Being Successful

For psychology students, The HUT thesis is expected to take at least 3 semesters to complete. During this time, you will work closely with your Thesis Chair on the research project. Students will register for credit hours each semester they are working on their HUT and will be charged tuition for these credits. Credits are graded as either S/U or A-F. The credits count as electives for psychology majors.

While the minimum requirement for a HUT for the Office of Honors Research is 2 semesters, considering the empirical and data-driven nature of psychology HUT’s, it is not advised that psychology students only spend 2 semesters on their HUT. 

An example of credit hours/semester options is below:

3-semester HUT thesis 4-semester HUT thesis
Directed Readings 1 (3 credits) Directed Readings 1 (3 credits)
Directed Readings II (1-3 credits/student chooses) Directed Readings II (1-3 credits/student chooses)
Undergraduate Thesis I (3 credits) Undergraduate Thesis I (3 credits)
Undergraduate Thesis II (1-3 credits/student chooses)

During the Directed Readings Course(s) students will:

    • Select their topic.
    • Complete human subjects training (if not already completed).
    • Assist their Thesis Chair in preparation of the IRB proposal. The Thesis Chair is considered the PI and will submit the proposal to the IRB. The Thesis Chair is the primary point of contact for the IRB.
    • Select their thesis committee with the help of the thesis Chair.
    • HUT students need a minimum of two committee members, including their thesis Chair, but can select up to four committee members.
    • Find peer-reviewed research articles on their topic via the PsycInfo databases (and other related databases). Check with your Thesis Chair for their recommended number of articles. Many psychology students have a minimum of 10-15 peer-reviewed articles included in their proposal.
    • Read the above articles and take notes.
    • Write the literature review of the HUT proposal. The Thesis Chair should read, review, and provide feedback on drafts of the literature review during the writing process.
    • Write the proposed method and analyses sections. HUT proposals must be data driven and have a clear analysis plan. Data analysis is required. Data can be derived from new data collection (IRB required), in which case already existing questionnaires would be selected to use in data collection. Most new data collection will utilize the department’s SONA system and the Qualtrics system. Research participants via the SONA system is capped based on research credit hours.
      Online Studies In Person Studies
      100 participants for a 120-minute study 50 participants for a 120-minute study
      200 participants for a 60-minute study 100 participants for a 60-minute study
      400 participants for a 30-minute study 200 participants for a 30-minute study

      Data analysis can also include the analysis of archived or public accessible data, a meta-analysis, and qualitative data and corresponding analysis. Proposed analysis plans should include a plan to describe the data being analyzed in addition to analyses specific to the hypothesis. Data analysis should include statistical tests that are covered in Statistical Methods for Psychology(PSY 3204), which include t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, chi-squares, etc. HUT chairs must be able to guide students in the data collection and proposed analysis phases of the study and have experience with the methods proposed and analysis plan. The Thesis Chair should read, review, and provide feedback on drafts of the proposed methodology and analysis sections during the writing process.

    • Submit final thesis proposal to your Thesis Chair for approval. Your Thesis Chair should approve your proposal prior to you sending it to your entire committee for review.
    • Upon approval of your Thesis Chair, submit thesis proposal to thesis committee for review.
    • Obtain feedback and required signatures of thesis committee on thesis cover sheet.
    • Have your Thesis Chair sign your thesis cover sheet.
    • Obtain the signature of the HUT Faculty Liaison on your thesis cover sheet (after obtaining signatures from your entire thesis committee). The psychology department must receive a copy of the proposal, along with the required forms. The proposal will be reviewed to ensure that department requirements are met.
    • Take your signed thesis cover sheet and a copy of your thesis proposal to the Office of Honors Research. Check with the Office of Honors Research for specific due dates.
    • Begin data collection under the direction of your Thesis Chair, after receiving IRB approval.
    • Begin data coding and analyses under the direction of your Thesis Chair.
    • Meet all deadlines and requirements of the Office of Honors Research.

HUT Proposal Requirements

    • The HUT proposal is completed during the Directed Reading Semester(s). Students can spend between 1 and 2 semesters (Directed Readings I, 3 credit hours & Directed Readings II, 1or 3 credit hours) preparing their HUT proposal.
    • An HUT proposal is a document that outlines the thesis topic, defines the issues that the thesis will address, and explains why the topic warrants further research.
    • The HUT proposal must be written in APA format.
    • The HUT Proposal must be a minimum of 5 content pages (excluding the title page and reference list). However, the average proposal is between 10 and 20 content pages.
    • The HUT proposal should include an introduction, literature review, proposed methodology section, proposed analysis plan, and reference list. The hypothesis statement(s) or research question(s) must be clearly stated.
    • HUT proposals must be data driven and have a clear analysis plan. Data analysis is required. Data can be derived from new data collection. In this case, the HUT Chair serves as the PI on all IRB and research documents. Information for the IRB can be found here: Compliance – IRB (ucf.edu) Data collection can utilize the department’s SONA System and the Qualtrics System. Participants from the SONA system for HUTs are capped based on research credit hours. Data analysis can also include the analysis of archived or public accessible data, a meta-analysis, and qualitative data and corresponding analysis. Proposed analysis plans should include a plan to describe the data being analyzed in addition to analyses specific to the hypothesis. Data analysis should include statistical tests that are covered in Statistical Methods for Psychology(PSY 3204), which include t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, chi-squares, etc. HUT chairs must be able to guide students in the data collection and proposed analysis phases of the study and have experience with the methods proposed and analysis plan.
    • The HUT cover page verifies that the entire committee has read and approved the proposal. The HUT chair, committee members, and HUT Liaison sign the cover page. When submitting HUT proposal cover pages for signature, make sure to included the complete proposal along with the cover page for review. Students must use Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) to obtain electronic signatures.
    • The HUT proposal is considered a plan for the proposed research. Once the proposal has been approved by the HUT committee, HUT Liaison and OHR, any changes to the study must be approved by the committee, HUT Liaison and OHR in advance of implementing such changes. Changes may also need to be approved by the IRB.
    • The final HUT thesis should have completed what was approved in the HUT proposal.
    • It is advised that HUT students meet with their Thesis Chair weekly as they work on the proposal. Consult the thesis chair for the specific meeting schedule and syllabus for the HUT courses.
    • The Psychology Department HUT Liaison will not sign required forms that do not meet the requirements and may request HUT students to make any needed revisions prior to obtaining the signature.

