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Simon Fraser University

S.9548

Office of the Vice-President, Academic

Memorandum

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

Revisions - Department

of Psychology

SCAP Reference: SCAP 95-38

Action undertaken by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee and the Senate

Committee on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motion:

MOTION: "that Senate approve and recommend approval to the

Board of Governors, as set forth in S.95- 1

8 , the proposed

curriculum revisions including

Revision to the composition of the Ph.D. Supervisory

Committee

ii)

Changes to the Experimental Psychology regulations

regarding timing of the Ph.D. requirements

iii)

New Graduate Course - PSYC 825-2 - Intervention

(Ongoing)

iv)

Changes to course requirements in Statistics and

Simon Fraser University

Department of Psychology

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Andrea Lebowitz, Associate Dean of Arts

FROM: Kim Bartholomew, Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, Psychology

DATE: May 1, 1995

TOPIC: Proposed revision to composition of PhD Supervisory Committee

Graduate Regulation 1.6.4 specifies that the supervisory committee consists of "the Senior

Supervisor and, in most cases, at least one other faculty member". The committee must be

approved by the Graduate Program Committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

The Psychology Department's policy for the PhD Supervisory Committee specifies three

faculty members, all of whom must be members of the Psychology Department. One of the

committee members must take primary responsibility for ensuring that the dissertation is

methodologically sound. Additional members may be added subject to the approval of the

Graduate Program Committee.

. ?

We propose that this policy be changed such that only the Senior Supervisor and one

additional committee member need be members of the Psychology Department. If the

third committee member is drawn from outside of the department, it must be documented

that this individual is an expert in the field of the thesis research. In other respects, our

Policy would remain the same.

Current calendar wording re Ph.D. Supervisory Committee:

Students are required to choose a faculty member in the Psychology Department as the

Senior Supervisor and Chair of the PhD Supervisory Committee and two or more

additional members. At least two of the additional members must be members of the

Psychology Department. One committee member must he able to act as advisor with

respect to measurement and design aspects of the dissertation research.

Proposed calendar wording re Ph.D. Supervisory Committee:

Students are required to choose a faculty member in the Psychology Department as the

Senior Supervisor and Chair of the PhD Supervisory Committee and two or more

additional members. At least one of the additional members must be a member of the

Psychology Department. One committee member must be able to act as advisor with

respect to measurement and design aspects of the dissertation research.

Rationale for change:

Many of our doctoral committees have 4 or

members in order to include individuals

outside the department who are experts in the specific area under study and, in some cases,

Who have facilitated the thesis research. Such large committees can place an excessive

burden on the student due to the need to meet the standards of all committee members.

Large committees also complicate the process of getting the thesis approved and defended.

Kim. Bartholomew

Simon Fraser University,

Department of Psychology

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Andrea Lebowitz, Associate Dean of Arts

FROM: Kim Bartholomew, Chair, Graduate St4dies Càmmittee, Psychology

DATE: May 1, 1995

TOPIC: Proposed changes in Experimental Psychology Graduate regulations

The current graduate regulations for our PhD in Experimental

Psychology require that: 1)

the comprehensives cannot be taken before successful completion of the PhD' course

requirements,. 2) the comprehensives must be taken within four years of admission to the

PhD program, and 3) the dissertation proposal be submitted before the end of the second

year in the program.

These regulations are inconsistent with current practisç and make little pedagogical' sense.

Thet comprehensives. in Experimental Psychology consist of three projects or papers. There

is no reason that course requirements need. to be completed before the comprehensives arc

initiated,, and, in fact, we do not enforce this policy. One or more of the' comprehensives

are typically on topics related to the dissertation proposal; they help to provide students

with sufficient background to design their dissertation research. Therefore, it is not

reasonable to require the dissertation proposal to be completed two years prior to the

comprehensives. In practise,, the comprehënsives are: usually completed before the

dissertation proposal, and we do not enforce the two year time limit on the dissertation

proposal.

