Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic) Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
I am writing to respectfully petition the Faculty for credit standing in PSYC203: Research
Methods in Psychology (Spring 2025).
The PSAC Local 901 Unit 1 strike at Queen’s University, which began on March 10, 2025,
significantly disrupted my learning experience in this course. All of my Research Methods labs
were cancelled, as they are led by teaching assistants. These weekly labs play a crucial role in
reinforcing course concepts by providing hands-on experience with research methodologies,
including data collection and statistical analysis. They also offer valuable opportunities to ask
questions, review challenging material, and engage in applied learning. This support was no
longer available due to the strike.
I remained fully committed to my studies throughout the term. I completed all readings, attended
every lecture, and regularly attended office hours. However, PSYC 203 was the only course I
took this term that included labs, and the cancellation of these sessions disproportionately
affected my ability to succeed in the course.
In addition to the loss of lab instruction, the structure of the final exam was altered due to the
lack of TA support for grading. The exam was reduced to a small multiple choice section, which
still carried an unchanged weight of 40% of the final grade. Unfortunately, multiple choice
formats do not allow me to demonstrate the depth and breadth of my understanding. I typically
rely on written exam components to articulate nuanced thinking and critical analysis, especially
in a methods-focused course like this. The absence of these components significantly
undermined my ability to reflect my learning, which in turn lowered my final course grade.
While I do not anticipate similar disruptions in future terms, I will make every effort to enrol in
courses with a more balanced or diversified assessment structure.
I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration of my request to assign credit standing in
PSYC203 for the Spring 2025 term.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Davidson
Student ID 20401321
I am writing to respectfully petition the Faculty for credit standing in PSYC203: Research
Methods in Psychology (Spring 2025).
The PSAC Local 901 Unit 1 strike at Queen’s University, which began on March 10, 2025,
significantly disrupted my learning experience in this course. All of my Research Methods labs
were cancelled, as they are led by teaching assistants. These weekly labs play a crucial role in
reinforcing course concepts by providing hands-on experience with research methodologies,
including data collection and statistical analysis. They also offer valuable opportunities to ask
questions, review challenging material, and engage in applied learning. This support was no
longer available due to the strike.
I remained fully committed to my studies throughout the term. I completed all readings, attended
every lecture, and regularly attended office hours. However, PSYC 203 was the only course I
took this term that included labs, and the cancellation of these sessions disproportionately
affected my ability to succeed in the course.
In addition to the loss of lab instruction, the structure of the final exam was altered due to the
lack of TA support for grading. The exam was reduced to a small multiple choice section, which
still carried an unchanged weight of 40% of the final grade. Unfortunately, multiple choice
formats do not allow me to demonstrate the depth and breadth of my understanding. I typically
rely on written exam components to articulate nuanced thinking and critical analysis, especially
in a methods-focused course like this. The absence of these components significantly
undermined my ability to reflect my learning, which in turn lowered my final course grade.
While I do not anticipate similar disruptions in future terms, I will make every effort to enrol in
courses with a more balanced or diversified assessment structure.
I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration of my request to assign credit standing in
PSYC203 for the Spring 2025 term.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Davidson
Student ID 20401321