Research
Undergraduate research is typically the first step students take if they are interested in choosing psychology as a profession. Besides allowing them to establish a strong working relationship with a faculty member in their field of interest, undergraduate research teaches students how to communicate their results, both through publishing in peer-reviewed journals and by making formal presentations at the School of Arts & Sciences’ annual Student Symposium and at national and international conferences.
Students in the Department of Psychology take Psychology 461 and 462, two semester-long courses in senior research, which allow them to pursue a substantial year-long research project in collaboration with a faculty member. The experience is grounded in the scientific method and culminates in a final written product and opportunity for professional presentation.
By participating in the senior research experience, students:
- Identify a theory or phenomenon which serves as the basis of the project
- Formulate the scientific question such as how or why the phenomenon occurs or how and why conceptual variables are related to it
- Develop a research hypotheses
- Construct a research design
- Consider ethical issues and obtain IRB or IACUC approval
- Search the relevant literature
- Collect data
- Analyze data
- Interpret data in relation to the hypotheses and extant literature
- Write the result formally in appropriate scientific style
- Present the result professionally either on campus or at a local, regional or national meeting or conference
- When possible, publish the result in a peer-reviewed journal
Independent Study
Students who would like to work with a particular faculty member on his or her program of research may take Psychology 361, which provides the opportunity to receive course credit for the research experience. Students choose to earn between 1 and 3 hours of credit and gain insight into whether they might enjoy research at the graduate level.
The first step to finding the right research opportunity for you is to find a professor whom you enjoy working with and whose work interests you. He or she will be able to help you find appropriate opportunities in your field of interest.
Many students find that the relationship they build with a faculty mentor while pursuing their independent research strengthens their commitment to pursuing the study of psychology at the graduate level. Some will decide to continue their research program over the summer with the assistance of a summer research fellowship, available through the School of Arts & Sciences.
