There are many benefits to participating in research as an experimenter. Not only will doing so increase your involvement in the department, but you will also gain valuable knowledge, experience, and skills. Working as a research assistant will increase your understanding of research methodology and the content area. Experience and skills may depend on the specific research project, but you can potentially be involved in research design, data collection, data entry, data analysis, and more.

Given the benefits, then, how does one go about joining a lab? First, evaluate your interests in psychology. Next, see if there are any labs that are currently doing work in that area or any faculty who do research related to those interests. If so, contact the professor and ask them more about his/her research, as well as if there is a project in which you might be able to be involved. Graduate students who conduct research under the guidance of that faculty member could be looking for an undergraduate research assistant, as well. Under construction is a page advertising current lab position openings, so check back to see if this has become another way to join a lab. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the advising office.

Also, you may be able to get course credit for participating in research. You can obtain academic credit by using the following course numbers: 299, 399H or 499. If you spend the amount of time equivalent to a three credit hour course on your research, you can get the benefits of research without heaping many extra hours of work onto your regular academic load. The typical "formula" for these courses is three hours per week per credit hour (all these courses have variable credit hours). Most students sign up for three credit hours per semester. You can sign up under the same number in more than one semester.

It is also possible to participate in research through UCARE, which provides opportunities for students to directly participate in research with their facutly sponsor. Also, there are several scholarship opportunities available to support research. Click on the links above for more information.

Finally, what can one do with completed research? Science is a social enterprise, and you should plan to communicate your results. There are several outlets that you should consider. If your research is well done and if the results are sufficiently strong and contribute significant new information to the field, you may want to submit it for publication to a scientific journal, usually in collaboration with your faculty supervisor. This doesn't happen frequently, but it is the most preferred goal of most researchers. You can also or alternatively give a verbal presentation. There are several meetings at which you can present a brief (usually 10-20 minute) discussion of your work. The UNL Psi Chi chapter is planning a mini-conference for this purpose. Also, the Nebraska Psychological Association (NPA) holds an annual meeting at which undergraduates can present their research. Other groups in surrounding states (including Psi Chi chapters) also sponsor such meetings, some of which present awards for the best papers. You can obtain information from the Bulletin Boards in Burnett Hall or from the Psi Chi Newsletter. Public presentations of your research are impressive on one's resume and graduate school applications, but they are intrinsically rewarding, too, because people express their interest in your ideas, ask you about your project, and so on.