Students devlop increased competence in research methodology and statistical analyses.

Students demonstrate knowledge and skills related to competency in research methodology and statistical analyses.

Students' production of original research. This program is considered to be a research-oriented program. Therefore, all students in the program will either complete a research thesis or will have been engaged in a faculty member's program of original research along with having taken Psychology 588, Advanced Experimental Design. 

Students will demonstrate research competency when they either have completed a thesis or have enrolled in PSY 588, Graduate Experimental Design, along with having partaken in a faculty members research.

During this past academic year, we have had four students enrolled in this program. Although no student graduated, two are scheduled to graduate in August 2011. Those two students have served as research assistants (one as a graduate student and one as an undergraduate), collecting data in drug effects in developing animals under the direction of the chair. One of the four MA-General students currently is planning to write a thesis in an experimental area. Three of the four students have taken or will take Psychology 588 or its equivalent by the end of this summer (2011). The fourth student was admitted to a doctoral program at Texas A&M.

The criterion was met but we feel that there should be more involvement of our MA-General students in faculty research. To this end, we are attempting to identify high-level undergraduate students who would be interested in this program and getting them involved as seniors in faculty-sponsored research. Once they have applied and been accepted in the graduate program, they would be able to continue in their research endeavors as MA students. In addition, we are discussing the possibility of amending our criteria for this objective, in addition to what is already in place, to having 50% of the program students having presented original research, at least once, at a state, regional, national, or international paper session each year. 

In addition, whether through a taking Psychology 588 and not writing a thesis, each student will be required to write three research papers using APA style. To grade those papers, we are attaching a new rubric to this portion of the OATdb. Numbers from the rubric are converted to percentages and passing requires a minimum of 80% on at least one of the papers.

Students develop broad-based knowledge and competence in the scientific, theroretical, and conceptual foundations of general psychology.

Students demonstrate competency in the areas of general psychology through synthesis and integration of scientific, methodological, and theoretical foundations.

Students demonstrate through a written comprehensive examination their ability to integrate the areas of general psychology.

100% of students must pass comprehensive examination prior to graduation. Students are given a written exam of which they must complete 5 or 7 questions listed. Criteria for passing are: the student must provide integrative responses that reveal an understanding of the information and experiences to which they have been exposed; they must provide complete references for all works cited using proper APA style; they must demonstrate their knowledge of the science in the field and support their answers, arguments, theories, logic, etc. with scientific research studies when applicable. Each question will be scored on a pass-fail basis by two faculty members who have expertise in the particular area. An example of the comprehensive examination is attached.

One of the two graduating students passed comprehensives and the other is taking the tests this summer. It would be unwise to base any conclusions concerning strengths and weaknesses of the program with data from only one student. We will address concerns after the second student attempts the examinations this summer.