Students of the Dutch bachelor’s programme, see Tutoraat Academische Vaardigheden
Entry requirements
None
Description
In the ‘Academic Skills Tutorial’ course students embark on their academic education. They are thaught 3 important skills: how to write an article, how to give a presentation, and how to set up an experiment. In practising these skills considerable attention is paid to argumentation, correct use of language, library use, correct referencing and compiling a bibliography. The ethical aspects of conducting research are also addressed in various contexts.
The Academic Skills Tutorial has a second objective: to offer students support in making sufficient progress in their psychology studies. This goal is closely linked to the ‘Binding Study Advice’ (BSA). The BSA is a recommendation given to students at the end of the first and second years, with regard to the continuation of their studies. For more information on the BSA, and the steps taken to support students, consult the Psychology website.
In order to obtain course credits for the Academic Skills Tutorial students are also required to take part in psychological experiments. This provides hands-on experience as a participant in psychological research.
Course objectives
The aim of the Academic Skills Tutorial is to train students in 3 academic skills: how to write a scientific literature review, how to give a scientific presentation, and how to write a research proposal. The practical skills taught include the following:
Use of ICT for scientific study purposes (Web of Science, library facilities);
Studying and interpreting scientific texts and articles;
Paraphrasing and summarising relevant insights from these texts;
Constructing an argument (logical reasoning);
Formulating a viable research question;
Conducting a literature review (article) using recent scientific publications to answer the research question;
Referencing publications correctly (APA guidelines);
Giving an oral presentation about the literature review in the article;
Setting up a design for experimental research, and formulating a proposal for data analysis (the latter only for full-time students);
Application of ethical guidelines in designing, carrying out, and reporting on psychological research;
Correct use of language; and
Providing and dealing with constructive feedback.
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables
Registration
Course
First year students are automatically enrolled for courses, but do need to register themselves for the exam.
Other students do not only need to register for exams themselves, but also for lectures and work group sessions. For information on registration periods consult the bachelor course registration
Mode of instruction
The Academic Skills Tutorial consists of an introductory interview at the start of the academic year, 13 work group sessions and 8 hours of participation in psychological experiments. Tutorial groups will consist of 12 students, with the instructor acting as both tutor and mentor. When skills are practised the instructors’ role is that of a tutor: they provide explanation, give feedback on assignments, check, assess, and sanction. In their mentoring role instructors guide, advise, counsel, and help with any problems encountered.
In the first semester – Block 1 – 7 work group sessions are held to train students in the skills required for ‘how to write a short article’. In the second semester 3 sessions will be devoted to ‘how to give a presentation’ (Block 2), and another3 sessions focus on ‘how to set up an experiment’ (Block 3). Before each work group session students are required to work on an assignment that they hand in to the tutor. The tutor corrects the work before the work group session in question so that it can be discussed during the session.
Individual meetings are also scheduled between tutor and student, such as the introductory interview at the start of the academic year. Students may request a meeting with their tutor during the course of the academic year, for example to talk about matters that hinder their study progress. Tutors may also take the initiative to set up additional meetings with a student.
Assessment method
Attendance is mandatory for all sessions. Absence due to exceptional personal circumstances must always be communicated (in advance) to the tutor, and absence can be compensated for by additional assignments, to be included in the calculation of the final grade.
All assignments and partial assignments must be completed and handed in. The tutor corrects the work and gives an individual assessment. Students receive a grade for each block. Pass grades are required for all 3 course blocks. This means that a fail grade for one block cannot be compensated for by the grades for the other blocks. The final grade for the Tutorial is the average of the grades for the 3 blocks.
In addition, students need to:
spend 8 hours (= 16 participant credits) as a participant in the current research programmes of the Institute of Psychology. Enrolment and registration takes place via Sona
succesfully complete the quiz on “plagiarism” administered during the third session.
A pass grade for the Academic Skills Tutorial is worth 5 credits. These credits are awarded together at the end of the year, once students have completed the third course block and have met both of the additional requirements.
Regulations on grade calculation.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has instituted that instructors use a software programme for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. In case of fraud disciplinary actions will be taken. Please see the information concerning fraud.
Reading list
Reader Academic Skills Tutorial 2015-2016. It contains the assignments students are required to complete, along with the necessary background information. Students may order the syllabus via Readeronline.
Contact information
Dr. Claire Stevenson
cstevenson@fsw.leidenuniv.nlDr. Guido Band
band@fsw.leidenuniv.nl