Psychology 4860E 4861E 4862E 001 FW25

 Psychology

Western University 

London                   Canada 

 

Department of Psychology 

2025-2026 

 

Psychology 4860E Section 001 Honours Thesis: Meta-Analysis   

 

Psychology 4861E Section 001 Honours Thesis (Science): Meta-Analysis   

 

Psychology 4862E Section 001 Honours Thesis (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience): Meta-Analysis   

 

1 Calendar Description 

 

All honours psychology students registered in the 4th year of the Honours Specialization programs in Psychology, Animal Behaviour, or Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN), who have been approved for the Meta-Analysis option for their Honours Thesis are required to take Psychology 4860E Honours Thesis: Meta-Analysis, OR Psychology 4861E Honours Thesis (Science): Meta-Analysis, OR Psychology 4862E Honours Thesis (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience): Meta-Analysis.  Please note that although these are listed as separate courses they are completely merged together for all meta-analysis honours thesis classes and related activities, assignments, and meetings.   

 

Psychology 4860E Section 001 Honours Thesis: Meta-Analysis   

Independent meta-analysis developed and conducted under the direction of a faculty member in a group learning environment. 

Antirequisite(s): Psychology 4850E, Psychology 4851E, Psychology 4852E, Psychology 4861E, Psychology 4862E, the former Psychology 4853E. 

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of 75% in Psychology 3801F/G or Psychology 3800F/G and one of Psychology 3184F/G, Psychology 3185F/G, Psychology 3285F/G, Psychology 3480F/G, Psychology 3485F/G, Psychology 3580F/G, Psychology 3780F/G, or Psychology 3840F/G, PLUS registration in fourth year Main Campus Honours Specialization in Psychology and permission of the Psychology Department. Students in fourth year Honours Specialization in Animal Behaviour may also enrol in this course.  

4 seminar hours. 1.0 course 

 

Psychology 4861E Section 001 Honours Thesis (Science): Meta-Analysis   

Independent meta-analysis developed and conducted under the direction of a faculty member in a group learning environment. Topics focus on fundamental psychological processes, their underlying neural mechanisms, their development within individuals, and their evolutionary and ecological contexts. 

Antirequisite(s): Psychology 4850E, Psychology 4851E, Psychology 4852E, Psychology 4860E, Psychology 4862E, the former Psychology 4853E. 

 

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of 75% in Psychology 3801F/G or Psychology 3800F/G and one of Psychology 3184F/G, Psychology 3185F/G, Psychology 3285F/G, Psychology 3480F/G, or Psychology 3485F/G, PLUS registration in fourth year Main Campus Honours Specialization in Psychology B.Sc. and permission of the Psychology Department. Students in fourth year Honours Specialization in Animal Behaviour also may enrol in this course. 4 seminar hours. 1.0 course 

 

Psychology 4862E Section 001 Honours Thesis (Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience): Meta-Analysis   

Independent meta-analysis developed and conducted under the direction of a faculty member on a topic that is both theoretically and methodologically relevant to developmental cognitive neuroscience (DCN). This course is exclusively for students in the DCN Module. 

Antirequisite(s): Psychology 4850E, Psychology 4851E, Psychology 4852E, Psychology 4860E, Psychology 4861E, the former Psychology 4853E. 

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of 75% in Psychology 3801F/G or Psychology 3800F/G and Psychology 3485F/G, PLUS registration in fourth year Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience B.Sc. and permission of the Psychology Department. 4 seminar hours. 1.0 course 

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites. 

 

 

2 Course Information 

 

Instructor: Dr. Paul F. Tremblay 

Office & Phone: see Brightspace 519-661-2111 Ext. 85644 

Office Hours: E-mail Dr. Tremblay to set appointment 

Email: ptrembla@uwo.ca 

 

Teaching Assistant: TBA 

 

Time and Location of Classes: in person. See Student Centre for Timetable

 

 

3 Course Materials 

 

Optional textbook available electronically at Library: 

 

Cooper, H. (2017). Research synthesis and meta-analysis. A step-by-step approach. Fifth edition. Los Angeles: Sage. 

