Unit: Psychology
Program: Psychology (BA)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Tue Oct 18, 2011 - 12:29:05 pm

1) Below are your program student learning outcomes (SLOs). Please update as needed.

The Board of Educational Affairs of the American Psychological Association has identified 10 major learning goals for an undergraduate program in psychology, along with specific learning outcomes associated with each goal.  Our Psychology Department has adopted these goals and has started developing an assessment plan based upon them.

     The goals and their accompanying learning objectives are as follows:

1)  Theory and Content of Psychology: a)  describing and applying psychology’s concepts, language and theories; b)  explaining its major perspectives; c)  demonstrating understanding of its breadth and depth

2)  Research Methods in Psychology: a)  differentiating research methods; b)  evaluating aptness of research conclusions; c)  designing and conducting basic studies; d)  generalizing research conclusions appropriately

3)  Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology: a)  using and engaging in critical thinking; b)  using reasoning in arguments and persuasion; c)  approaching problems with sophistication

4)  Application of Psychology; a)  identifying psychology’s major applications; b)  articulating how it can be used toward social understanding and public policy; c)  recognizing the ethical complexities of applying psychology

5)  Values in Psychology; a)  understanding the need for ethical behavior; b)  tolerance of ambiguity; c)  demonstration of skepticism and intellectual curiosity; d)  attunement to scientific evidence; e)  civic responsibility; f)  respect for human diversity

6)  Information and Technological Literacy: a)  demonstrating competent, ethical and responsible use of information in academic work; b)  applying software in research reports; c)  mastering such computer basics as Internet navigation and spreadsheet generation

7)  Communication Skills: a)  demonstrating effective writing, interpersonal and oral communication skills; b)  showing quantitative literacy; c)    collaborating effectively with others

8)  Sociocultural and International Awareness: a)  showing sensitivity to and respect for diversity; b)  being able to consider and explain the role of cultural, racial, ethnic and economic factors, and of privilege and discrimination, in people’s behaviors

9)  Personal Development: a)  the ability to apply psychology to personal and professional development; b)  to self-regulate and display personal integrity

10)  Career Planning and Development: a)  applying psychology principles to career decision-making; b)  aiming for feasible career paths; c)  identifying realistic graduate-education pathways; d)  taking practical career steps; e)  valuing life-long learning and professional development

2) Your program's SLOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.

Department Website URL:
Student Handbook. URL, if available online:
Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online:
UHM Catalog. Page Number:
Course Syllabi. URL, if available online: NA
Other:
Other:

3) Below is the link(s) to your program's curriculum map(s). If we do not have your curriculum map, please upload it as a PDF.

Curriculum Map File(s) from 2011:

4) For your program, the percentage of courses that have course SLOs explicitly stated on the syllabus, a website, or other publicly available document is as follows. Please update as needed.

0%
1-50%
51-80%
81-99%
100%

5) For the period June 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.

   An entry and exit survey is collected to assess the students’ perceptions of Psychological thinking prior to declaration of major and the extent to which Psychological knowledge have been enhanced upon graduation. An example of our most recent survey is indicated below.

Outcome Data From Entry and Exit

Surveys, 2010-2011

Date: Fall 2010-Spring 2011

University of Hawaii at Manoa Undergraduate Psychology

Entrance Survey (176 respondents)

1)      I currently feel knowledgeable about psychological concepts, theoretical perspectives, research findings, or historical trends.                                                             

M= 3.5 Sd=.9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

2)      I have a background in basic research methods, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation                                                                  

M=3.3 Sd=.96

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

3)      I am able to use critical and creative thinking skills in solving problems.

M=3.85 Sd=.8

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

4)      I understand how psychological concepts can be used in everyday life and organization.                                                                                                  

M=3.8 Sd=.8

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

5)      I currently feel comfortable with my communication skills including writing, interpersonal and oral skills, showing quantitative literacy and collaborating with others.                                                                                                                

M=3.5 Sd=.94      

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

Please indicate the number of psychology courses you have already taken: M=4.55


Date Fall 2010-Spring 2011

University of Hawaii at Manoa Undergraduate Psychology Exit Survey (upon graduation) (60 respondents)

1)      As a result of majoring in Psychology, I feel more knowledgeable in psychological concepts, theoretical perspectives, research findings, or historical trends.

