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What is research psychology, what is a research psychologist, what is a psychology research assistant, where do they work, how to become a psychology research assistant, how to become a research psychologist, research psychology salaries.

By psychologyjobs.com Staff Writer

Research psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes through the use of research methods and empirical data. It involves investigating various aspects of human behavior, including cognition, perception, emotion, motivation, social behavior, personality, and psychopathology, among others.

The primary goal of research psychology is to increase our understanding of human behavior and mental processes, as well as to develop interventions and treatments to improve people’s lives. Research psychologists use a variety of research methods, including experiments, surveys, observational studies, and other techniques to gather data and test theories.

Research psychology has a wide range of applications, including the development of therapies for mental health disorders, the study of the effects of different environmental and social factors on behavior, and the design of interventions to improve cognitive and behavioral performance in various domains. It is an important field of study for anyone interested in understanding human behavior and mental processes.

Within this sphere there are, broadly speaking, two types of job available;  research psychologist  and  psychology research assistant.

A research psychologist specializes in the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. They are trained to design and conduct experiments, surveys, and other types of studies in order to collect data and test theories about human behavior.

To become a research psychologist, you need as a minimum a  master’s degree  and more typically a  doctoral degree in psychology . In addition to completing a doctoral degree, research psychologists may also need to obtain licensure or certification to practice in their state, particularly if they plan to work with clients or patients.

Here are the key areas of focus for a research psychologist:

• Designing and conducting research studies:  designing and implementing research studies to investigate various aspects of human behavior and mental processes. They may use a variety of research methods, such as experiments, surveys, or observational studies, to collect data and test theories.
• Analyzing data:  analyzing the data they collect to draw conclusions about human behavior and mental processes. They use statistical analysis and other techniques to identify patterns and relationships in the data.
• Reporting research findings:  communicating their research findings to other professionals in the field, as well as to the general public. They may write research articles for academic journals or present their findings at conferences or other events.
• Ethical considerations:  following ethical guidelines when conducting research, including obtaining informed consent from participants, protecting their privacy and confidentiality, and minimizing any potential harm or discomfort to participants.
• Collaborating with others:  collaborate with other professionals, such as clinicians, educators, and policymakers, to apply their research findings to real-world problems. They may work as part of a research team or as consultants to other professionals.

Here is what your daily schedule as a research psychologist might look like:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Check and respond to emails, review research literature relevant to current projects

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Design and plan an upcoming research study, review and analyze data from a previous study

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Break

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Meet with research team to discuss ongoing projects, review progress, and plan next steps

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Conduct research participant interviews or experiments, record data

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Analyze research data, update research documentation and records

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Attend a departmental meeting or seminar to learn about the latest research findings in the field

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Write a research article for a peer-reviewed journal or work on a grant proposal

A psychology research assistant is someone who works under the supervision of a research psychologist to assist with research projects.

To become a research assistant, it can be helpful to have a  degree in psychology  or a related field, but it is not always a requirement. Some research assistant positions may only require a high school diploma or an  associate’s degree , while others may require a  bachelor’s  or even a  master’s degree .

Here are the key responsibilities of a psychology research assistant:

• Supporting research activities:  This may involve assisting with study design, data collection, data management, and data analysis.
• Recruiting participants:  recruiting study participants through various means such as online recruitment, telephone, or face-to-face contact.
• Conducting literature reviews:  assist in conducting literature reviews to help researchers identify existing research on a topic and inform their research questions.
• Administering surveys and assessments:  responsible for administering surveys and assessments to study participants, either in-person or online.
• Data entry and management:  responsible for entering data into a computer program, organizing data sets, or managing research databases.
• Assisting with ethical considerations:  assist in ensuring ethical considerations are met during the research process, including obtaining informed consent from participants, protecting their privacy and confidentiality, and minimizing any potential harm or discomfort to participants.
• Supporting research dissemination:  assist in disseminating research findings through academic publications, presentations, or other means.

