School of Psychology

Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program

Thesis Option

Practicum Option

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Thesis Option

Purpose and Requirements

Research is necessary in order to enhance the effectiveness of I/O interventions and provide foundations for real world applications. The purpose of the thesis is to prepare the student with an initial experience in conducting psychological research, and to develop competencies necessary to be a competent researcher. This type of experience is necessary for those planning to continue their academic careers after completion of the master's degree. Problem solving and coordination skills are essential for consultants, and the research skills learned while conducting a thesis transfer well to the applied world.

Overview

Students are encouraged to start thinking about possible thesis topics by the end of the first semester in the program. Research topics vary in focus and complexity. The research topic must be approved by the student's advisor and committee, and it should add something new to the current knowledge in the field. Typical thesis projects involve a literature review of relevant research and a research experiment or observation of a phenomenon. The actual thesis is a written documentation of this research. On average, the thesis will take approximately two semesters to complete.

Credit Requirements

Six credit hours of thesis credits are required. The research project must be conducted and defended in order to fulfill all requirements. A final thesis document is also required by the graduate school and must be presented in the format specified by the School of Psychology, as well as the university.

Student Responsibilities

Students must locate appropriate committee members to monitor and approve your thesis research and writing. The committee includes a chair (your advisor) and two other committee members, one from outside the School of Psychology. Students must also adhere to professional practice and APA ethics in all research conducted at Florida Tech. It is also the student's responsibility to ensure the thesis progresses in a timely manner. Due to the magnitude of the project, students must be able to adapt to numerous obstacles which may interfere with progress. It is not uncommon for students to underestimate the amount of time a thesis takes.