decrease your learning efficiency.
Late work: All assignments must be handed in when class begins on the day they are due. Due dates may change,
but they can only be changed by me, and will be discussed in class. It is important for you to keep track of
these due dates, even if they change, because I cannot accept late papers. Please note that in-class work and
quizzes, lab work, and homework may not be submitted early and can NOT be made up for any reason. Late
assignments are late until I receive them personally (e.g., if you slide it under my door Thursday and I get it
Monday, it is 4 days late).
Class attendance: Class attendance is required. Class attendance and participation are an important
indication of your commitment and professionalism, and are essential for your success in this course.
Missing classes will impact your grade negatively (i.e., I will lower your grade if you miss classes). I will be
taking attendance every day. Submitting papers without attending class (correspondence course
style) is not an option. Substitution of formal class meetings with individual/group meetings during data
collection, analysis, and writing of final reports will be discussed in class. DO NOT ASSUME CLASS HAS
BEEN CANCELED UNLESS I SPECIFICALLY INDICATE THIS IN WRITING.

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 4

Etc.: Course requirements are described in detail later in this syllabus. You are responsible for all of the
information included here and all additional information presented throughout the semester.

General Description of Course Requirements

To earn a grade of B:
1. Attend class regularly—not missing more than two classes (in a course that meets twice a
week) regardless of the reason;
2. Meet due dates and writing criteria for all assignments;
3. Participate in all in-class exercises and activities;
4. Complete all informal, low stakes writing assignments;
5. Give thoughtful peer feedback during class workshops/discussions and work faithfully with
your group on other collaborative tasks (e.g., sharing papers, commenting on drafts, peer
editing, on-line discussion boards, answering peer questions);
6. Sustain effort and investment on each draft of all papers;
7. Make substantive revisions when the assignment is to revise—extending or changing the
thinking or organization—not just editing or touching up;
8. Copy-edit all final revisions of main assignments until they conform to the conventions of
edited, revised English;
9. Attend scheduled conferences with the professor to discuss drafts;

To earn a grade of A:
Do all of the things listed above, and also submit writing of exceptionally high quality.

To earn a grade of C, D, or F:
Do only some of the things listed above.

Detailed Descriptions of Course Assignments

Class activities/homework
1. Article summaries—you will be writing several summaries of research reports early in the
semester. These are not listed in the course calendar because I will be assigning them in class.
You will need to be in class to receive these assignments. Missed assignments cannot be made
up.
2. Plagiarism tutorial & IRB training—details will be discussed in class. These tasks will not take
long, and both are REQUIRED. You cannot complete your project without them.
3. Mini projects—we will do some quick data collection and analysis, with write-ups, early in the
semester. Again, you will need to be in class to receive these assignments. Missed assignments
cannot be made up.

Turnitin.com
You will upload your paper at least FIVE times (introduction, proposal, results, full report, final report )
throughout the semester as you continue to revise and expand your work. Please remember, I cannot
grade any paper until the version I am grading has been uploaded to turnitin.

Research Project

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Details will be discussed in class throughout the semester. All of these assignments should be in APA
format, as described in your publication manual. Please notice also that NONE of these assignments may
be skipped—all must be completed, in order and on time (e.g., a particular component may look like it is
only worth 25 points, but skipping it will cost you much more than that). You do NOT need to (and
should not) wait for feedback on the previous section of your paper to begin working on the next section.
I will make getting feedback to you a top priority. Here are a few reminders:

1. RESEARCH PROJECT: Introduction/outline

Email this paper to me saved as a Word document named
EXP LAST NAME INTRO
That should also be what you put in your email subject line. “LAST NAME” should be
your last name, of course.

Your introduction will include your title page, introduction (with hypotheses), references, and
an appendix with copies of any materials you have so far. You will have at least 5 relevant
articles from peer-reviewed journals by this point in the writing process (you should have closer
to 10-15 articles by the time you are finished, at a minimum). The title page and the
appendices should not be uploaded to turnitin. You can expect that your introduction
probably will be 4-5 pages long, not including references and title page.
Your document should include:
1. title page
2. introduction
3. at least 5 references
4. appendix

2. REVISION 1: Proposal (Introduction & Method)

Email this paper to me saved as a Word document named
EXP LAST NAME REVISION 1
That should also be what you put in your email subject line.