M=4.5 Sd=.7

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

2)         I have a better understanding of basic research methods, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation                                                              

M=4.3 Sd=.80

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

3)         I am better able to use critical and creative thinking skills in solving problems.   M=4.26 Sd=.86

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

4)         I understand how psychological concepts can be used in everyday life and organization, as well as the ethical complexities involved in applying psychology to social situations.                                                                                                                

M=4.40 Sd=.70

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

  5)  I understand the values and need for ethical behavior, tolerance of ambiguity, scientific practice, and intellectual skepticism as well as the civic responsibility of respect for human diversity.                                                                                                          

M=4.48, Sd=.65

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

6)     I learned to use technology such as computers for purposes relating to the field of psychology, such as in researching topics on the internet and using software for statistical analyses.                                                                                 

M=3.8 Sd=1.17

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

7)      I developed effective communication skills including writing, interpersonal and oral skills, showing quantitative literacy and collaborating with others.                 

M=4.11 Sd=.92

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

8)     I learned to recognize and understand sociocultural and international diversity and how factors such as cultural, racial, ethnic and economic factors may have significant ramifications regarding the behavior of individuals.                                        

M=4.51 Sd=.7

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

9)     I benefited from studying psychology with regards to developing an understanding of mental processes, applying effective strategies for self management, including self-regulation, and demonstrations of integrity.                                             

M=4.55 Sd=.64

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

10)   I feel capable of applying the skills, values and information I received as a

        psychology major in my future career.                                                             

M=4.44 Sd=.74

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

Please estimate the number of psychology courses that you have taken at the Manoa campus: M=9.96

Independent Sample t-tests between corresponding entrance and exit responses obtained Fall 2010 – Spring 2011

Item comparisons

1-1

2-2

3-3

4-4

5-7

Df

233

233

233

233

233

T

7.65

6.7

2.97

3.408

2.192

p-values

0.001

0.001

.003

.001

.02

6) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #5.

See Question #5 for response.

7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.

See Question #5 for response.

8) Who interpreted or analyzed the evidence that was collected? (Check all that apply.)

Course instructor(s)
Faculty committee
Ad hoc faculty group
Department chairperson
Persons or organization outside the university
Faculty advisor
Advisors (in student support services)
Students (graduate or undergraduate)
Dean/Director
Other: Undergraduate Chair and Undergraduate Committee

9) How did they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? (Check all that apply.)

Used a rubric or scoring guide
Scored exams/tests/quizzes
Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used)
Compiled survey results
Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, open-ended response data
External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., external organization administered and scored the nursing licensing exam)
Other:

10) For the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goal(s) stated in Question #5:
Summarize the actual results.

An entry and exit survey is collected to assess the students’ perceptions of Psychological thinking prior to declaration of major and the extent to which Psychological knowledge have been enhanced upon graduation. An example of our most recent survey is indicated below (open link).

Link to results

11) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.

     Instructors are responsible for developing and revising their courses.  The Undergraduate Chair oversees the training of graduate student lecturers and offers recommendations to the instructor to improve the teaching when required.  New course proposals are discussed at the Undergraduate Studies Committee and recommendations consistent with the SLO’s are forwarded to the Faculty for approval.  The SLOs are also distributed to faculty and lecturers and discussed at faculty meetings.

     Data collected has led to our modification of our research and statistics courses.  Prospective students are now required to successfully complete both courses prior to declaring their major in psychology.  We have also removed lecturers, who have not met our expectations for SLOs, from our teaching pool.  In addition, prerequisites of many upper level courses were modified, based on feedback from instructors about how well students were prepared to meet the SLOs of the course.

     We are also requiring our instructors to indicate in their CAFÉ evaluations a few questions that are specifically related to our entry and exit surveys.  By including SLO that emphasize key issues in our surveys, improvement will occur in the undergraduate perception of important psychological issues.

12) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries?
This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, program aspects and so on.

     The statistical analysis of the survey questions provides insights into the strengths and weakness of our psychology courses.  For example, survey questions 1 and 2 evaluate student knowledge of psychological concepts and methods, which in the last few years our majors strongly feel they have acquired at the time of graduation.  For the second year in a row, question 3, which concerns critical thinking issues in Psychology showed a significant improvement among graduating seniors.  In addition, for the first time  questions 4 and 5(7), which assess applied psychology and communication skills, improved significantly among graduating seniors.  This overall improvement in understanding psychological concepts, methods, critical thinking, applied psychology, and communication skills may be due to the recent incorporation of pre-major requirements, i.e., introduction to statistics and psychological methods courses, that facilitate learning advanced issues in upper division psychological courses.

13) Other important information.
Please note: If the program did not engage in assessment, please explain. If the program created an assessment plan for next year, please give an overview.