Proposed Revision

In order to bring our calender regulations in line with current practise and expectations, we

propose that the graduate regulations for our PhD- in, Experimental' Psychology he changed

as follows: 1) The comprehensives and PhD course requirements, must be completed within

two years of admission to the PhD' program, and 2) the dissertation proposal must be

approved before the end of the third year in the PhD program'.. These new regulations do

not specify the order

in which the various. requirements are completed. The expectation is

that in most cases comprehensives and required

courses will be completed in the first year

of the PhD and the dissertation proposal will be approved by the second year.

The new regulations would apply to students entering the' PhD program in the term

following the approval of the changes.

These changes have been approved, by the Psychology Department's

Experimental

Committee, Graduate Studies. Committee, and Faculty.

Calendar Changes

Current wording regarding timing of PhD Comprehensive Examination:

The examination cannot he taken before successful completion of the course requirements

and the MA thesis but must be taken within four years of admission to the PhD program.

Proposed wording regarding timing of PhD Comprehensive Examination:

The examination must he completed within two years of admission to the PhD program.

Current wording regarding timing of PhD Proposal:

The candidate is required to present a dissertation proposal before the end of the second

year in the program, and is expected to complete the PhD dissertation within four years of

entrance to the program.

Proposed wording regarding timing of PhD Proposal:

The candidate is required to present a dissertation proposal before the end of the third

year in the program, and is expected to complete the PhD dissertation within four years of

entrance to the program.

Current wording regarding PhD course requirements:

Phi) students are required to take two subject courses (in addition to those taken for the

MA degree), and complete comprehensive examinations and a doctoral dissertation.

Normally, the two subject courses will be in the student's area of specialization.

Proposed wording regarding PhD course requirements:

Phi) students are required to take two subject courses (in addition to those taken for the

MA degree), and complete comprehensive examinations and a doctoral dissertation. The

two subject courses must be completed within two years of entrance to the PhD program.

Normally, the two subject courses will be in the student's area of specialization.

03.

RATIONALE FOR NEW COURSE PROPOSAL

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

PSYCHOLOGY 825-2

RATIONALE:

We are currently using Psych 82372 for two purposes. 1) as the practicuin component of

Psych 822, the required clinical course on intervention, and 2)for students required to

maintain involvement in clinical activity in two of evemy three-semesters they are enrolled

in the doctoral program. The addition of Psych 825-2 would allow us to Separate the

ongoing clinical training from the intervention course.

NEW

GDUATh COURSE PROPOSAL FORM

Department: Psychology

Course #: Psyc 825-2

l'itle: ?

Intervention (Ongoing)

Description: Clinical Praclicwn Course

Credit lIrs: 2

Vector:

Prerequisite(s), if

any: Admission to the clinical program. Psych 820, 821, 822,823, and 880 (Practicum). Graded on

satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

JnrQjl p Icnt

iiicJ

Sc.hchJ.iIn2.;

Estimated Enrollment: All clinical students beyond their second year in the program.

When will the course first be offered: 95-3

How oftcu will the course be offered: Every semester

)lthcalllQ.n

Same as Rationale on Page 2.

Qtirccs: ?

Nrtc

Which Faculty member will usually teach the course: N/A

What are the budgetary implications of mounting the course: None

Are tlieie sufficient library resources (append details): None required

Appended:

Outline of the course

b) ?

An indication of the competence of the Faculty member to

give the course

C) ?

Library resourcesApprovcd:

Arts 92-3

PSYCHOLOGY DEPA.RTM:EN'T

FAX-COM COVER SHEET

Simon Eraser University

FAX: (604) 291-3427

Burnaby, B.C. 

?

Office: (604) 291-3354 

?

V5A 1S6 

TO: ? 

Ralph Stanton 

?

DATE: 17 March 1995 

Library/Collection 

s

Mgt. 

?

FROM: Lori e Tarcea., Graduate /\dvi 

SOF

- ?

PsychologyDepartment 

PHONE:291-4367 

DIAL # :9-291-3023 ? 

charge: (circle one) 

$100/year allot. 