Your formal proposal will include your title page, substantially revised and improved
introduction (with hypotheses), method, a section on how you will be analyzing your data, at
least 10 references, and an appendix with copies of all of your materials (solicitation script,
consent form, questionnaire, stimulus materials, etc.). The IRB forms, title page, and the
appendices should not be uploaded to turnitin. The combined introduction and method
sections of your proposal probably will be about 7-8 pages long.
Your document should include:
1. IRB forms
2. title page
3. introduction
4. method
5. data analysis plan
6. at least 10 references
7. appendix

3. REVISION 2: Results
Email this paper to me saved as a Word document named
EXP LAST NAME REVISION 2
That should also be what you put in your email subject line.

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 6

 You’ll need to give me your title page, revised introduction and method, and results section.
The subtitle “Results” should appear at the beginning of this section. Don’t be surprised if your
results section is only about 1-2 pages long.
Your document should include:
1. title page
2. introduction
3. method
4. results
5. at least 10 references
6. appendix

4. REVISION 3: Full Report

Email this paper to me saved as a Word document named
EXP LAST NAME REVISION 3
That should also be what you put in your email subject line.

Your report will include your title page, abstract, revised introduction (with hypotheses), revised
method, revised results, discussion, at least 15 references, and appendix. You can expect that
your full report, from abstract through discussion, is likely to be about 12-15 pages long.
Your document should include:
1. title page
2. abstract
3. introduction
4. method
5. results
6. discussion
7. at least 15 references
8. appendix

5. Poster & Class Presentation

Create a poster presentation in PowerPoint to share your project with the class in a 15-minute
oral presentation. Bring it on your flash drive or email it to yourself, and email me a copy in
advance. Attendance is required for all of the class presentations. Your ratings of others’
presentations will count toward your own presentation grade. You do not need to upload your
poster to turnitin.com.

6. REVISION 4: Revised Full Report

Email this paper to me saved as a Word document named
EXP LAST NAME REVISION 4
That should also be what you put in your email subject line.

Your final full report will include your title page, abstract, introduction (with hypotheses),
method, results, discussion, references, and appendix. You may write as many revisions as we
can make time for until the last day papers are due. I will make getting feedback to you a top
priority.
Your document should include:
1. title page
2. abstract
3. introduction
4. method
5. results

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 7

 6. discussion
7. references
8. appendix

Remember, this syllabus is only a starting point. Details will be discussed in class throughout
the semester and significant changes in procedures, deadlines, and requirements are likely!

NOTE: It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to acquire missed lecture notes, assignments, handouts,

and announcements from a classmate—NOT from me. You are responsible for all
information given in class. This includes any changes to the syllabus, content and format
of exams, and details given regarding assignments.

Seriously, if you must miss a class, please do not come (or write) and ask me what you missed.
This may sound strange, but I am not a reliable source of this information. I don’t take notes
during class. Find out from someone who was there and made notes.

Please do come see me for clarification of what you missed.

Quick review of paper submission format:

For each assignment, you will

1) submit it to www.turnitin.com,
2) email a copy to drkarenhj@utdallas.edu, and
3) bring a printed copy to class.

If your name is Chris Anderson, you will save your paper under the following name and submit
each new version as follows:

EXP ANDERSON INTRO June 13

EXP ANDERSON REVISION 1 June 27

EXP ANDERSON REVISION 2 July 11

EXP ANDERSON REVISION 3 July 25

EXP ANDERSON REVISION 4 Aug 8

Extra papers you might submit will be labeled 1a, 2a, 2b, etc., depending on the timing.

Each time you receive a paper back from me, SAVE it with the current name, then SAVE
AS the name that will come next so that you can continue revising the same document
throughout the semester.

PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11 Page 8

University Policies:
Field Trip Policies
Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities
Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are
subject to state law and University policies and procedures
regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding
these rules and regulations may be found at the website address
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.ht
m. Additional information is available from the office of the school
dean.
No travel and/or risk-related activity is associated with this course.
Student Conduct & Discipline
The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at
Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient
conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student
and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules
and regulations that govern student conduct and activities. General
information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the
UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered
students each academic year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline
within the procedures of recognized and established due process.
Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations,
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter
VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in
the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations
(SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the
responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey
federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules,
university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are
subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether
such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or
criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.
Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high
level of responsibility and academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic
degree depends upon the absolute integrity
of the work done by the student for that
degree, it is imperative that a student
demonstrate a high standard of individual
honor in his or her scholastic work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, statements, acts or omissions
related to applications for enrollment or the
award of a degree, and/or the submission as
one’s own work or material that is not one’s
own. As a general rule, scholastic
dishonesty involves one of the following
acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and/or
PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11
falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are
subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from
portions of papers for other classes, and
from any other source (including your
own work for other past or current
classes) is unacceptable and will be dealt
with under the university’s policy on
plagiarism (see general catalog for
details). This course will use the resources
(among others) of turnitin.com, which
searches the web for possible plagiarism and
is over 90% effective. Instances of
plagiarism that are not detected by
turnitin.com are also subject to review by
the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Using the work of another student or
providing your own work to another student,
currently or at any point in the future is
considered unacceptable and also will be
treated as plagiarism and/or collusion in this
or any other course.
Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and
efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students
through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues
concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email
exchange. The university encourages all official student email
correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email
address and that faculty and staff consider email from students
official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This
allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
identity of all individuals corresponding and the security of the
transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free
email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at
U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T.
Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.
Please note that privacy regulations prohibit me from emailing
your grades to you. Grades will be returned in class on designated
days. If you miss one, please come to my office.
Withdrawal from Class
The administration of this institution has set deadlines for
withdrawal from any college-level courses. These dates and times
are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration
procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to
handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I
cannot drop or withdraw any student, even though your paperwork
may require my signature. You must do the proper paperwork to
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ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if
you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.
Student Grievance Procedures
Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on
Student Services and Activities, of the university’s Handbook of
Operating Procedures.
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades,
evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is
the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve
the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called
“the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary
responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter
cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in
writing to the respondent with a copy to the respondent’s School
Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response
provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written
appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the
School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to
the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the dean
will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The
decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the
academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in
the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.
Incomplete Grade Policy
As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only
for work unavoidably missed at the semester’s end and only if 70%
of the course work has been completed (that’s everything but ONE
exam). An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8)
weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the
required work to complete the course and to remove the
incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the
incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.
Services for Students with Special Educational Needs
The goal of AccessAbility Services is to provide students with
disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their non-
disabled peers. AccessAbility Services is located in the Student
Services building. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30
a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information is:
The Office of Student AccessAbility
Student Services Building
Mail Station: SSB 32
972-883-2098; disabilityservice@utdallas.edu
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make
those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination
on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to
PSY 3393 Syllabus ● Last revised 5/23/11
remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals
(in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind.
Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for
example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student
who is hearing impaired). Classes of enrolled students with
mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible
facilities. The college or university may need to provide special
services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of
the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides
students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that
the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the
professor after class or during office hours.
Religious Holy Days
The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class
or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a
religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are
exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity
sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in
advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be
allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of
the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies
the instructor in advance and completes any missed exam or
assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who
fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed
period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the
absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or
if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been
given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or
examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a
ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or
her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take
into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the
student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
executive officer or designee.
Video, audio, or other recording in class
No instructional materials or any type of recording made in class
may be reproduced or disseminated by students except for the
exclusive use of students enrolled in the course in which such
materials have been provided. In particular, course materials may
not be posted on the Internet without express written permission.
Violations are subject to civil penalties or criminal prosecution
under the federal Copyright Act of 1976, as amended. In addition,
students who violate this rule regarding copyright infringement are
subject to disciplinary action. It is a condition of a student’s
enrollment that he or she respect the copyrights of others and
adhere to this copyright ruling.
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