 

Weekly lecture slides will provide links to relevant resources. Some important sites that we will use are the following: 

 

  1. Campbell Collaboration Effect Size Calculator. https://www.campbellcollaboration.org/research-resources/effect-size-calculator.html 
  1. Guide to Effect Sizes and Confidence Intervals. (Matthew B. Jané et al.). https://matthewbjane.quarto.pub/guide-to-effect-sizes-and-confidence-intervals/ 
  1. PRISMA website reporting guidelines, checklists and flow diagrams. https://www.prisma-statement.org/ 
  1. Western Libraries: 
  1. https://guides.lib.uwo.ca/knowledgesynthesis 
  1. https://guides.lib.uwo.ca/knowledgesynthesis/covidence 
  1. Jamovi stats package https://www.jamovi.org/download.html 

(all retrieved 2025-06-19) 

 

 

4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes 

 

The overall course objective is to produce a psychology honours thesis research project and present your work in a class presentation, as a poster at an organized presentation day with all thesis students and faculty members (March 21) and as a complete written thesis document. The meta-analysis project requires the retrieval of empirical studies on a topic, collection of effect size statistics from those studies into a data file, and analysis of these study effect sizes. You will have the opportunity to select a topic of interest to you in consultation with the instructor, who will consider the feasibility of the project prior to granting approval.   

 

The overall course is structured into a series of weekly step-by-step building blocks to help guide the students through the complete thesis project. Each class will be divided into a lecture presenting foundational knowledge and a lab session dedicated to group discussions and writing exercises addressing a specific part of the overall project (e.g., how to develop a set of keywords and phrases for the literature search). Students will also be expected to meet on a monthly basis to discuss progress with the instructor. 

 

 

Learning Outcome  

Learning Activity  

Assessment 

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge  

  • Articulate the current state of knowledge, key concepts and main research themes and issues in the major content domain(s) relevant to the individual meta-analysis thesis research project 
  • Improved understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, measurement, and the cumulative nature of science 

 

 

  • Researching, reading and evaluating the empirical literature 
  • Regular group discussions, comparing content topics and research problems  
  • Regular consultations with instructor or TA  

 

 

 

  • Systematic review of a topic implies a comprehensive literature review on a particular topic.  
  • Written reports on separate components of the project  
  • Complete thesis document 
  • Class presentation of individual project  
  • Poster presentation with all honours thesis students 

 

Knowledge of Methodologies  

  • Access, interpret and critically evaluate research resources relevant to the project 
  • Formulate research hypotheses and/or questions to address the main topic 
  • Understand the sequence of steps to conduct high quality meta-analyses 

 

 

  • Researching, reading and evaluating the empirical literature 
  • Writing an initial research proposal  
  • Writing the methods section of their project 

 

 

  • Written reports (Proposal, Introduction, Methods, Results section and interpretation of analyses, Discussion, Full thesis document) 
  • Class presentation 
  • Poster presentation 

Application of Knowledge  

  • Apply data collection methods consisting of systematic searches, extracting information, and evaluating quality of studies 
  • Apply relevant statistical techniques to extract relevant quantitative information, conduct analyses, report and interpret findings  
  • Engage in scholarly discussion on topics relevant to honours thesis project 

 

  • Regular group discussions, comparing content topics, methods and analytic strategies 
  • Conducting all stages of research for the meta-analysis project 
  • Writing draft reports of different sections of the overall thesis document 

 

  • Written reports (Proposal, Introduction, Methods, Results section and interpretation of analyses, Discussion, Full thesis document) 
  • Class presentation 
  • Poster presentation 
  • Class participation 

Communication Skills  

  • Communicate in writing accurately, clearly and logically, using the discourse of psychology 
  • Communicate orally accurately, clearly and logically, using the discourse of psychology 
  • Develop psychology conference presentation skills (i.e., present a research project live (in-person) in front of an audience and respond orally to audience questions) 

 

  • Class writing exercises for all sections of the thesis 
  • Feedback provided on introduction, methods, results and interpretation prior to submission of full thesis document 
  • Feedback on class presentation and poster 
  • Consultation with instructor or TA 

 

  • Written reports (Proposal, Introduction, Methods, Results section and interpretation of analyses, Discussion, Full thesis document) 
  • Class presentation 
  • Poster presentation 
  • Class participation 