Here is an example daily schedule of a psychology research assistant:

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Check and respond to emails, review literature relevant to current projects

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Assist with recruitment efforts, such as posting flyers or sending emails to potential study participants

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Conduct participant interviews or administer surveys, record data

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Manage research databases

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Conduct literature reviews to help researchers identify existing research on a topic and inform their research questions

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Meet with research team to discuss ongoing projects, review progress, and plan next steps

• Universities and research institutions:  Many research psychologists also teach psychology in addition to their research duties.
• Government agencies:  employed by government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to conduct research related to public health or other government priorities.
• Private research firms:  Some research psychologists and research assistants may work for private research firms that conduct research on behalf of clients, such as pharmaceutical companies or marketing firms.
• Non-profit organizations:  Research psychologists and research assistants may also be employed by non-profit organizations that conduct research related to social or environmental issues.
• Hospitals and clinics:  Research psychologists and research assistants may also work in hospitals and clinics, conducting research related to mental health disorders or other health issues.
• Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent:  Most research assistant positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field:  While not always required, having a  bachelor’s degree in psychology  or a related field can be beneficial for securing a research assistant position. This can provide you with a strong foundation in research methods, statistics, and psychology.
• Gain relevant experience:  Many research assistant positions require previous research experience, which can be obtained through internships, volunteer work, or research assistantships while in college.
• Develop necessary skills and qualifications:  Research assistant positions require specific skills and qualifications, such as proficiency in Microsoft Office and statistical software, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Developing these skills through coursework or relevant work experience can help you to be a competitive candidate for these positions.
• Search for research assistant positions : Research assistant positions can be  found through PsychologyJobs.com , university career centers, and professional networking sites. You may also consider reaching out directly to research institutions or labs to inquire about potential opportunities.

Becoming a research psychologist requires a more significant investment of time and effort.

• Earn a bachelor’s degree:  The first step to becoming a research psychologist is to  earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology  or a related field.
• Earn a master’s degree:  many doctoral programs require a  master’s degree in psychology  or a related field.
• Obtain a doctoral degree:  Research psychologists typically hold a  doctoral degree in psychology , such as a PhD or a PsyD. These programs typically take 5-7 years to complete and involve coursework, research, and clinical experience.
• Gain research experience:  Research experience is essential for becoming a research psychologist. You can gain research experience through  internships , research assistantships, or working as a research coordinator.
• Obtain licensure or certification:  Depending on the state where you plan to work, you may need to obtain licensure to practice as a psychologist.  Licensure requirements vary , but typically involve completing supervised clinical experience, and  passing the EPPP licensing exam .
• Find a job:  You can search for job opportunities  through PsychologyJobs.com , professional networking sites, or contacting potential employers directly.

See also;  how to become a psychologist .

The median annual wage for research assistants in psychology is $49,850

The median annual wage for research psychologists is $79,000

Both figures sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more detailed insights visit our  research psychologist salary guide .

Latest Psychology Research Job Listings

Search Rochester.edu

Research Assistant Opportunities

For additional research opportunities beyond those listed below, please see the AURA (Access to Undergraduate Research Activities) webpage.

Domestic Violence, Motivation, and Addiction Research Among Women in the Court Setting

Supervisor: Diane Morse, MD (Department of Psychiatry) Recruitment is ongoing

We currently have a series of research projects available for ambitious undergraduate students that involve qualitative analysis, data entry, grant writing, participant recruitment, and physical and mental health in underserved female populations. Subsequently, there will be some quantitative data analysis and intervention fidelity assessment as well. Most of our research relates to domestic violence, motivation, and addiction in the court and clinical settings among justice-involved women.

