Department of Psychology at Illinois State University
Graduate students may complete a thesis in order to satisfy graduation requirements for a master's degree. The department's procedures for completing a thesis are presented below. Students should also review the Thesis section in the Graduate Catalog, especially the registration requirements. See the Graduate School Thesis Assistance website for additional information about continuous enrollment requirements, writing tips, etc. See the Thesis Flowchart for a suggested schedule for completing a thesis.
All of the required forms for completing a thesis and resource links are identified below. The department forms are interactive Microsoft Word documents. Click on the link to download the form to the computer. The form should be completed on the computer. Hand written forms will not be accepted. If there is a problem downloading or completing a form on the computer, students should contact the Graduate Programs Office by e-mail. Graduate School forms are PDF files.
A thesis:
A thesis should be written in the professional style of a research journal article, except for the rare case of a thesis that is non-empirical in nature. The thesis chapter titles are usually identified as: Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion. Students are required to comply with the:
The Guide covers the administrative aspects and appearance of a thesis, especially the "University-wide requirements for all theses" section. The Publication Manual governs the professional format and style for writing a thesis. There are subtle differences between the Graduate School thesis information and the department's procedures. Students are expected to comply with the department's requirements to successfully complete their thesis. Graduate students must follow the standards of the APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct With the 2010 Amendments.
During the first semester, students should review the Faculty Research Interests that are provided on the department's Research Web site and consider potential thesis topics. Students should talk to faculty members who are knowledgeable or who are willing to become familiar with the area in which students would like to complete their thesis research. Students will need to solicit faculty members to serve on their thesis committee. Faculty members may ask students to prepare a draft of their thesis proposal before agreeing to serve on a thesis committee.
By the middle of the second semester, students should be prepared to form a thesis committee that consists of two psychology faculty members, with one individual serving as the thesis committee chair. University policies require the thesis committee chair be a full member of the Psychology Graduate Faculty. Graduate Faculty are identified in the department's section of the Graduate Catalog. An associate member of the Psychology Graduate Faculty may serve as a thesis committee co-chair. When a faculty member agrees to serve as a thesis committee chair, students must complete the PRELIMINARY DEPARMENT APPROVAL OF THESIS COMMITTEE CHAIR AND TOPIC form. The preliminary form should be signed by the student and thesis committee chair. The signed form should be submitted to the Graduate Programs Office for approval by the program or sequence coordinator. If an associate member of the Psychology Graduate Faculty agrees to serve as a thesis committee co-chair, students must also complete the Graduate School's COMMITTEE EXCEPTION FORM (Request for Exception to Graduate Council Bylaws for Thesis/Dissertation Committees). The exception form should be submitted to the Graduate Programs Office for department approval. The Graduate Programs Office will submit the exception form to the Graduate School for approval by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students will be notified if a co-chair has been approved for their thesis committee.
The preliminary form also includes a course override request for PSY 499 Master's Thesis. Students cannot register for PSY 499 until the override request has been approved and processed by the department. Students will be notified when they can register for PSY 499.
In consultation with their thesis committee chair, students should select a second psychology faculty member for their thesis committee. Department approval is required if a thesis committee has more than two faculty members. Students should contact the Graduate Programs Office if this approval is needed. After the second faculty member agrees to serve on the thesis committee, students must complete the DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL OF THESIS COMMITTE AND TOPIC form. The approval form should be signed by the student, thesis committee chair, and faculty member. The signed form should be submitted to the Graduate Programs Office for approval by the department chair. The approval form also includes a course override request for the remaining credit hours of PSY 499 Master's Thesis. Students cannot register for PSY 499 until the override request has been approved and processed by the department. Students will be notified when they can register for PSY 499.
If a thesis committee member is unable to complete his or her service or is willing to yield his or her position on the committee, students should consult with their thesis committee chair about selecting a new faculty member for the committee. A change in the thesis committee may be initiated by either students or committee members, provided the change has been discussed with all involved parties. If the parties agree to the change, students must complete the CHANGE OF THESIS COMMITTEE/PROJECT form. The change form should be signed by the student, thesis committee chair, new faculty member, and current committee member. The signed form should be submitted to the Graduate Programs Office for approval by the department chair. Students will be notified if the faculty member has been approved as the new thesis committee member.
Students must write a thesis proposal that will be evaluated by their thesis committee. Students should discuss the contents of their proposal with their thesis committee chair. Individual thesis committee chairs determine how much guidance they will provide in the development of the proposal, hypothesis, and research project. There should be a clear understanding between students and their thesis committee chair of what is expected from each party.
