PSY402 Experimental Psychology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Psychology
Faruk Obuća
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Experimental Psychology offers a thorough introduction into basic principles of research in psychology, covering key principles of research design. It equips students with the competency to apply these principles within the context of concrete examples, and develops their skill to design and conduct an experiment. Students will be able to critically reflect on classical and recent psychological studies.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Myers, A. & Hansen, C. (2012). Experimental Psychology, 7th Ed., Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Additional Literature
Kantowitz, B.H., Roediger III H.L., & Elmes D.G. (2009.), Experimental psychology, 9th ED,. Wadsworth, Cengage LearningTeaching Methods
Lectures combined with class discussions with examples of particular research studies
Demonstrations and group work on tasks relevant to the course objectives
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Experimental Psychology. Course overview. | |
| 2 | Experimental Psychology and the Scientific Method | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Research Ethics | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Alternatives to Experimentation. Nonexperimental Designs | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Quiz I & Alternatives to Experimentation: Surveys and Interviews | Chapter 4 |
| 6 | Alternatives to Experimentation: Correlational and Quasi-Experimental Designs | Chapter 5 |
| 7 | Preparation for midterm exam | all relevant chapters |
| 8 | midterm exam | all relevant chapters |
| 9 | From Research to Practice | all relevant chapters |
| 10 | Formulating the Hypothesis | Chapter 6 |
| 11 | The Basics of Experimentation | Chapter 7 |
| 12 | Solving Problems: Controlling Extraneous Variables | Chapter 8 |
| 13 | Quiz II & Basic Between Subjects Designs | Chapter 9 |
| 14 | Between-Subjects Factorial Designs | Chapter 10 |
| 15 | Preparation for final exam | all relevant chapter |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY402.1 | Course | Friday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.26 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 16:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 15:00 | B F2.3B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home Study
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Quizzes
36 hours ⏳ (6 week × 6 h)
Midterm Exam
28 hours ⏳ (7 week × 4 h)
Final Exam
30 hours ⏳ (10 week × 3 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY402] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY402 | Experimental Psychology | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | PSY105, PSY202 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Faruk Obuća | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 13:00-16:00 Tuesday: 13:00-15:00 |
|||||||
| fobuca@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Experimental Psychology offers a thorough introduction into basic principles of research in psychology, covering key principles of research design. It equips students with the competency to apply these principles within the context of concrete examples, and develops their skill to design and conduct an experiment. Students will be able to critically reflect on classical and recent psychological studies. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Myers, A. & Hansen, C. (2012). Experimental Psychology, 7th Ed., Wadsworth, Cengage Learning | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures combined with class discussions with examples of particular research studies. Demonstrations and group work on tasks relevant to the course objectives. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Experimental Psychology. Course overview. | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Experimental Psychology and the Scientific Method | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Research Ethics | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Alternatives to Experimentation. Nonexperimental Designs | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Quiz I & Alternatives to Experimentation: Surveys and Interviews | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Alternatives to Experimentation: Correlational and Quasi-Experimental Designs | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Preparation for midterm exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 8 | midterm exam | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 9 | From Research to Practice | all relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Formulating the Hypothesis | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | The Basics of Experimentation | Chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Solving Problems: Controlling Extraneous Variables | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Quiz II & Basic Between Subjects Designs | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Between-Subjects Factorial Designs | Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Preparation for final exam | all relevant chapter | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home Study | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Quizzes | 6 | 6 | 36 | Midterm Exam | 4 | 7 | 28 | |||
| Final Exam | 3 | 10 | 30 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 24/02/2026 | |||||||||