Second-year Paper

All students will complete a second-year research project. The purpose of this research requirement is for students to have continued intensive research experience. Each project should consist of an empirical research project in some relevant area of Psychology. This project may be an extension of the student's first-year project, or a report describing new empirical research undertaken during the second year. Faculty advisors take the responsibility to assist students in framing their research questions and helping to design the second-year project. All projects must be approved by the faculty advisor.

By the last day of instruction of the second year (date posted in the Schedule of Classes), each student is expected to submit to their academic advisor and the second reader an APA-style written report of this project. Consult with your advisor for more details about the content and expected length of this paper. There may be variation across faculty in expectations. This deadline (last day of instruction) is a firm requirement that students are expected to meet.

By the deadline students need to have turned in a final draft of their second-year project paper to (a) their advisor, and (b) their second reader (in the department), approved by the student’s advisor. Check with your advisor and second reader as to whether they wish to receive an electronic or paper version of your paper (or both). The advisor and second reader will sign off on the title page (format example linked here) indicating they have received the paper by the deadline (the signature itself need not take place by the deadline). The expectation is that each student will have had their main advisor read and comment on an earlier version(s) of the second-year paper well before the last day of instruction deadline. Once the signatures have been obtained, only the title page is submitted to the department office for filing. Be sure the title page has your name, date, the title of the paper and the names of your advisor and second reader on them. A template for the title page is available from the Graduate Program Coordinator.

After reading your paper, revisions may be required by the advisor or second reader. Once all required revisions are made and the project is complete, your advisor and second reader will sign the title page on file in the department indicating the project has been approved. Students will also give a short (15- to 25-minute) oral presentation of their second-year project at a colloquium meeting (PSYC 230 for cognitive students, PSYC 231 for social students or PSYC 242 for developmental students) in the spring quarter. See the faculty colloquium coordinator of the spring quarter for more details about the logistics of the colloquium presentation. Students are expected to submit their first/second-year research study for publication in their third year (unless their advisor and second reader determine that the chances of publication are low enough to advise the student to devote their time to a different research project).