Argosy University, Chicago
COURSE SYLLABUS
PP8499
CRP Proposal Development
Fall 2011
Faculty Information:
Faculty Name: Susan S. Zoline, Ph.D.
Campus: Chicago
Contact Information:
Office Phone Number: 312-777-7704
Office Location: 1368
E-Mail:
Office Hours: Monday: 1:00-2:00; Tuesday 9:00-10:00; Wednesday 1:30-2:30; Thursday 9:00-10:00; and by appointment.
Short Faculty Bio:
Susan Zoline, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychology and core faculty member in the Clinical Psychology Department at Argosy University, Chicago where she has been teaching since 1988. She currently teaches courses in the areas of Professional Issues, Portfolio Development, CRP Proposal Development and Clinical Supervision, as well as Pro Groups and Practicum Seminars. Dr. Zoline also chairs and serves on CRP committees, serves as a new faculty mentor, co-chairs the Clinical Psychology Admissions Committee, and serves on the Clinical Psychology Student Professional Development Committee. Dr. Zoline has chaired or served as a reader for nearly 100 CRP’s during her years in the PsyD program. She has worked clinically in a broad variety of settings and is active professionally as well.
Course Description:
The objective of this course is to teach students to develop a clinical research proposal that will be the basis for the required Clinical Research Project. The student is aided in locating and framing her/his research problem. The course then steps through the general preparation of the research proposal, including introduction, statement of the problem and purpose of the study, hypotheses or guiding questions, significance of the study, (preliminary) survey of the literature, research design and methodology, basic assumptions, limitations and delimitations, bibliography, APA style, and regulations on research with human subjects. An overview of various research methodologies is also included.
Course Pre-requisites: PP7202 (Statistics) and PP7203 (Research Methodology)
Required Textbooks: AU Chicago IRB Handbook available on AU Chicago website (CRP link on Student Services Page)
Technology: Pentium III CPU/ Windows 98; 128MB RAM printer; Microsoft Office: Acrobat (full version); Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 (PC), 5.0 (MAC), or Netscape Navigator 4.08; Norton Antivirus.
Course length: 15 Weeks
Contact Hours: 45 Hours
Credit Value: 3.0
Course Objectives:
Course Objective / Program Goal / Method of AssessmentStudents will demonstrate understanding of, and competence in, the foundations of scientific methods and statistics. Students will demonstrate the ability to understand the logic and principles of both quantitative and qualitative investigation. / Goal 4: Scientific Foundations
Goal 5: Scholarship / Class discussions, mutual critiques; CRP proposal written installments
Students must be able to articulate a clinical question and evaluate the psychological literature, especially with regard to empirical support from various assessment and intervention techniques / Goal 4 –Scientific Foundations
Goal 5: Scholarship / Class discussions, mutual critiques; CRP proposal written installments
Students will demonstrate attitudes essential for continued learning, scholarly inquiry, and integration of new research findings and the emerging body of knowledge of psychology as a field into their clinical practice. / Goal 5: Scholarship / Class discussions, mutual critiques; CRP proposal written installments
Students will critically evaluate and synthesize the relevant theoretical, clinical, and research literature, and use professional writing skills appropriate for their scholarly work. / Goal 4 –Scientific Foundations
Goal 5 - Scholarship / CRP proposal written installments
Identify and evaluate diversity issues related to designing, evaluating, and conducting research. / Goal 3 - Diversity / Class discussions, mutual critiques, proposal submission
Identify and evaluate ethical issues related to designing, evaluating and conducting research, / Goal 4 –Scientific Foundations
Goal 5 - Scholarship / IRB Form, Consent Form, Proposal Submission
Course Requirements and Guidelines
1. Class will meet on Mondays from 9:15 AM to 12:00 PM
Classes will begin on September 12th and will end on December 12th.
2. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Please contact the instructor if you are unable to attend class. Absence from more than two class sessions may result in a failing grade (F) for the course. Tardiness of more than 30 minutes may be counted as a missed class.
3. Students are expected to read all required materials by the assigned dates and to be prepared to discuss readings in class. This will also include reading and offering in-class supportive critical feedback to other class members’ in-progress proposal drafts. Evaluation of compliance with completing weekly readings will be based on student participation in class text-based and related discussion as well as the nature and quality of ongoing drafts of written material. Respectful and collegial participation with thoughtful contributions to each other’s projects are crucial in the CRP development process. The instructor will note the thoughtfulness, relevance, and accuracy of discussion contributions. “Relevance” refers to being on topic and aware of others’ contributions to the discussion.
