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Department of Psychology

Research Apprenticeship Program

Faculty at Illinois State maintain a strong commitment to undergraduate instruction and mentoring. Every semester, undergraduate students work with department faculty in research labs. Any research conducted in the Department of Psychology must comply with the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.

The Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program provides opportunities for students to acquire a variety of skills that meet the Psychology Course Objectives. Specifically, the faculty have agreed that, through the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, students will acquire the following:

  • Use the concepts, language, and major theories of the discipline (Objective 1.1)
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of conclusions presented in psychological research (Objective 2.2)
  • Execute appropriate ethical safeguards in the treatment of human and nonhuman participants in the design, data collection, interpretation, and reporting of psychological research (Objective 2.4)
  • Generalize research results appropriately (Objective 2.5)
  • Recognize the necessity for ethical behavior in all aspects of the science and practice of psychology (Objective 4.1)
  • Seek scientific evidence to evaluate behavioral claims (Objective 4.3)
  • Tolerate ambiguity and assume behavioral explanations will be complex (Objective 4.5)
  • Develop skills and experiences relevant to achieving selected career objectives (Objective 5.4)
  • Demonstrate computer skills: creating files; using word processing, database and data analysis programs; search the World Wide Web; use e-mail, incorporate emerging technologies into existing practices (Objective 6.4)
  • Use critical thinking effectively (Objective 7.1)
  • Engage in creative thinking (Objective 7.2)
  • Approach problems effectively (Objective 7.4)
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills (Objective 9.4)
  • Demonstrate appropriate, effective relationships with others in diverse settings, such as work, family, and other social environments (Objective 10.3)
  • Display high standards of personal integrity to promote trust with peers and colleagues (Objective 10.5)

Learning objectives for students enrolled in PSY 290 will vary, depending upon the faculty mentor, the research project, and the student's responsibilities. Students may expect to develop the following:

  • Conceptual understanding of the research discipline
  • Psychological research skills
  • Technology skills
  • Critical and creative thinking skills

After a research project is developed, the student and faculty member should complete the PSY 290 Special Projects- Research Apprenticeship Contract. The contract is an interactive Microsoft Word document that should be completed on a computer. If necessary, the contract can be saved and sent as an email attachment to the faculty member. All sections of the contract should be completed before it is printed, signed, and dated by the student and faculty member. The signed contract should be submitted to the department for approval. If the contract is approved, the department will also process an override so the student can register for PSY 290. It could take one to three weeks for the contract to be approved and the override processed before students can register for PSY 290. Students must register for the specific number of credits identified in the contract; otherwise, the registration will not be valid. If the contract is approved after the first week of the semester, students must register for the course in 107 Moulton. Student must register for PSY 290 by the tenth day of classes for the semester.