In order to enhance our MA students’ opportunities to conduct meaningful and rigorous research as a terminal experience in The School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, we offer an additional option for that terminal experience. That is the Terminal Research Project. This can be accomplished by our students completing a minimum of 6 hours of PSY 6917 Supervised Research, according to the guidelines below. This option allows the student to design and complete an independent empirical study under the supervision of a two member faculty supervisory committee with the committee head being a tenure track faculty member from The School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences. It is expected that the rigor of these projects will be equivalent to a traditional thesis. The terminal experience for students who choose this option will consist of three elements:

This accomplishes several goals that exceed the thesis process now in place. First, it enables our students to have a terminal experience that better prepares them for publishing in the field of psychology. By preparing a manuscript to be submitted to a refereed journal in our field following APA manuscript style, the student has a more authentic sample of academic behavior typically experienced in the field of psychology. Second, the oral presentation to faculty, students and invited guests allows a better assessment of oral communication skills that fit within our ALC’s for graduate students.

Process for Completing the TeRP:

1. In consultation with appropriate faculty member(s), students identify a topic for an empirical study;


2. Identify a tenure track faculty member to supervise the project (likely the faculty member who assisted in topic development)


3. Develop a research proposal in consultation with the supervising faculty member including:
   • Literature review
   • Statement of research question or hypothesis
   • Methodology including
     • Participants
     • Instruments, measures, and/or apparatus
     • Procedures
     • Analysis procedures


4. Identify a second member of the Project Committee


5. Present and defend the Project Proposal to the project committee (Supervising faculty and second member) and revise as required


6. Submit IRB proposal


7. Upon receipt of IRB approval
   1. Recruit participants and obtain necessary informed consent
   2. Collect data


8. Conduct data analysis in consultation with supervising faculty member


9. Prepare results, discussion, and conclusion sections as appropriate


10. Submit draft Project Manuscript to supervising faculty member and edit as required


11. Upon approval of supervising faculty member, submit to the second member and identify a defense date


12. Defend the Project Manuscript and make required revisions


13. Obtain signatures from supervising faculty member and second member when they judge the quality to warrant a grade of “B” or better


14. Prepare and deliver a presentation of the Project Manuscript to a public forum in the SPBS (NOTE: Should the student not be available for face-to-face presentation, provisions can be made for a remote presentation via video conferencing)


15. Prepare the Project Manuscript for submission to an appropriate refereed journal


16. Write a cover letter to the journal editor


17. Submit all documents* to the Director, SPBS for approval (NOTE: edits required by the Director must be completed and the Project Manuscript resubmitted to and approved by the Director prior to graduation)
    
    *Supporting documents include:
    • Project Manuscript
    • Signature page with Project Committee signatures
    • Verification of presentation to public forum
    • Cover Letter to Editor
    • Instructions to Authors of the relevant journal
    • SASS Audit confirming completion of course requirements for the MA

Example of a TeRP Signature Page