Interns will engage with research staff, healthcare providers, community health workers, and research subjects to assist the efforts of the Women’s Initiative Supporting Health (W.I.S.H.) program, which is directed by Diane S. Morse, MD and housed within the Department of Psychiatry. Ideally, the internship would be 10-15 hours weekly, which could be flexible during exam or school break times. There is also the option of working with us for 4-hour course credit or during the summer. Opportunities for authorship on presentations and clinical experience are available to highly motivated individuals.

Educational benefits include relevant training, weekly literature reviews, and mentorship for graduate school/medical school applications. A two-semester commitment is required. Apply 3 months in advance minimum.

Contact: Dr. Diane Morse, [email protected], (585) 275-6484

Families, Achievement Motivation, & Identity (FAM&I) Research Lab

Supervisor: Nestor B. Tulagan, PhD Recruitment is ongoing for this project.

Want to do research on the positive development and family assets of racially/ethnically minoritized teens? Join the FAM & I Lab!

We investigate how minoritized teens learn to flourish in today’s world in terms of their psychological wellbeing, racial/ethnic and gender identity formation, and academic motivation and achievement. In line with our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the FAM&I Lab purposefully uses strength-based theories and research approaches to understand the power of racially/ethnically minoritized families and youth.

Our new projects include understanding (a) how minoritized adolescents (ages 10-20) form and think about their racial/ethnic, gender, and academic identities in integrated ways; (b) how minoritized families support teens in their identity development, achievement, and overall psychological wellbeing; (c) how emerging adults (ages 18-24) conceptualize what it means to be successful, happy, and thriving; and (d) how developmental assets within minoritized youth and families help protect them from the negative effects of racial discrimination and racism.

As a research assistant, you will gain fundamental research skills like conducting interviews and surveys, managing large-scale datasets, as well as professional skills like verbal and written communication and project management. You can also learn about graduate school and possible next steps in your career!

We are looking for intellectually curious and responsible research assistants who can commit 10-15 hours per week for a minimum of 2 semesters. Students can earn up to 4 credits per academic semester for their work on this project by enrolling in PSYC 395 (“Independent Research”).

If interested, please fill out our Research Assistant Interest Form:  https://forms.gle/CDRXpA6wZzpWUfa67

Contact: Nestor Tulagan, PhD, [email protected]

Internalizing Disorder and Emotional Adjustment Lab

Supervisor: Lisa R. Starr, PhD Recruitment is ongoing for this project

Come join a fun, friendly, collaborative research lab!

Research assistants are wanted for research examining the etiology and consequences of depression and anxiety disorders in adolescence and adulthood in the Starr Lab. RAs will gain valuable research and clinical experience and will have the opportunity to be involved in the lab in a variety of ways: we ask our RAs to do everything from administrative tasks to performing literature reviews to conducting participant visits.

We are looking for highly motivated, conscientious students with strong interpersonal skills and plenty of excitement about research on depression and related topics. This experience is particularly well-suited for students interested in eventually pursuing graduate studies in clinical psychology or a related field.

You can learn more about our labs interests and projects at our website psych.rochester.edu/research/starrlab . To apply, click on the "Join Us!" tab on our website and fill out an online application. Questions can be directed to [email protected] .

Contact: Starr Lab, [email protected]

Minds in the Social World (MiSo) Lab

Supervisor: Isobel A. Heck, PhD Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are open!

Come and join the MiSo Lab team! We investigate young children’s thinking about the social world. General research themes include: (1) the inputs and mechanisms through which young children learn about social groups hierarchies and structures (2) the early roots of leadership cognition and sociopolitical thought; and (3) the routes through which young children become involved in societal and political systems. We work with kids ages 3-12 years old and their parents, and our methodology includes conducting fun, story-based “study game” experiments. As a research assistant, you will gain valuable experience in and exposure to a variety of research components including: participating in research meetings; assisting with data collection, entry, organization, and analysis; and conducting literature reviews.