4. Any assignments turned in late without instructor permission will automatically be assigned a five point deduction. Assignments are considered late if they are not turned in during the class time on the date the assignment is due.
5. Three classes will be set aside for individual 30 minute meetings with students (9/19, 11/21, and 12/12). These are required meetings. Failure to meet with the instructor during one’s assigned time will count as a missed class. The purpose of the meetings is to provide individualized guidance to each student as they prepare their CRP proposal. The initial meeting will serve to clarify the student’s research topic focus. The purpose of the second meeting is to assist each student in preparation for submitting their research proposal. The purpose of the third meeting is to provide feedback on the student’s graded proposal. Students are always welcome to schedule additional appointments with the instructor if they wish to discuss their proposal in greater depth and/or receive additional assistance.
6. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to adhere to the ethical guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (2002) in their comportment and in submission of written work. Please reference the academic honesty and plagiarism statement elsewhere in this syllabus.
7. Students are respectfully requested to turn their cell phones and all other electronic devices off during class so as not to interfere with the learning environment. If a special circumstance exists in which the student needs to have their cell phone on during class, a request should be made to the instructor prior to the start of class.
Assignments:
Students are expected to submit drafts of sections of their CRP proposal according to due-dates listed below. Please type and reproduce all submissions for class distribution (ideally distributed the week prior to in-class discussion of them).
1. A draft of the CRP Introduction, Literature Review, and Aims of the Study is due Week Nine (November 7th).
2. Students are required to submit an official Ethics Certificate by Week Eleven (November 21st). The procedure for procuring the CITI Training Ethics Certificate may be found at http://www.citiprogram.org/default.asp?language=english. This link is also found on the CRP link of the Student Services page of the school website. No password is required. Simply identify yourself as affiliated with Argosy University. Select training for students. When you have completed the training modules you will receive a certificate. You will need to include this certificate when you submit your CRP proposal to the IRB.
3. Students are required to submit all appropriate IRB forms by Week Twelve (November 28th). The required IRB forms vary with the type of project the student is proposing to carry out and the type of participants involved. See the AU IRB Handbook for guidelines regarding IRB forms.
4. Students are required to submit a complete CRP Proposal including Introduction, Literature Review, Aims of the Study, Questions/Hypotheses, Methods Section (Participants, Measures, Procedures), Discussion of Ethical Safeguards and Proposed Data Analysis, Informed Consent forms, and relevant Appendices by Week 13 (December 5th).
Paper Guidelines
Read and carefully review the APA Publication Manual (2010, 6th Edition). Pay particular attention to the sections that deal with constructing citations and references, headings, how to write and phrase ideas, making tables, presenting statistical results, etc. This manual is the guide to the creation of all documents at Argosy University and in the field of Clinical Psychology. Remember the APA manual is also a guide that addresses style issues, and goes beyond structure and format.
All submitted papers are to follow the following specifications: One inch margins on all sides, double spacing except for quotes, references, etc., a cover sheet in APA form and style, and a page of references. Page numbers should start on the first page. The page numbers should appear on the top right margin without regard to the 1-inch margin rule. Be sure to adhere to paper length requirement and due dates stated in each learning activity
Assignment Table:
Week / Topic / Reading / Assignment9/5/10 / No Class – Labor Day
1
9/12 / Introduction and overview of the course; review of course syllabus; choosing a CRP topic and committee; preview of CRP Handbook and course materials; sharing of research ideas / Cone Foster Chapters 1-4
AU CRP Handbook
Kazdin Chapter 1
2
9/19 / Individual meetings with students
3
9/26 / Choosing a CRP question and methodology; discussion of the nature of the Introduction, Literature Review and Aims of the Study sections of the proposal. Sharing and discussion of CRP topics and research questions. / Cone Foster Chapter 5
Read relevant CRPs in library. / Bring a statement of your CRP topic and why you are interested in it. Include a statement of how you hope your research will make an original contribution to the field. For this and all subsequent assignments, make copies for the class.
4
10/3 / Formulating Hypotheses or Questions; Consideration of past literature, methodology, quantification of variables and measures to be used.
