Miguel I've pasted below the text that I use. This particular example involves an independent study (that students receive a grade for). When students volunteer I have a slightly different version.
Cheers Marie COURSE OVERVIEW This course is designed to give you research experience by independently working on a research project. The major goals are to increase the depth of your knowledge about a specific content area and to develop and sharpen your research skills by applying some of the principles gleaned from Research Methods, Social Psychology, and Statistics, among other relevant courses. This experience should successfully prepare you for further independent research, such as that required for an honor�s thesis, for graduate work in psychology, or other professional advanced study (e.g., medical school or law school). GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The primary objective for this course is that the student gains valuable experience by participating in all phases of an original research project. As part of this project, your tasks may include conducting a library search, writing a literature review, planning and designing the study, constructing necessary materials, collecting data, entering data and helping with data analysis. You will write a formal paper describing the study. Ultimately--depending on the significance of the results I hope that you will present the results of the project as part of a paper or poster session at a regional (e.g., Kentucky Psychological Organization meeting) or national conference (e.g., the American Psychological Association meeting). It is also possible that, with excellent results and continued collaboration, your work would result in a co-authored publication in a journal. CLASS MEETINGS We will find a weekly mutually convenient time to meet. We might make changes as we go along. For example, some weeks we may meet more than once, whereas other weeks we may not meet at all (e.g., if you are collecting data). You should on average work 10 hours per week. MY EXPECTATIONS 1. Go above and beyond the call of duty (take initiative to do more, bring in articles you found, talk about the research, etc.) 2. Be punctual in meeting deadlines and in arriving for scheduled meetings. Be prepared for meetings. 3. Communicate with me. It is your responsibility to tell me what is going on., what problems you�re encountering, etc. Take responsibility for scheduling subjects, collecting data, etc. It is your responsibility to tell me what is going on. 4. Take responsibility for ensuring that the experiment is conducted properly - don't just "get in - get out, and give me the data". LOOK at the data - are the numbers correct (i.e., do they make sense?), were there unusual things going on when you collected the data (noise, fumes, room temperature, etc). These are things I need to know and you need to document! 5. Become "anal" about analyzing the data and documenting everything you do. 6. Turn in weekly �Research Activity Reports� detailing your progress on the project. GRADING A = doing everything listed above B = doing most of the things above, having (excused) excuses for not doing others C = doing some of the things above, having (mixed) excuses for not doing others D = doing a few of the things above, having (unexcused) excuses for not doing others F = doing nothing more than disappointing me MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION WILL CONVEY THESE THINGS 1. Takes initiative, works hard, and independently 2. Responsible and punctual (always attends meetings, is prepared) 3. Enthusiastic 4. Works well with others (team-work) 5. Is a leader 6. Contributes to discussions - evidence of scientific thought 7. Excels in writing and statistical analyses � is willing and excited to learn 8. Thinks like a graduate student >===== Original Message From Miguel Roig <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ===== >It seems that I will have to develop my own. When I do, I'll share it with >the list. > >Miguel > >At 03:36 PM 8/11/2003 -0400, you wrote: >>>For those of you who collaborate on research projects with >>>undergraduates, do you use any type of 'contract' or document that >>>outlines the general responsibilities of the undergraduate researcher, >>>discusses authorship issues, ethics, time and intellectual commitment to >>>the project, etc.? If so, would you be willing to share it? I did a >>>brief web search and what I found were mostly Department-type forms that >>>ask the student to describe the project they wish to carry out, the >>>number of credit hours involved, a listing of student-mentor meeting >>>dates, etc. We already have such forms and those are not exactly what I >>>am looking for. >>> >>>Miguel >>>___________________________________________________________________________ >>>Miguel Roig, Ph.D. >>>Associate Professor of Psychology >>>Notre Dame Division of St. John's College >>>St. John's University >>>300 Howard Avenue >>>Staten Island, New York 10301 >>>Voice: (718) 390-4513 >>>Fax: (718) 390-4347 >>>E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>Http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~roigm >>>___________________________________________________________________________ >>>--- >>>You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >>Miguel, >>I would be very interested in seeing what you develop and/or are sent >>regarding this question. >>Thanks! >>--Kathy Morgan >>Dept. of Psychology >>Wheaton College >>Norton, MA 02766 >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>--- >>You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >--- >You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
