Senior Research
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