The thesis proposal should provide a brief synopsis of the importance of the thesis topic and hypothesis, and discuss the details of the research project. A thesis usually involves data collection; however, other data-based approaches are acceptable (e.g., meta-analyses, archival data sets, etc.). Students should address the use of human participants or animals in their research, if applicable. The thesis proposal should also identify any ethical issues with the use of human participants or animals, and how the ethical issues will be addressed while collecting data. Students should be diligent in the completeness of their thesis topic and research design. The thesis committee chair should approve a draft of the thesis proposal before it is submitted to the thesis committee member.
Before conducting any research involving human participants, students must receive approval of the research project from Illinois State's Institutional Review Board (IRB). The thesis proposal must include, in its method section, a detailed explanation of how the ethical requirements will be met (e.g., possible risks to participants, how such risks will be minimized, confidentiality procedures, informed consent and debriefing procedures, etc.). Students must also comply with the department's Ethical Guidelines and Procedures for Research Using Human Participants. If students anticipate drawing participants from external sources (outside the department), the thesis proposal must include a statement of the ethical procedures of the specific institution or agency involved and how the research project will conform to any ethical requirements of the institution or agency. When the research involves the use of participants from external sources, the department recommends students obtain a signed letter of agreement, from the external institution or agency, that identifies the specific data that students have permission to collect and use for their thesis research.
Before conducting any research involving the use of animals, students must receive approval of the research project from Illinois State's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The thesis proposal must include, in its method section, a detailed explanation of how the ethical requirements for the care and use of animals will comply with the IACUC procedures.
Students should review Tools and Links for Researchers on the department's Research Web site.
Students must orally propose their thesis before their thesis committee. Students should contact the Graduate Programs Office to request a reader. The reader, who is a psychology faculty member outside the student's program or sequence, is appointed by the department. The reader represents the department and ensures that students and thesis committees comply with the department's Thesis Procedures and University policies.
The thesis proposal must be scheduled and proposed while classes are in session (i.e., excluding final exams week and University breaks) at a date and time that is mutually agreeable to the student, their thesis committee, and reader. Before scheduling a thesis proposal, students must complete the Graduate School's THESIS PROPOSAL FORM (Proposal Approval Form For Research Leading to a Master's Thesis). Only the top half of the proposal form should be completed (i.e., including Compliance Requirements). When all of the parties have agreed on a date and time, students must submit the Thesis proposal form and a copy of their written proposal to the Graduate Programs Office at least seven calendar days prior to the desired proposal date. The Graduate Programs Office will reserve a room and any needed equipment. The thesis proposal will be announced to the department by e-mail, and posted on the University Calendar Web site and on the bulletin board across from the department's office. Students must also provide a copy of the written proposal to each member of their thesis committee and the reader.
The department encourages psychology graduate students to attend a thesis proposal in order to observe the process. Graduate students should introduce themselves to the student who is presenting the thesis proposal and indicate their desire to observe the presentation. The thesis proposal is also open to the University academic community and other interested parties. Individuals at the thesis proposal may ask the student questions and provide comments about their presentation. However, participation by individuals in attendance should not monopolize the presentation. Since the thesis proposal is a formal evaluation of the student, the thesis committee chair has the discretion of whether or not to recognize individuals for questions or comments. The department prohibits students from bringing any refreshments to their thesis proposal.
At the oral presentation, students should discuss their thesis and explain the research project. Students are also expected to answer questions from individuals at their oral presentation. When the discussion has ended, everyone should leave the room except for the thesis committee, reader, and any psychology faculty. The thesis committee will discuss the merits of the thesis proposal and the oral presentation. Psychology faculty who have an opinion about the thesis proposal and oral presentation are encouraged to present their remarks for consideration by the thesis committee. The decision to accept or reject the thesis proposal is the responsibility of the thesis committee. When the deliberations are complete and the thesis committee has reached a decision, the student will be asked to return to the room.
If the decision by the thesis committee is unfavorable, students have two options:
1. Students may choose to rewrite their thesis proposal, with the agreement of the thesis committee. The thesis committee will discuss with the student the problems with the thesis proposal. The second thesis proposal must address and correct these problems. A second oral presentation must be scheduled. This option requires retaining the same thesis committee, unless unusual circumstances are involved.
2. Students may chose to develop a new thesis topic. If this option is chosen, students can retain the original thesis committee or solicit psychology faculty members for a new thesis committee. The thesis proposal process must be repeated, including completing the forms to obtain approval for the new thesis committee chair and committee member.