We are seeking hard-working and conscientious undergraduate students who can commit 9-12 hours per week for a minimum 2 semester commitment. Students can receive up to four credits by enrolling in PSYC 391 (“Independent Study”) during academic semesters. Our team shares a commitment to equity and transparency in both our research projects and lab culture. For more information about our team and research, check out our website:  https://bit.ly/miso-lab .

Please complete  this Google Form  to apply. We will begin reviewing applications on September 4.

Contact: Nicole Park, [email protected]

Mt. Hope Family Center

Supervisors: Liz Handley, PhD; Sheree Toth, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

The Mt. Hope Family Center is an internationally recognized Center for leading edge research on child maltreatment. Our team of psychologists, researchers, and clinicians work together to help improve the lives of children and families who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect, or trauma. Our work includes a number of large-scale federally funded research projects, as well as federally and locally funded clinical service. As such we are seeking hard-working and conscientious undergraduate students to join our team.

Research Assistant (RA) responsibilities may include participating in research meetings, and assisting with data collection, entry, and organization. We are looking for undergraduate RAs who can commit approximately 10-15 hours per week and can make a 2 semester commitment either for course credit or as a volunteer. Interested students should contact Stephanie Capobianco.

Contact: Stephanie Capobianco, [email protected]

Project BRIDGE: Parents & Teens

Supervisors: Melissa Sturge-Apple, PhD; Patrick Davies, PhD Recruitment is ongoing for this project

Project BRIDGE is a multidisciplinary study that examines parent-child relationships in early adolescence. Data collection has ended, but we are currently seeking research assistants to conduct coding in either observational or narrative systems. Students can receive up to four credits during academic semesters and an optional seminar component is available for students who wish to learn more about the implications and general theories of the project.

For more information, or to receive an application, please visit our web site at  www.RochesterFamilyResearch.org .

Contact: Melissa Sturge-Apple, PhD, [email protected]

Project FLIGHT

Supervisor: Melissa Sturge-Apple, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

Project FLIGHT is a multidisciplinary study that examines how interparental conflict influences interactions within the parent-child relationship. We are currently seeking research assistants to conduct observational coding of child assessments. Students can earn up to four credits by enrolling in PSY 391 during academic semesters. In addition, an optional seminar component is available for students who wish to learn more about the implications and general theories of the project.

For more information, please visit our website at:  https://www.psych.rochester.edu/MHFC/researchers/current-studies/flight/ .

Contact: Elisa de la Fuente, [email protected]

Project PROMISE

Supervisors: Sheree Toth, PhD; Jody Todd Manly, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

Project PROMISE is a study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development led by Dr. Sheree Toth and Dr. Jody Todd Manly. PROMISE is a Community Partnered Participatory Research project with a clinical intervention that will follow pregnant moms and their infants until their child is 15 months old. PROMISE partners with community health programs that work with pregnant women and their babies in under-served populations to address barriers to care and social determinates of health. Some PROMISE families receive Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) through PROMISE. CPP is an evidence-based preventative therapy that is shown to improve parent-child relationships, prevent child maltreatment, and result in more sensitive parenting and healthier child development. Project PROMISE uses self-report measures, research interviews, observational paradigms, biological measures of stress, and birth outcomes to better understand who can benefit from CPP, when CPP is most effective, and, if under resource constraints, if a shorter therapeutic window can be helpful.

Interested undergraduate research assistants will be responsible for assisting with visits, entering and checking data, childcare, and transcription, with opportunities for remote work. Interns will commit to at least 8 hours per week, and at least 2 semesters, with the possibility to continue in subsequent semesters.

Internship opportunities with Project PROMISE focus on interns gaining applicable skills to their future interests and professional development. This internship is fit for students interested in child development, infancy and pregnancy, maternal and infant health, clinical psychology, and/or developmental psychology, who wish to gain research experience, and hope to grow under a Research Assistant mentor system.

Students can earn up to 4 credit hours per semester for their work on this project by enrolling in PSYC 391.

