Research Practicum (PSYC 3801H, 3802H, 4801H, 4802H)
Research Practica are offered at the third and fourth (Honours) year level.
Please note: A maximum of 2.0 course credits consisting of research practicum (Psychology 3801H, 3802H, 4801H and 4802H) and/or reading (Psychology 3900Y, 3901H, 3902H, 4900Y, 4901H and 4902H) courses may be counted toward a Psychology major or joint‑major degree.
Psychology 3801H and 3802H - Third year (General level) Research Practicum:
A course designed to allow students in the third year of their psychology honours degree program to pursue research activities under the direction of a department faculty member, normally within that person’s ongoing research program. Prerequisites: 8.0 university credits including 75% or higher in both of 2018H and 2019H, successful completion of at least 3.0 Psychology credits, specific course prerequisites depending on the faculty supervisor, and permission of the department. Consult Appendix B of this handbook for a list of participating faculty members.
These activities could include combinations of the following: literature reviews on specific research questions; creating psychological instruments or experimental materials; gathering data from animals or humans; following specific research protocols; organizing data for data analyses; conducting data analyses; and writing reports.
A detailed overview of how the student will be evaluated and a schedule of student contact/research hours must be completed by the faculty supervisor and approved by the Department Chair before registering for the course. At least 40% of the final grade in the course will come from written work, and an average of five to seven contact/research hours per week is required over the 12-week term. The contact/research schedule will be arranged between each supervisor and student.
Psychology 4801H, 4802H – Fourth year (Honours level) Research Practicum:
A course designed to allow students in the fourth year of their psychology Honours degree program to pursue research activities under the direction of a department faculty member, normally within that person’s on-going research program. Prerequisites: 75% or higher in PSYC 3015Y, at least 1.0 other Psychology credit at the 3000- or 4000-level, specific course prerequisites depending on the faculty supervisor, and permission of the department. Consult Appendix B of this handbook for a list of participating faculty members.
These activities could include combinations of the following: literature reviews on specific research questions; creating psychological instruments or experimental materials; gathering data from animals or humans; following specific research protocols; organizing data for data analyses; conducting data analyses; and writing reports.
A detailed overview of how the student will be evaluated and a schedule of student contact/research hours must be completed by the faculty supervisor and approved by the Department Chair before registering for the course. At least 40% of the final grade in the course will come from written work, and an average of five to seven contact/research hours per week is required over the 12-week term. The contact/research schedule will be arranged between each supervisor and student.
The number of students permitted to enrol in Research Practicum courses depends on the number of faculty willing to serve as supervisors in a given year and on the number of eligible students who can satisfy specific practicum prerequisites. For the 2019-2020 academic year, the faculty participating in the Research Practicum are listed below. Also listed are the specific course prerequisites relevant to each practicum.
Research Practica for 2022-23
Prof. K.L. Blair
(TBD; kblair@trentu.ca)
- The role of social support for relationships in predicting relationship, mental and physical well-being in same-sex and mixed-sex couples
- Public displays of affection in same-sex, interracial, gender diverse and mixed-sex relationships (and their connection to relationship and health outcomes)
- Anti-LGBTQ prejudice, including femmephobia (studying both those who hold prejudices as well as the experience of being the target of such prejudice)
- Holocaust education and related attitudes; Holocaust denial; Antisemitism
Prerequisites for 3rd year level practica: Psyc 2018H, Psyc 2019H, Psyc 2700H
Prerequisites for 4th year level practica: Psyc 2018H, Psyc 2019H, Psyc 2700H, Psyc 3015Y (also useful but not required: Psyc 4120H, Psyc 3730H, Psyc 3750H, Psyc 3760H, Psyc 3796H, Psyc 311H).
Prof. L. E. Brown
(LHS C116; 748-1011 x-7238; lianabrown@trentu.ca)
Our research is currently focused on sensory perception and movement neuroscience.
- Eye-hand coordination
- Effect of body position on visual perception
- Body perception.
Pre- or co-requisite: One or more of Psyc 2200H, 2210H, 2400H.
Prof. M. Chan-Reynolds
(LHS C119; 748-1011 x-7534; michaelchanreynolds@trentu.ca)
I have research interests in reading, attention, and agent based and computational modeling. Current Practicum topics include
- the role of Executive Function during skilled reading
- the role of the hands when reading
- collaborative searching
- the evolution of language.
Prerequisite PSYC 3801H/3802H: PSYC 2450H or 2400H; Prerequisite PSYC 4801H/4802H: PSYC 3450H;
Prof. T. DeCicco
(SC 136.1; 748-1011 x-7239; teresadecicco@trentu.ca)
- Self and Identity: Investigating the variables associated with self-construal (e.g. self-construal and addictions, self-construal and health). Prerequisites: PSYC 2016H/2018H+2017H/2019H and/or 3015Y; PSYC 2310H.
- Dreams and Dreaming: Investigating dream imagery and the relationship to waking day issues (e.g. dream imagery and health, dreams and waking day anxiety). Prerequisites: PSYC 2016H/2018H+2017H/2019H and/or 3015Y; PSYC 3780H.
