The Importance of an Undergraduate Research Experience for the Psychology Major R. Eric Landrum Department of Psychology Boise State University Midwestern Psychological Association Chicago, IL May 2, 2002

Psychology Degrees Conferred in the United States, Doctoral: 4,310 Doctoral: 4,310 –Men: 1,405 –Women: 2,905 (67%) Master’s: 14,465 Master’s: 14,465 –Men: 3,552 –Women: 10,913 (75%) Bachelor’s: 74,060 Bachelor’s: 74,060 –Men: 17,430 –Women: 56,630 (76%)

Desired Bachelor’s Level Abilities Work effectively with others Work effectively with others Ability to acquire and use information Ability to acquire and use information Use technology to solve problems Use technology to solve problems Communication skills Communication skills Computational skills/numeracy Computational skills/numeracy Problem solving skills Problem solving skills Flexibility Flexibility Proficiency in field of study Proficiency in field of study

What Employers Want: Top 20 Qualities, Skills, and Abilities Listening skills Listening skills Ability to work with others as part of a work team Ability to work with others as part of a work team Getting along with others Getting along with others Desire and ability to learn Desire and ability to learn Willingness to learn new, important skills Willingness to learn new, important skills Focus on customers/clients Focus on customers/clients Interpersonal relationship skills Interpersonal relationship skills Adaptability to changing situations Adaptability to changing situations Ability to suggest solutions to problem Ability to suggest solutions to problem Problem solving skills Problem solving skills Ethical decision making Ethical decision making Critical thinking Critical thinking Ability to see the big picture Ability to see the big picture Flexibility/shifting gears Flexibility/shifting gears Being able to identify problems Being able to identify problems Working smarter to improve productivity Working smarter to improve productivity Timely decision making Timely decision making Time management Time management Problem-definition skills Problem-definition skills Personality Personality

Graduate School Selection Criteria  Primary: GPA, GRE, Letters of Recommendation  Secondary: (1) Research Leading to Manuscript Publication, Match or Fit with Program, (2) Research Leading to Conference Presentation, (3) Member of Selection Committee Showing Interest, (4) Clarity and Focus of Statement of Purpose, (5) Research Assistant Experience

Serve as a Research Assistant. The Advantages:  Acquisition of skills not easily gained in the classroom  Opportunity to work one- on-one with a faculty member  Contribute to the advancement of the science of psychology  Become familiar with general research techniques  Opportunity to practice written and oral communication skills  Cultivation of a mentoring relationship with faculty; helpful for letters of recommendation

How to Negotiate a Research Assistantship  Do your homework on the instructor prior to contact (e.g., PsycINFO author search)  Contact the instructor using his/her preferred method (office hours, )  Discuss the level of commitment expected (hours/week, number of semesters)  Discuss up front any plans for conference posters, papers, and order of authorship

Faculty Attitudes: What Do RAs Achieve?  Develop one-to-one relationship with professor  Participate in data collection process  Form relationship for letters of recommendation  Prepare for graduate school  Gain enthusiasm for research  Influences decision about attending graduate school or not  Meet other students involved in research  Ability to code data accurately  Get to know faculty members in the department  Opportunity to enhance critical thinking skills

Acquire Lifelong Learning Skills Via the Covert Curriculum Reading with comprehension and the ability to identify major points Reading with comprehension and the ability to identify major points Speaking and writing in a clear, organized, and persuasive manner Speaking and writing in a clear, organized, and persuasive manner Writing in a particular style Writing in a particular style Listening attentively Listening attentively Taking accurate notes Taking accurate notes Mastering efficient memory strategies Mastering efficient memory strategies Developing critical thinking skills Developing critical thinking skills Submitting assignments on time and in acceptable form Submitting assignments on time and in acceptable form Behaving in a responsible, punctual, mature, and respectful manner Behaving in a responsible, punctual, mature, and respectful manner Managing stress and conflict successfully Managing stress and conflict successfully Organizing the physical environment to maximize efficiency Organizing the physical environment to maximize efficiency Observing, evaluating the attitudes and behaviors of role models Observing, evaluating the attitudes and behaviors of role models Maintaining an accurate planner or calendar Maintaining an accurate planner or calendar Working as a productive member of a team Working as a productive member of a team Interacting successfully with a wide variety of people Interacting successfully with a wide variety of people Seeking feedback about performance and using it to improve future performance Seeking feedback about performance and using it to improve future performance Accepting responsibility for your own behavior and attitudes Accepting responsibility for your own behavior and attitudes Utilize technology Utilize technology

How NOT to Receive Good Letters of Recommendation Barely tolerate your instructors and classes Barely tolerate your instructors and classes Be consistently late to class Be consistently late to class Don’t ask questions of the instructor, even when asked Don’t ask questions of the instructor, even when asked Don’t read assignments before class Don’t read assignments before class Try to be the exception to the rule Try to be the exception to the rule Disagree with instructors in a condescending manner, especially in public Disagree with instructors in a condescending manner, especially in public Label assignments you do not understand as boring, irrelevant, or busy work Label assignments you do not understand as boring, irrelevant, or busy work Be the classroom lawyer Be the classroom lawyer Never help plan or participate in departmental activities Never help plan or participate in departmental activities Avoid using an instructor’s office hours Avoid using an instructor’s office hours

Strategies to Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation Deal effectively with a variety of people. Deal effectively with a variety of people. Display appropriate interpersonal skills. Display appropriate interpersonal skills. Listen carefully and accurately. Listen carefully and accurately. Show initiative and persistence. Show initiative and persistence. Exhibit effective time management. Exhibit effective time management. Hold high ethical standards and expect the same of others. Hold high ethical standards and expect the same of others. Handle conflict successfully. Handle conflict successfully. Speak articulately and persuasively. Speak articulately and persuasively. Work productively as a member of a team. Work productively as a member of a team. Plan and carry out projects successfully. Plan and carry out projects successfully. Think logically and creatively. Think logically and creatively. Remain open-minded during controversies. Remain open-minded during controversies. Identify and actualize personal potential. Identify and actualize personal potential. Write clearly and precisely. Write clearly and precisely. Adapt to organizational rules and procedures. Adapt to organizational rules and procedures. Comprehend and retain key points from written materials. Comprehend and retain key points from written materials. Gather and organize information from multiple sources. Gather and organize information from multiple sources.

For More Information U.S. Mail: U.S. Mail: –Eric Landrum –Department of Psychology –Boise State University –1910 University Drive –Boise, ID 83725