Getting Involved in Psychology Research
Getting Involved in Psychology Research
Most careers in the field of psychology require further study. Graduate school programs in psychology are more competitive than ever. Most graduate school programs in psychology prefer their prospective students to have research experience. Research involvement enables students to work closely with faculty and graduate students, acquire publications, present findings, and learn the fundamental skills of obtaining psychological data.
Handout on Getting Involved in Research in the Psychology Department
How do I find Research Opportunities?
- PRO resources
- Signs in Department Office
- Take courses with the same professors
- Check website or handbook for faculty research interests
- Ask around (PSA meetings)
- Look at past research publications of Psychology Faculty
Link to Psychology Faculty List
What would I do?
Most often:
- Data collection
- Data encoding
- Data analysis
- Literature reviews
- Animal care
- Computer data entry
- Interviewing
- Running subjects
- Running statistical programs
How can Research Experience help me?
- Provides an opportunity to better understand the field of Psychology & how knowledge is acquired.
- Helps you to see what an academic-research career is like.
- Allows a chance to see if research is enjoyable, which is important in deciding if a research based graduate program is the right choice for you.
- Provides an opportunity to meet other dedicated students, which is the beginning of a networking system in academia.
- Helps you to know at least one faculty member in greater depth, resulting in personal advising & support in applying to grad school.
- Joint authorship on publications and conference presentations, adding to your background experience as an undergraduate student.
- May lead to independent study units (PSY 499) or possibly a small stipend!
What do I need? Academic qualifications
Minimum:
- Completion of Psy 110
- Completion of Psy 220
Preferred:
- Completion of Psy 310
- Several upper division Psychology courses
- At least one upper division course in faculty research area
- Computer skills
Ideal:
- All of the above
- Plus Psy 411 and/or 412.
- Enthusiasm
- Reliability
- Punctuality
- Honesty