Quiz #9 - Research Experience How to Start and What to Expect

ways to get research experience

  • go to the deparment website to see if opportunities are available

  • do a research internship (paid or unpaid) - look around for organizations and companies

  • reach out to professors you know or student organizations (Psi Chi, Psychology Club) about research opportunities

  • pursue an independent study with a professor - this is more of a one-on-one thing where you would be required to do a research project with them (you need their approval to go through this route)

what to expect

  • working with the principal investigator (a professor or a graduate student) on a project

  • you might work with the lab manager (undergraduate or graduate student in the lab)

  • you might be ask to do the following

    • run an experiment

    • collect, code (organize), and/or analyze data

    • review literature from peer-reviewed journal articles

    • work on an Institutional Review Board (IRB) application for a research project

    • create a poster or paper presentation (highly favored for graduate programs)

    • work on a manuscript for a publication (highly favored for graduate programs)

    • attend workshops or professional conferences

    • attend lab meetings

skills and training necessary to apply

  • be certified in the CITI training to get involved in a study

  • should have the following classes before pursuing a research lab

    • PSY 101 - General Psychology

    • PSY 210 - Introduction to Statistical Methods

    • PSY 240 - Research Methods

  • if there is a specific area that you are interested in, take a class for it before going to a designated research lab

  • expect to have the following abilities

    • time commitment

    • organization

    • motivation to learn new things

    • flexibility in the roles that you are given

    • willingness to collaborate

    • honesty - inform the researcher/lab manager of any concerns or mistakes

    • responsibility - never neglect the small things (if you can be responsible for the small things, they will be able to trust you with the bigger tasks)

  • the research lab might ask what grade you got in a class or your major / overall GPA

  • know how to use Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

  • know how to use SPSS, R-Studio, or SAS (statisitcal softwares) not necessary but a plus