Personal 

, ?

Grant # 

pages (including this one)

Other 

(please specify) 

(Please, leavc this portion attachcd to the FAX confirmation, in the tray beside the I-tx ma(hinc)

(cut hcrc)

COMMENTS: Psych 

825-2 

this course requires 

?

by resourc---[he course 

has long been established and only the course number is new. 

?

Graduate students 

registering in this course are receiving credit for clinical supervision. Stude,i1 

are required to see clients at our psychology clinic,under:SuperViSioflo 

f

a

registered clinical psychologist two out of every three semesters they are in 

the program. 

W.A.C. Bennett Library. Room 4003

TEL (604) 291-4084

Simon Fraser University

Telephone: (604) 291-5946

e-mail:

ILNSMrITING THE FOLLOWING_PAGES IQ;

5 ?

JEMARK$JSPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS;

Psy

ch. 825-

The Library has no interest in doing a course assessment for Psych.

825-2, since it Is a clinical supervision situation.

We are transmitting I page(s)

irctudtng

this cover page. If you do not receive all of the

pages being transmitted, please contact us immediately at the above number.

P_.^ 

-1.

TOTAL P.001

Simon Fraser University ?

Department of Psychdlo' ?

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Andrea Lebowitz, Associate Dean of Arts

FROM: 'Kim Bartholomew, Graduate Program Chair, Psychology

DATE: May 11, 1995

TOPIC: Proposal for Changes to Graduate Course Requirements in Statistics and

Research Design

At present, all graduate students in psychology take a two course statistics -sequence in:the

first year of their MA program (Psyc 910-5 and 'Psyc 911-5). In addition, students 'in the

Clinical Psychology program take a course in research design in the second year of the 'MA

(Psyc 824-3).

Over the past two years, the Psychology Department'has reviewed the methods component

of our graduate training. This process has involved two surveys of graduate students and

extensive discussion in all relevant departmental committees, including the Experimental

Committee, the Clinical Committee, the Graduate Studies Committee, the Graduate

Student Caucus, and an Ad Hoc Committee on the Teaching of Graduate Statistics. We

concluded that, given the large and growing body of statistical knowledge 'requircdof

psychologists, the first year statistics courses have become too demanding of incoming

graduate students. Many students feel that they spend a disproportionate amount of time

on their statistics courses and that too much material is covered too quickly for it lo be

properly absorbed and understood. As a consequence, students often have difficulty

applying design principles to their subsequent research efforts. This criticism is echoed by

some faculty who have complained that, by the time students under their supervision are

ready to undertake their thesis research, they have forgotten how to apply whatevcr'thcy

once learned about research design.

A new course structure is proposed which reduces the amount of instruction in the M.A.

program and transfers it to the'Ph.D., thereby extending research design and statistics over

a longer period of time. Under this proposal it 'is hoped that students, as they proceed

through their graduate training, will be given the opportunity to develop 'their

methodological skills in a more gradual way and find ways of applying their design and

statistical knowledge more effectively to their thesis and 'related research.

The Proposal

The MA level statistics courses (Psyc 910 & 911)will be reduced from 5 credits to 3, with a

corresponding reduction in the content of these courses. These courses will continue lo he

offered every year.

Two 1.5 credit 'Measurement Seminars (Psyc 715-1:5) will be required at the Ph.D.'level.

The measurement seminars will cover specialized topics such as Psychometrics, Structural

Modelling, and Categorical Data Analysis. Students will be required ,to complete

seminar on Psychometrics in -the first

year of the Ph.D., and a second seminar on a different

topic within the first two years of the 'Ph.D. Students would have the opportunity to select a

topic which is most closely related to their area of research. A seminar on psychometrics

will be offered once per year, and a second seminar on a. different topic will be offered at

least once per year.

•

Finally, a course in Research Issues in Psychology (Psyc 824-3) will be offered for

Experimental Psychology students, parallel to the design course already required of

students in Clinical Psychology. This course focuses on practical issues in planning and

conducting research, rather than specific quantitative methodology, and is designed to

facilitate the preparation of students' MA thesis proposals. Psyc 824 will be offered twice

per year, once for Experimental students and once for Clinical student.