Contact: Project PROMISE, [email protected], (585) 275-2991 x233

Project THRIVE

Supervisor: Patrick Davies, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

Project THRIVE is a study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development led by Dr. Patrick Davies. We are interested in understanding how and why constructive family relationships and forms of conflict increase children's mental health and well-being during the preschool and early elementary school years. Through questionnaires, interaction tasks with family members, interviews, games with children, and physiological measures (eyetracking, EKG, and cortisol analysis), we hope to better understand the mechanisms and pathways linking interparental and parent-child relationships with children's psychological adjustment.

Interested undergraduate research assistants will be responsible for assisting with visits recording tasks, data uploading, coding, childcare, and recruitment. There will also be opportunities for professional development and research presentations. Interns will be required to dedicate up to 10 hours a week to their internship, which includes time at Mount Hope as well as related outside work, such as assigned readings.

The commitment to our project has a two semester minimum, with a possibility to continue in subsequent semesters. The internship opportunity with Project THRIVE focuses on the intern gaining applicable skills to their future interests and developing as a professional. This internship is fit for students who have interests in child development, family interactions, and/or developmental psychopathology, wish to gain research experience, and hope to grow as a professional under a Research Assistant mentor system.

Students can earn up to 4 credit hours per semester for their work on this project by enrolling in either PSY377 or PSY391.

Contact: Meera Patel, [email protected], (585) 275-2991 x 195

Research in Multiple Areas of Social Psychology

Supervisor: Miron Zuckerman, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

Research assistants are needed for research on psychology of religion and social cognition. Assistants help with a wide variety of tasks and are encouraged to get involved at every level of the research process.

Contact: Miron Zuckerman, PhD, [email protected]

Research on Achievement and Social Motivation

Supervisor: Andrew J. Elliot, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

We conduct research on why people behave the way they do in achievement situations (e.g., school, sports, work) and social situations. Our lab is quite diverse, usually comprising visiting professors and post-doctoral students from around the globe, as well as graduate students and undergraduate research assistants from the UR. 

We are always looking for interested, hard-working undergraduates to participate in all phases of the research process, beginning with data collection (subject running) and moving toward more full collaboration (including honor's theses and other writing projects).

Contact: Andrew Elliot, [email protected]

Research on Social Interaction and Close Relationships

Supervisor: Harry Reis, PhD Recruitment is ongoing

We conduct research on social interaction and close relationships. We welcome participation by students as research assistants.

Typically, students may expect to conduct any or all of several activities, including running experimental sessions, supervising Internet-based protocols, interviewing participants, coding open-ended responses, and data entry.

Contact: Harry Reis, [email protected]

School and Community Based Prevention Program

Supervisor: Peter A. Wyman, PhD Recruiting is ongoing for this project.

Our research group focuses on developing and testing preventive interventions that prepare members of a population as ‘change agents’ to disseminate health in their social networks. We are currently testing interventions for in secondary schools for suicide prevention (Sources of Strength), substance use prevention (Above the Influence) and in military populations (Wingman-Connect). . These programs leverage the power of peer group social networks to strengthen skills for healthy coping, rising above negative influences, and building positive friendships and social connections. Our work is at the intersection of behavioral science, social network methods, training, and use of technology (e.g., text messaging) to extend the impact of intervention activities delivered in person.

Opportunities for undergraduate interns include working on a large New York State-funded project to disseminate the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program to schools in several regions. This project includes collecting data from each school on students’ participation and engagement in the program and preparing valuable school reports for each site to inform their work. Our team supports student teams and adults in the schools to implement messaging activities aimed at changing the norms that young people hold about getting through hard times and connecting with trusted adults for help. Our group is also launching a new NIH funded study to evaluate Above the Influence with a focus on reducing vaping. We are completing evaluation of a peer-led mental health promotion program we created for the USAF for airmen in training, with hopes to expand to other sites in the AF. We are looking to adapt this program possibly in other branches of the military or in a law enforcement environment.