During the Undergraduate Thesis course(s) students will:

    • Begin data analyses under the guidance, direction, and assistance of your Thesis Chair. Data analysis should be thorough and describe your participants, variables, and should involve statistics to address all research questions or hypotheses. Additional analyses may also be needed, depending on your topic.
    • Write up the results section and any corresponding tables under the direction of your Thesis Chair. Make sure to write in proper APA format.
    • Write discussion section of the thesis under the direction of your Thesis Chair.
    • Schedule and attend a formatting review with the Office of Honors Research.
    • Review entire thesis for correct tense, language, grammar, and required formatting.
    • Ensure that your Thesis Chair approves your final thesis. The Thesis Chair should read, review, and provide feedback on drafts of the full thesis during the writing process.
    • Ask your Thesis Chair to submit your thesis to turn-it-in (This is a requirement of HUT).
    • Once final thesis is approved by your Thesis Chair, submit thesis to committee members. Note that a final HUT thesis for psychology majors is usually around 50 pages in length with a minimum of 20 cited sources. This needs to be done at least one week prior to the thesis defense.
    • Schedule a thesis defense with your committee.
    • Reserve a room for the defense and inform the committee. A virtual defense is acceptable.
    • Prepare a notice of defense and submit to the Honors College and display on campus.
    • Prepare for the thesis defense. Usually, a thesis defense involves a 30-minute or so presentation of your research to your committee, followed by Q&A with your thesis committee. Check with your thesis Chair for their preferred format and suggestions prior to preparing for the defense.
    • Defend thesis.
    • Make any revisions suggested by committee during the defense and have committee members sign approval forms.
    • Obtain the signature of the HUT Faculty Liaison on your thesis approval forms. The psychology department must receive a copy of the final thesis, along with the required forms. The final thesis will be reviewed to ensure that department requirements are met.
    • Submit final thesis and approval forms to the Office of Honors Research. Check with the Office of Honors Research for specific deadlines.
    • Meet all deadlines and requirements of the Office of Honors Research.

Final HUT Thesis Requirements

    • The HUT thesis is completed during the Thesis Semester(s). Students can spend between 1 and 2 semesters (Thesis I, 3 credit hours & Thesis II, 1or 3 credit hours) finalizing their HUT thesis.
    • Students can enroll in HUT Thesis after their HUT proposal has been approved by their committee, the HUT Liaison, and the OHR.
    • The HUT thesis must be written in APA format.
    • The final HUT thesis should include an introduction, literature review, methodology section, results along with any corresponding tables and figures, discussion, suggestions for future research, and reference list.
    • The final HUT thesis must be data driven and have a data analysis description and results section. Data analysis is required. Data can be derived from new data collection, archived or publicly accessible data, a meta-analysis, and qualitative data. Data analysis should include a description of the data and any analyses specific to the hypothesis. Data analysis should include statistical tests that are covered in Statistical Methods for Psychology (PSY 3204), which include t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, chi-squares, etc.. Results should be discussed in the content pages and displayed in any necessary tables or figures. HUT students should conduct the data analysis for their HUT thesis, with the assistance of the Thesis Chair. 
    • The final HUT thesis should have completed the research study that was approved in the HUT proposal. Any changes to the research plan that was approved in the HUT proposal must have been approved by the thesis chair, committee members, HUT Liaison, and OHR prior to implementation.
    • Final HUTs in Psychology are usually around 50 pages in length.
    • Final HUTs in Psychology usually have a minimum of 20 cited sources, with a focus on peer-reviewed research in the field.
    • The HUT thesis approval form allows (1) the thesis chair and committee to verify that they have reviewed the results of the thesis submission to Turnitin.com/iThenticate and that the thesis is an original document, (2) the thesis chair and committee to indicate their approval of the students defense and thesis with no additional changes necessary, and (3) students to indicate how they would like the thesis to be made public once it is submitted to the UCF library. The HUT thesis approval form is signed by the thesis chair, all committee members, and the HUT Liaison. When submitting HUT thesis approval pages for signature ensure that the final, complete thesis is included for review. Students must use Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) to obtain electronic signatures.
    • It is advised that HUT students meet with their Thesis Chair weekly as they work on their final thesis. Consult the thesis chair for the specific meeting schedule and syllabus for the HUT courses.
    • The Psychology Department HUT Liaison will not sign required forms that do not meet the requirements and may request HUT students to make any needed revisions prior to obtaining the signature.
    • HUT students can find examples of successfully completed theses by clicking here to browse STARS.