Awareness of Limits of Knowledge 

  • Recognize the limits of knowledge at all stages of the research process 
  • Understand the limitations of the strengths and limitations of the methods in research design, measurement, and analysis 

 

  • In class discussions of these limitations 
  • Inclusion of limitation sections where appropriate in different sections of the thesis  

 

  • Written reports (Proposal, Introduction, Methods, Results section and interpretation of analyses, Discussion, Full thesis document) 
  • Class presentation 
  • Poster presentation 
  • Class participation 

Autonomy and Professional Capacity 

  • Demonstrate an appropriate level of effort, attention to detail as required in meta-analysis work and professionalism in communication with colleagues, instructor and TA 
  • Show initiative and autonomy in executing each phase of the thesis project 

 

  • Completing assignment on time 
  • Engagement in lectures and group discussion 
  • Regular monthly meetings with course instructor 

 

  • Class participation 

 

 

 

 

5 Evaluation 

 

The list below includes a description of the evaluation components, grade weightings (e.g., 5% of final grade), and due dates.  

 

  1. Preliminary Proposal [Oct 3] [5%]. A two-page summary (about 500 words double spaced plus references) of the proposed project consisting of an introduction of the topic, why the topic is important, gap in the literature, research questions, and a preliminary and general assessment of the breadth of the empirical literature.  
  2. Full Proposal [Oct 24] [10%]. A more extensive proposal using the PRISMA-P Protocol template that goes into more depth about the methods, proposed search strategy, management of the study records, the data items that will be collected, methods for assessing risk of bias, and analytic procedure. 
  3. Search Report [Nov 14] [5%]. A two-page report including (1) a list of the databases and other sources used in your study searches, (2) a list of the keyword searches, (3) a description of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and (4) access to your downloaded study information (e.g., access to your Covidence project). 
  4. Preliminary Coding Data File [Nov 28] [5%]. You will be creating your own tailored data file with the necessary information from each study to conduct the meta-analysis. This is a simple spreadsheet (e.g., Excel or a statistical package) with studies in rows and the descriptive variables in columns. For this assignment, you will be required to submit your data file with at least five coded studies. 
  5. Introduction [Dec 5] [10%]. The introduction should be at least 8 to 10 double spaced pages (plus references) written in APA style 7th edition. The introduction will build on the first assignment and provide a more comprehensive literature review focusing on the research questions. 
  6. Method Section and Completed Coding Data File [Jan 23] [10%]. This report will provide the Method section describing your literature search procedure with PRISMA steps, the coding procedure, and the analytic procedure. It is expected that the method section will be approximately 4 to 5 double spaced pages plus the PRISMA figure. Please include a link to your completed coding data file. 
  7. Results Part 1. Figures and Tables [Feb 13] [5%]. This first part of the results will include a Table listing all the studies that will be used in your meta-analysis. The figures will include the updated PRISMA flow diagram and the Forest plot(s) from your analyses. 
  8. Results Part 2. Written Interpretation of Results [Feb 27] [5%]. This section will include any additional necessary tables and figures assessing bias. This part will also include the written section interpreting the results, with an expected length of about 4 to 6 pages of text. 
  9. Class presentation [Mar 6] [10%]. Individual 10-min max presentations will be scheduled in the two classes before Poster Day and will serve as practice and preparation for that day event. Students can present preliminary sections of their poster using 12 to 15 slides max. 
  10. Poster [Mar 20, date to be confirmed] [10%]. Presentation of thesis research in a poster form on Poster Day with other sections of the Honours Thesis course. Precise details regarding poster preparations will be given in class. Posters will be graded by the supervisor and a second reader, with their averaged marks contributing 10% of the final grade in the course. 
  11. Complete Thesis Document [Apr 9] [25%]. A rubric for the complete written thesis will be presented in class. The final thesis will be marked by the thesis supervisor and a second reader, with their averaged marks contributing 25% of the final grade in the course. 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives. 