Our team is excited to welcome an undergraduate intern who is enthusiastic about learning about conducting community-based research. Our interns are essential in helping us with the everyday tasks of conducting multi-site studies. They are welcome to join us during school trainings and school assessment periods when they have a full day open in their schedule. We welcome initiative, independence and inquisitiveness, while taking the responsibility to orient you and familiarize you with our work even through the small everyday support tasks.

Intern responsibilities:

• Survey and program implementation preparation—gathering and organizing supplies needed for school assessments or training; preparing mailings to schools/parents; improving program materials
• Data entry and analysis—gaining familiarity with online databases and survey tools
• Community involvement—opportunities to be involved in the field with trainings and surveys (your schedule permitting; not available in summer)
• Scholarly work support—preparing literature reviews; summarizing articles
• Accountability, accuracy and enthusiasm—our interns are responsible to arrive in a timely fashion, give us advanced notice regarding schedule changes and be focused while at internship
• Effective communication—interns are encouraged to inform us of their talents and goals and to communicate their struggles and needs.

If you are interested in learning more about the Sources of Strength program, please visit www.Sourcesofstrength.org .

Flexible schedule (4-8 hours per week). Close location (UR Medical Center). Learn about intervention research. Generally conducts interviews for internships in late March/April (for summer and fall positions), November, and sometimes August.

Contact: Karen Schmeelk-Cone, [email protected], (585) 275-6428

Social Development and Family Processes Lab

Supervisor: Judith Smetana, PhD Recruiting for Spring 2024 in late Fall 2023

Social Development and Family Processes Lab is looking for psychology majors who want to gain research experience in our lab. Students will assist with several ongoing research projects studying social and moral development with young children and adolescents.

RA opportunities include:

• Assisting with data collection in research with children and adolescents
• Participating in data preparation, coding, and/or analysis
• Learning about different research methods and becoming familiar with the research literature

During the spring semester, students participating in the lab will enroll in Psyc 357. They will earn four credits for the academic semester, requiring 12 hours/week of responsibilities, including attending weekly lab meetings. Students with flexible schedules with some daytime availability for data collection, a strong work ethic, and experience working with young children are preferred.

Contact: Esther Li, [email protected]

The Laboratory for Innovations in Child Mental Health Care Delivery

Supervisor: Linda Alpert-Gillis, PhD and Karyn Hartz-Mandell, PhD Summer and Fall 2024 positions have been filled. Anticipated openings for Summer 2025.

Description : The Laboratory for Innovations in Child Mental Health Care Delivery is based in the Child and Adolescent Division of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The research group has active research projects that focus on the development and evaluation of services within all settings in which intervention services are provided.

Current projects include : UR Supporting Our Students: Strengthening School Mental Health Staff Response to the Mental Health needs of Teens; Needs-based assessment for integrated behavioral health within Specialty Pediatrics; Evaluation of a school-based mental health program; Evaluation of an Evidence-Based and Assessment Treatment Seminar attended by mental health providers; Ongoing evaluation of progress monitoring tools in the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Service.

Undergraduates also have the opportunity to participate in clinically oriented activities, including shadowing psychologists for individual or group therapy, observing diagnostic clinic, and conducting phone interviews with potential patients. Selected research assistants participate in a 4 credits independent study course that requires 10 hours/week of responsibilities. Non-credit summer opportunities are also available.

Please send a letter of interest and a resume to: [email protected] and [email protected] .

Contact: Dr. Linda Alpert-Gillis, [email protected] and Dr. Karyn Hartz-Mandell, [email protected]

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Job postings will be updated as they come in. Please check back regularly.

If you'd like to view other job boards and read some advice on how to apply for post-graduate research positions in psychology, see this helpful resource .

You should also check out PREDOC , or Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers, a consortium site with job postings all over the country for recent graduates looking for pre-doctoral work!

Please note:  These postings have not been approved or reviewed by the Department. They are unsolicited, and posted for your convenience.

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