If the decision is favorable, the thesis committee will discuss with the student any changes to the thesis proposal. When an agreement is reached between the thesis committee and the student concerning the changes, the thesis committee chair will prepare a written list of specific changes for the proposal. The student will be provided a copy of the list, and the original list will be retained in the student's thesis file for use during the thesis defense. Students are responsible for incorporating the specific changes in their thesis. The thesis committee should sign the Thesis proposal form and submit it to the Graduate Programs Office for approval by the department chair. The Graduate Programs Office will submit the signed Thesis proposal form to the Graduate School for approval. The Graduate School will not approve the thesis proposal until an IRB or IACUC protocol number has been assigned, if applicable. Students will be notified when the Graduate School approves the thesis proposal.
After the thesis proposal approval has been received from the Graduate School, students should begin conducting their research. While it is appropriate to seek statistical consultation from faculty, students are expected to conceptually understand the statistics utilized in their thesis and their analysis of the data. Any significant changes in the procedure or design of the research project, after the thesis proposal has been approved, will require IRB or IACUC approval, if applicable. Students will also be required to rewrite their thesis proposal and schedule another oral presentation. Students should consult with their thesis committee before making any changes to their approved research project. After the research has been completed and the data analyzed, students should write their thesis.
Students must publicly defend their thesis before their thesis committee. Before scheduling an oral defense, students must submit their thesis to the Graduate School for a format check. The format check verifies compliance with the requirements of the Guide and the Publication Manual. Students should allow at least 10 days for the Graduate School to complete the format check. If the thesis fails to pass the format check, students must make the required changes and resubmit the thesis for a second format check. When the thesis format is approved, the Graduate School will notify students by e-mail that they may defend the thesis. Students must receive this e-mail notice before their thesis defense can be scheduled through the Graduate Programs Office.
The thesis defense must be scheduled and defended while classes are in session (i.e., excluding final exams week and University breaks) at a date and time mutually agreeable to the student, thesis committee, and reader. When all of the parties have agreed on a date and time, students must submit a copy of the Graduate School's e-mail notice of their right to defend and a copy of the thesis to the Graduate Programs Office at least seven calendar days prior to the desired defense date. The Graduate Programs Office will reserve a room and any needed equipment. The thesis defense will be announced to the department by e-mail, and posted on the University Calendar Web site and on the bulletin board across from the department's office. Students must also provide a copy of their thesis to each member of their thesis committee and the reader.
The department encourages psychology graduate students to attend an thesis defense in order to observe the process. Graduate students should introduce themselves to the student who is presenting the thesis defense and indicate their desire to observe the presentation. The thesis defense is also open to the University academic community and other interested parties. Individuals at the thesis defense may ask the student questions and provide comments about their presentation. However, participation by individuals in attendance should not monopolize the presentation. Since the thesis defense is a formal evaluation of the student, the thesis committee chair has the discretion of whether or not to recognize individuals for questions or comments. The department prohibits students from bringing any refreshments to their thesis defense.
At the thesis defense, students are expected to review the importance of the thesis topic, their research and the methods employed, analysis of the data, and their conclusions. Students are also expected to answer questions from individuals at the presentation. When the discussion has ended, everyone should leave the room except for the thesis committee, reader, and any psychology faculty. The thesis committee will discuss the quality of the thesis and the oral presentation, taking into account the consistency between the final thesis and the thesis proposal, and the incorporation of specific changes identified at the thesis proposal. Psychology faculty who have an opinion about the thesis and and the oral presentation are encouraged to present their remarks for consideration by the thesis committee. The decision to accept or reject the thesis is the responsibility of the thesis committee. When the deliberations are complete and the thesis committee has reached a decision, the student will be asked to return to the room.
The thesis committee can reach one of three decisions about the thesis: pass, a provisional pass, or fail. If the decision is a provisional pass, the thesis committee withholds their final approval of the thesis and their signatures on the Right-to-Defend form until additional changes are made to the thesis. The thesis committee will discuss these changes with the student and provide a written list of the changes that must be made for the thesis to pass. After the specific changes have been made to the thesis, the thesis committee should sign the Right-to-Defend form.
Upon successfully defending their thesis, students must deliver to the Graduate School two copies of their final thesis and the signed Right-to-Defend form. Students should follow the Guide's specific provisions for submitting the final thesis to the Graduate School. The theses submitted to the Graduate School become the property of Illinois State University.
If the thesis is published or if a paper is presented at a professional convention, authorship should follow the provisions of the APA's Publication Manual. An agreement between students and their thesis committee should govern whether committee members are identified as co-authors. Students should also consult the Graduate School's Guide for additional information about copyright issues and ownership of data.