Paper
The paper for the course will be a short (i.e., 3 page) critique of a classic research article in the field of comparative psychology. Articles that may be critiqued along with additional instructions on the structure, formatting, and development of a critique of an empirical paper will shortly be made available here on the course website.
The paper must be turned in to the instructor in class on the day it is due by 1:35 PM. For every day, including weekends and holidays, an assignment is late, starting immediately at 1:36 PM on the day the assignment is due, 10% will be deducted. Subsequent penalties will be applied each day thereafter at 4:00PM.
DO NOT put a paper under the instructor's door! If a paper is put under the door it will be treated as submitted when it is actually found by the instructor). A paper may be thumbtacked to the bulletin board outside the instructor's door; it will be treated as submitted when it is actually found by the instructor. Late papers should be submitted directly to the instructor, or should be turned in to office staff at the Department of Psychology office (BSP-217, hours of operation Monday to Friday, 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00); the office staff will date-stamp your paper and this will be used to assess late penalties. (Papers may, of course, be submitted early, again, to the instructor or to the Psychology office.)
Here are the Instructions for the Paper (in PDF)
The following links give access to the papers that you may select from for this assignment.
- Seligman, M.E.P. & Maier, S.F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74, 1-9.
- Original formatted text in PDF format.
- Skinner, B.F. (1948). 'Superstition' in the pigeon. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 168-172.
- Original text reformated on a website.
- Watson, J.B. & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 1-14.
- Original text reformatted in PDF format.