Prof. N.M. Fournier
(LHS C135; 748-1011 x-7339; neilfournier@trentu.ca)
- Seizure-induced plasticity of the brain
- Social modulation of fear and anxiety behaviour
- Mechanisms underlying antidepressant action
- Neurocognitive processes associated with academic performance;
Prof. T.P. Humphreys
(LHS C114; 748-1011 x-7773; terryhumphreys@trentu.ca)
- Sexual consent: Assessing attitudes and behaviours
- First time sexual experiences
- Sexuality and the Internet
Prerequisites for a 3rd year level practica: PSYC 2700H; PSYC 2016H/2018H; PSYC 2017H/2019H; and preferably PSYC 3760H.
Prerequisites for a 4th year level practica: PSYC 3730H or PSYC3760H and PSYC 3015Y.
Prof. N. Im-Bolter
(171 OSH; 905-435-5102 x-5033; nimbolter@trentu.ca)
- Language and other domains of development (social cognition, reading, numeracy)
- Reading and executive function
- Development in early childhood
- Social anxiety in adolescence and early adulthood
- Social cognition in adolescence and early adulthood
Prerequisite: PSYC 3500H; PSYC 3530H; or PSYC 3580H
Prof. K. Keefer
(LHS C136; 748-1011 x-7658; katerynakeefer@trentu.ca)
- Role of socioemotional competencies in stress, resilience, health, and wellbeing
- Student characteristics and educational practices that enhance students’ academic engagement and attainment.
Prof. H. Lehmann
(LHS C137; 748-1011 x-7236; hugolehmann@trentu.ca)
- Brain damage and amnesia (animal model)
- Contributions of emotion to memory modulation.
Prerequisites: PSYC 2016H/2018H+2017H/2019H, PSYC 2200H, and PSYC 2600H.
Prof. M. Liu (on leave 2023WI)
(LHS C121; 748-1011 x-7472; moweiliu@trentu.ca)
- Parental achievement orientation, parenting styles and children’s learning behaviours in Canada and China. Prerequisites: PSYC2016H/2018H+2017H/2019H, 2500H.
- Acculturation and Adaptation. Prerequisites: PSYC 2016H/2018H+2017H/2019H, 2500H.
Prof. G. Navara
(LHS C129; 748-1011 x-7539; geoffnavara@trentu.ca)
- The effects of cross-cultural relocation upon the parent/child relationship.
- Socialization/enculturation process within the parent/child relationship using a bi-directional (dialectical) framework.
- Religious orientation as a predictor of ethnocentrism.
Prerequisites for a 3rd year level practica: PSYC 2500H; PSYC 2016H/2018H + 2017H/2019H; and preferably PSYC 3560H.
Prerequisites for a 4th year level practica: PSYC 2500H; PSYC 3560H or PSYC 3510H; PSYC 3015Y
Prof. L. Nisbet (on leave 2022AY)
(LHS C128; 748-1011 x-7855; elizabethnisbet@trentu.ca)
- Nature immersion and psychological well-being
- nature relatedness and environmentally sustainable behaviour
- nature relatedness and personality traits (e.g., materialism, happiness).
- human-nature interactions (wildlife conservation attitudes and emotion)
- psychology of citizen science.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3770H or ERSC 3710H or environmental science/ecology background (and preferably also PSYC 2310H and PSYC 3420H).
Prof F. O’Hagan
(LHS C134; 748-1011 x-7086; fergalohagan@trentu.ca)
- Evaluating the success of nutrition intervention programs
- Resourcefulness, illness representations and return to work
- Effectiveness of flipped classroom design for teaching statistics.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3015Y and/or PSYC 3610H or PSYC 3750H.
Prof. J. D. A. Parker
(LHS C249; 748-1011 x-7935; jparker@trentu.ca)
- relationships between behavioral addictions and dimensions of emotional and social competency in adolescents
- how does emotional, social, and motivational intelligence change and evolve across the lifespan?
- what is the relationship between parent and child levels of emotional, social, and motivational intelligence?
Relevant courses for these research topics include PSYC 2310H(236H) and 337H and PSYC 2300H(240H) and 3300H(341H)
Prof. K. Peters
(LHS C117; 748-1011 x-7795; kevinpeters@trentu.ca)
- Neuroethics (e.g., issues surrounding the pharmaceutical enhancement of psychological and physical characteristics)
- Effect of neuroessentialistic beliefs on attributions of behaviours.
Prof. E. Russell
(LHS C115; 748-1011 x-7867; elizabethrussell@trentu.ca)
- rural aging
- the psychology of aging
- models of seniors' co-housing (e.g., senior-senior co-housing, student-senior co-housing)
- other applied community-based health research projects, as relevant
- Strong preference will be given to those who have completed PSYC 4120H (Qualitative Research Methods), and PSYC 3550H (Adult Development and Aging) and/or PSYC 3750H (Health Psychology) for 4th year practica, as appropriate to specific project topics.
Prof. E. Scharfe
(LHS C130; 748-1011 x-7354; escharfe@trentu.ca)
- Adult Attachment relationships
- Influence of relationships on health
Prof. B. Smith-Chant
(153 OSH; 905-435-5102 x-5069; bresmith@trentu.ca)
- Self-Reg and community-based research (Prerequisite 4120H a benefit)
- Distance learning and professional practice
- Academic self-regulation and technology.
Prof. L.J. Summerfeldt (on leave 2022FA)
(LHS C120; 748-1011 x-7526; lsummerfeldt@trentu.ca)
- Social Anxiety: Personality, Cognitive & Emotion Regulation variables
- Obsessive-Compulsive Experience: Causal & Perpetuating Factors & Subtypes.