It is expected that the new requirements for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs would come into

effect in 96-3.

This proposal does not require the creation of any new courses, only some changes in credit

hours and titles. The proposed changes are outlined below.

Current Degree Requirements in Research Design

M.A.

Clinical Program:

Psyc 910-5 Research Design I: Experiments

Psyc 911-5 Research Design II: Research Studies

Psyc 824-3 Research Design in Clinical Psychology

Experimental Program:

Psyc 910-5 Research Design I: Experiments

Psyc 911-5 Research Design II: Research Studies

SProposed Degree Requirements

in Research Design

M.A.

Clinical and Experimental Programs:

Psyc 910-3 Research Design I: Experiments

Psyc 911-3 ResearchDesign H: Research Studies

Psyc 824-3 Research Issues in Psychology

Ph.D.

Clinical and Experimental Programs:

Psyc 715-1.5 Proseminar in Measurement(Psychometrics)

Psyc 715-1.5 Proseminar in Measurement (Special Topic)

Summa of Changes in Graduate Courses.

Psyc 910-5, Research Design!: Experiments, & Psyc 911-5, Research Design II:

Research Studies, to be reduced from

credits to 3.

Psyc 824-3, Research Design in Clinical Psychology, to be renamed Research Issues in

Psychology.

Psyc 715-5, Proseminar in Measurement, to be reduced from 5 credits to

1.5

credits.

Multiple offerings of this seminar will be given, with the specific topic indicated in

parentheses after the title, e.g., Seminar in Measurement (Psychometrics).

Changes in calendar description of degree requirements

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM:

Current calendar entry:

Students admitted to the experimental program with a Bachelors degree are required to

obtain satisfactory performance in PSYC 910 (Research Design I), PSYC 911 (Research

Design II), and four subject courses, and to complete an MA thesis (PSYC 898). ... In the

first year of the program, students are expected to complete PSYC 910, 911, and at least

two of the four subject courses, and to initiate work in PSYC 898 (MA Thesis).

Proposed calendar entry:

Students admitted to the experimental program with a Bachelors degree are required to

obtain satisfactory performance in PSYC 910 (Research Design I), PSYC 911 (Research.

Design II), PSYC 824 (Research Issues in Psychology), and four subject courses, and to

complete an MA thesis (PSYC 898). ... In the first year of the program, students are

expected to complete PSYC 910, 911, 824, and at least two of the four subject courses, and

to initiate work in PSYC 898 (MA Thesis).

PhD:

Current calendar entry:

PhD students are required to take two subject courses (in addition to those taken for the

MA degree), and complete comprehensive examinations and a doctoral dissertation.

Normally, the two subject courses will be in the student's area of specialization.

Proposed calendar entry:

PhD students are required to complete two subject courses (in addition to those taken for

the MA degree), two offerings of Psyc 715 Proseminar in Measurement, comprehensive

examinations, and a doctoral dissertation,

The required courses must he completed within

two

years of entrance to the PhD program.

Normally, the two subject courses will be in the

student's area of specialization.

* The italicized sentence will be included if Proposal B is also approved.

CLINICAL PROGRAM:

There are no changes to the MA program in Clinical Psychology. The required PhD

courses are not specified in the calendar. Instead, there is a table listing the expected

course sequence. Psyc 715-1.5 will be added to this table in the third and fourth years of

graduate study. A sentence will also be added highlighting the additional methodology

course requirements.

Current calendar entry:

After successful completion of the MA courses, students may then be admitted to the Phi)

program and complete the remaining three years of the program (see table). Students in

residence in the third year and beyond are required to maintain a clinical case load and/or

engage in other clinical work (e.g., program evaluation), under the supervious of clinical

faculty.