Sharing and discussing each student’s topic, research question and initial aims of the study. / Cone & Foster Chapter 6
Kazdin Chapters 2-3 / Bring a draft of CRP Questions/ Hypotheses and Aims of the Study
Describe the variables of the study: Independent,
Dependent, Moderating/Mediating.
5
10/10 / Writing the Introduction and Literature Review sections.
Discussion of each student’s Introduction section. / CRP Manual
Galvan Chapter 1
Read relevant CRP introductions in library / Bring a draft of revised Aims of Study and Research Questions.
Bring an outline of CRP Introduction.
6
10/17 / Continued discussion of the Introduction and Literature Review.
Discussion of each student’s Literature Review. / Galvan Chapters 2, 3, 4, Review A, B. / Revise and further develop outline of Introduction, Aims and Hypotheses
Do initial review of measures. Send for copies or copyright permission of measures.
7
10/24 / Research methodologies.
Sharing of ideas for choosing a specific methodology. / Cone & Foster Chapter 7
Galvan Chapters 5, 6,
Review D, E.
Kazdin, Chapters 4-6 considering. / Bring an outline of methodology you will use.
8
10/31 / Continued discussion of Research Methodology:
Focus on Participants and Measures / Galvan, Chapter 7, Review F and G.
Kazdin Chapters 7-10
Read examples of CRPs with relevant methodologies in the library
Cone & Foster, Chapter 8 / Submit revision and provide annotation of the literature review outline.
Revise and expand description of research methodology
9
11/07 / Continued discussion of Research Methodology:
Focus on Procedures / Galvan, Chapter 9, 10, 11.
Kazdin Chapters 11-14 / INTRODUCTION, AIMS OF THE STUDY AND LIT REVIEW DRAFT DUE
10
11/14 / Review of APA Ethical Guidelines and IRB Procedures
Discussion of Ethical Safeguards
Discussion of each student’s IRB review category / Galvan, Chapter 12 & 13
Cone & Foster, Chapter 9
Cone & Foster Appendix A
Kazdin, Chapter 32-34
Review IRB Handbook and Appendices (see CRP link on the Student Services page of the school website) / Bring a description of participants. Include specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Bring a description of each measure to be used.
Bring a description of procedures
Bring a description of proposed data analysis including ethical safeguards
11
11/21 / Individual Meetings / ETHICS CERTIFICATE DUE
12
11/28 / Discussion of Proposed Data Analysis and Results / Cone & Foster Chapter10
Kazdin, Chapters 15-19 / IRB PAPERWORK DUE
13
12/05 / Presentation of CRP Proposals / COMPLETE CRP PROPOSAL DUE
Write abstract of CRP proposal for class
Present CRP Proposals
14
12/12 / Individual Feedback Meetings
Grading Criteria:
Your performance in this course will be based upon the assignments described above and class participation. Final grades will be determined as follows:
Grading requirements Grading scale
Participation in text-based class discussion / 15%Mutual weekly critiques and feedback / 20%
In-progress written installments; quality of thinking, writing, and scholarly research / 25%
Submission of final CRP Proposal draft / 40%
100%
A / 100 – 93
A- / 92 – 90
B+ / 89 – 88
B / 87 – 83
B- / 82 – 80
C+ / 79 – 78
C / 77 - 73
C- / 72 – 70
F / 69 and below
Recommended Textbooks (On Reserve at the Library):
Cone, J.D. and Foster, S.L. (2006) Dissertations and theses from start to finish: Psychology
and related fields. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
ISBN 1-55798-194-9.
Galvan, J.L. (2009). Writing the literature review: A guide for students of the social
and behavioral sciences, 4th ed. Glendale, CA.: Pyrczak Publishers.
Kazdin, A.E. (2003) Research Design in Clinical Psychology. Boston MA; Allyn & Bacon,
ISBN 0-205-3302-7 Soft cover
Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (2010), 6th ed. Washington
D.C.: American Psychological Association. ISBN1-4338-0561-8 (soft cover)
Recommended Texts:
APA (2002, amended). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073. (Amended February 2010, effective June 2010)
Bersoff, D.S. & Beresoff, D.N. (2008). Ethical perspectives in clinical research. In D.S.
Bersoff (Ed.) Ethical conflicts in psychology, fourth edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.