 

Policy on Missing Coursework 

 

  1. For all assignments from Oct 3, 2025 to Feb 27, 2026 (this includes all assignments except the last three) you can request an extension of up to a week from the instructor without supporting documentation. You will need to send me an email request at least 24 hrs before the due date (i.e., Thursday evenings by 11:50 pm). Unless you have submitted an extension request, each 24-hr late period will result in a loss of 10% of the available marks for a given assignment. If you require a longer-term accommodation for a health or wellness concern lasting more than a week, please seek official accommodation by submitting your documentation to the academic counselling office.  
  2. Class Presentation on March 6. If you are unable to present on March6, you will be provided with the opportunity to present the subsequent week on March 13.  
  3. Poster day on March 20. The only possible accommodation for missing Poster day would be to make arrangements with the instructor and the second marker to present your poster to them virtually in a zoom call within a week (pending availability of second marker). You would still be expected to produce a printed version of your poster and bring it to a subsequent class.  
  4. Complete thesis document due on Tue April 7th. You can request an extension of 48 hrs (i.e., due on April 9th) from the instructor without supporting documentation by email at least 24 hrs before the due date.  

 

Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%. 

 

This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty. 

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf 

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages: 

 

70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses 

72% 2100-2999-level courses 

75% 3000-level courses 

80% 4000-level courses 

 

In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components. 

 

Policy on Grade Rounding 

 

Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.  

 

 

 

6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule 

 

There are no tests or examinations in this course. The evaluation components are listed below with their due dates. 

 

Oct 3. Preliminary Proposal [5%]  

Oct 24. Full Proposal [10%] 

Nov 14. Search Report [5%] 

Nov 28. Preliminary Coding Data File [5%] 

Dec 5. Draft of Introduction [10%] 

 

Jan 23. Method Section and Completed Coding Data File [10%] 

Feb 13. Results Part 1. Figures and Tables [5%] 

Feb 27. Results Part 2.  Written Interpretation of Results [5%] 

Mar 6. Class Presentation [10%]  

Mar 20. Poster [10%] 

Apr 7. Complete Thesis Document [25%] 

 

Assignments due by 11:50pm on the deadline date. 

 

7 Class Schedule 

 

Date 

Topics 

Assignment Due Date 

Sep 5 

Project overview  

 

Sep 12 

Introduction to literature databases and search strategy 

 

Sep 19 

Preliminary literature search to evaluate feasib. of topic 

 

Sep 26 

Developing the research proposal 

 

Oct 3 

Introduction to effect sizes and their standard errors 

Preliminary proposal [5%] 

Oct 10 

PRISMA Flowcharts of entire meta-analytic process 

 

Oct 17 

Writing the completed search report 

 

Oct 24 

Managing the study files with Covidence 

Full proposal [10%] 

Oct 31 

Collecting information from the studies into a datafile 

 

RWk 

 

 

Nov 14 

Understanding effect sizes in various designs 

Search report [5%] 

Nov 21 

Writing the introduction and method section 

 

Nov 28 

Meta-analysis analytic procedure 

Preliminary Coding [5%] 

Dec 5 

Meta-analysis software jamovi (Major module) 

Draft Introduction [10%] 

Jan 9 

Analysis: Producing main results 

 

Jan 16 

Analysis continued: testing for moderation 

 

Jan 23 

Analysis continued: evaluating bias (e.g., funnel plots) 

Method and datafile [10%] 

Jan 30 

Preparation of tables and figures 

 

Feb 6 

Interpreting results and writing the results section 

 

Feb 13 

Writing discussion section and presentation preparation 

Results Part 1 [5%] 

RWk 

Winter Reading Week (no class) 

 

Feb 27 

Writing the full thesis paper and poster preparation 

Results Part 2 [5%] 

Mar 6 

Class presentations 

Class presentation [10%] 

Mar 13 

Poster preparation 

 

Mar 20 

Poster presentation day 

Poster presentation [10%] 

Mar 27 

Q & A for completing thesis 

 

Apr 3 

No class Good Friday 

Thesis due Tue Apr 7 [25%] 

 

 

8 Academic Integrity  

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf. 

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University. 

 

Plagiarism Detection Software 

 

All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism.  All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com. 

 

Use of AI 

 

The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content. 

 

AI Policy for Psychology:  

Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology.  This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.  

 AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.  

  

The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course.  Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited.  You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.  

  

If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work.  All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information.  Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.  

  

Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies. 

 

9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education 

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link. 

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western. 

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147 

 

10 Absence & Academic Consideration 

 

Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html 

 

 

11 Other Information  

 

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help. 

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.  

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca). 

 

Copyright Statement  

 

Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.