Proposed calendar entry:

After successful completion of the MA courses, students may then he admitted to the PhD

program and complete the remaining three years of the program (see table). Students in

faculty. Students are also required to complete two offerings of Psyc 715 Proseminar in

Measurement within the first two years of the PhD program.

/t.

COURSE ALTERATION AND RATIONALE

(PLEASE USE THIS FORM FOR THE FOLLOWING

CHANGES: Change

Title, Change

Course

Description, Change

Credit Hour, Change

Vector,

Change

Prerequisite, Change in Requirements for Graduate

etc.)

Entry: Psych 824-3 Research Design in Clinical

Psychology

Prerequisites: Psych 910, 911 or permission of instructor

TO: ?

Proposed Calendar Entry: Psych 824-3 Research Issues in Psychology

Prerequisites: Psych 910, 911 or permission of instructor

RATIONALE: This course is presently required of graduate students in Clinical

Psychology only. Under the proposed program changes , it will also be required of

graduate students in Experimental Psychology. Therefore, the title being changed to a

more general form.

I,.

COURSE ALTERATION AND RATIONALE

(PLEASE USE THIS FORM FOR THE FOLLOWING

CHANGES: Change

of Title, Change of Course

Description, Change of

Credit Hour, Change

Vector,

Change of

Prerequisite, Change in Requirements for Graduate

Program, etc.)

FROM: ?

Current Calendar Entry: Psych 7

15-5

Proseminar in Measurement

TO: ?

Proposed Calendar Entry: Psych 715-1.5

RATIONALE: The course credits are being reduced from

to 1.5. The reduced seminar

will provide and introduction to a specialized topic (such as Psychometrics or Categorical

Data Analysis) in contrast to the in depth treatment of such topics previously provided in

the

credit seminar. The particular topic will be indicate in parentheses after the title.

Ph.D. students will be required to complete a minimum of two offerings of Psych 715.

/2.

(PLEASE USE THIS FORM FOR THE FOLLOWING

CHANGES: Change

Title, Change

Course

Description, Change

Credit Hour, Change

Vector,

Change of

Prerequisite, Change in Requirements for Graduate

Program, etc.)

FROM: ?

Current Calendar Entry: Psych 910-5 Research Design I: Experiments

Reviews the basic logic of controlled experimentation, and focuses on

analysis of

variance designs commonly used in psychological research.

Particular emphasis is given to the relative merits

the several designs

when there are multiple research questions to be answered.

TO: ?

Proposed Calendar Entry: Psych 910-3 Research Design I: Experiments

Reviçws the basic logic

controlled experimentation, and focuses on

analysis

variance designs commonly used in psychological research.

Particular emphasis is given to the relative merits

the several designs

when there are multiple research questions to be answered.

RATIONALE: The credit hours of Pych 910 are being reduced from

to 3, with an

accompanying reduction in coverage of material of approximately one third and

reduction in lecture hours from 4 to 3 per week. This is part of a reorganization of

statistics training involving cutting back the first year MA statistics courses (Psych 910

and 911) and adding two 1.5 hour seminars in quantitative methods at the PhD level.

VI-1

COURSE ALTERATION AND RATIONALE

(PLEASE USE THIS FORM FOR THE FOLLOWING

CHANGES: Change of Title, Change of Course

Description, Change of Credit Hour, Change of Vector,

Change of Prerequisite, Change in Requirements for Graduate

Current Calendar Entry: Psych 911-5 Research Design II:Research Studies

Focuses on multivariate regression and correlation models. Deals with ways of

answering questions when direct experimental manipulation is not feasible, and

emphasizes new applications.

and

ways

answering questions when direct experimental manipulation is not feasible, and

emphasizes new applications

RATIONALE: The credit hours of Psych 911 are being reduced from 5 to 3, with an

accompanying reduction in coverage of material of approximately one third and a reduction in

lecture hours from 4 to 3 per week. This is part of reorganization of statistics training involving

cutting back the first year MA statistics courses (Psych 910 and Psych 911) and adding two 1.5

hour seminars in quantitative methods at the PhD. level.

/1/.