Interview by Nida Ansari, featuring Brenna M. and Brittany P. The Psychology Society hosted Thesis Night not too long ago, and it was a jam-packed event including both faculty and student speakers! We heard from Dr. Mark Fenske, current PSYC*4870 and PSYC*4880 intstuctor, who shared what the Honours Thesis course looks like and how assessment works. We then heard from Sharon Helder, Academic Advisor, who shared a comprehensive presentation about the process of applying to the program (you can find resources here). Finally, we heard from Brenna and Brittany, two students that are going through and have gone through the Thesis experience during and before a COVID-impacted semester, respectively. We wanted to catch up with the two Thesis students so we could hear more about their own experiences. What was their favourite part? What was not so easy? And what would they recommend to future Thesis students? All of that and more, right here! I was able to quickly chat with both Brittany and Brenna (remotely, of course) the week after our event to hear about each of their personal experiences in more depth. This is what we talked about! Nida: Hi there! What is your name, your major/minor, and when will/did you graduate? Nida: We were so happy to have you at our Thesis Night! To refresh anyone who wasn’t there, what is/was the topic of your research in the Honours Thesis course? Brenna: I am studying how social norms influence alcohol consumption behaviours. More specifically, I am conducting a mixed methods analysis of drinking norm misperception. Brittany: The topic of my Undergraduate Thesis was on women’s understanding of consensual unwanted sex. Specifically, I interviewed undergraduate women at the University of Guelph on their thoughts around consensual unwanted hookups and how the media influences their perceptions around consensual unwanted sex. Nida: Based off of your personal experience, what is/was the best part of taking the Honours Thesis stream? Brenna: The best, most rewarding part about completing an Honours Thesis is the amount of knowledge and skills you develop throughout the process. The fact that you have direct support and supervision from an academic professional (professor) who is extremely skilled in a particular area of psychology is unbelievably helpful. Even within the lab environment, you may get a chance to work with current Master’s and PhD students, exposing you to even more advanced psychological research projects. Ultimately, I entered this program with a drive and willingness to learn because it truly is an enriching learning experience that I am so grateful to be apart of. Brittany: The best part of taking the Honours Thesis stream was the rich learning experience. I absolutely loved getting to learn about my peer’s projects, working in a collaborative research lab, and expanding my knowledge of this subject area. The experience is definitely challenging and intense, but I really enjoyed the opportunity to grow as a student and a researcher. Nida: On the other hand, what is/was the biggest challenge to your experience? Brenna: My biggest challenge lay within my Thesis research. Figuring out my research topic was a long and tedious process. I personally don’t like having uncertainty in my life and there was a significant portion of my thesis where I didn’t know what I was going to be researching. Finally landing on my thesis topic was a very euphoric moment because my hard work and many hours of research had finally paid off. The main lesson that I took away from that experience was to be patient with myself and know that things will eventually work out. Brittany: The biggest challenge was going through the ethics process. To do research at Guelph, you have to submit a Research Ethics Board (REB) application. Since I was working on a new project, I was responsible for completing the REB application and getting the study approved (which is usually a 8+ week process). I was overwhelmed with the task, and it set me behind - I wasn’t able to start collecting data until February, with only six weeks left of the course to go. The biggest piece of advice I can give to other thesis students: Do NOT procrastinate submitting on the REB!! Do it as soon as possible!! Nida: What are important skills for Honours Thesis students to have, and what skills can students expect to develop while taking the course? Brenna: I mentioned this earlier, but it is important for students to have a good work ethic, drive, and a willingness to learn. The Thesis experience is rewarding but challenging. If you can continue to work hard even if/when the process becomes taxing, then you will come out of it successful and proud of your hard work. Throughout the Thesis course, students can expect to advance their writing, communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills. These are important skills when pursuing a career in Psychology and the Honours Thesis program does a great job of teaching and developing these skills in its students. Brittany: The important skills for an Honours Thesis student are 1) time management, 2) organization, 3) communication, and 4) flexibility. These skills will help students overcome any challenges when doing an undergraduate thesis, and you will be able to keep yourself motivated, on track, and successful with your project. In taking the course, students can expect to develop certain ‘hard’ skills related to research, such as designing research projects, data analysis (R/SPSS), public speaking, etc. However, this course provides an opportunity to develop important ‘soft’ skills such as networking, conflict resolution, creativity, self-motivation, and the ability to work under pressure. Even if you decide not to pursue graduate studies after completing an Honours Thesis, you will come out of this course with a host of transferrable skills for a range of employment opportunities! Nida: Finally, for students considering doing the Honours Thesis stream, what is one thing you wish someone told you before going into the course? Brenna: Don’t be hard on yourself. You are still young and have so much to learn. This is not going to be a linear process and you will get hit with curveballs along the way. When that happens, don’t be upset with yourself, take it as a learning experience and move on. Brittany: You are capable, you are smart, you are resilient. You are here! You have been selected to do an Honours Thesis for a reason; there are people who see potential in you and it’s important to remember that when you go through the process. Doing an Undergraduate Thesis is hard and it can be stressful but believe in yourself and your own skills to get through those times. You’ve got this! Nida: Thank you both for your time! Even with completely different experiences, both Brittany and Brenna had great, insightful points that I think any student could benefit from. It was so wonderful to have them join us for Thesis Night and to have this little discussion with me, too! To finish with a closing remark from Brenna, "The Undergraduate Thesis program is an amazing opportunity presented to Psychology students. It gives you the opportunity to learn a lot and create a research project that you are the master of. Dive in headfirst and enjoy the process. :)" - Nida Nida is a second-year student at the University of Guelph and is the Marketing Coordinator on Psychology Society. Do you have experience within the Thesis stream or want to highlight a project you've done? Make sure you fill out our submission form and send it back to us by email so we can showcase your ideas! Resources
You can find out more about the Fall 2021 Undergraduate Thesis application process on the Department of Psychology's page linked here: www.uoguelph.ca/psychology/page/undergraduate-honours-thesis
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