How did you decide on your research interest/focus?

[PizzaButt]

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I'm a non-trad applicant (30, married) who was not a psych major. Not only am I having problems deciding on clinical vs. counseling, but I am also having problems figuring out my research interest. I have the Insider's Guide book and have been studying it extensively--the problem is that so many areas in psych interest me. I can't seem to choose one.

I am currently an RA, however the research area I'm an RA in doesn't interest me at all (but it was all I could find not being a psych major and being an older student). I am currently taking my pre-reqs to apply, like stats, etc.

How did you figure out your research interest? Since I wasn't a psych major I don't have that much exposure to different areas of psych. I am doing informational interviews with practitioners, but that can only give you so much info. I do know that I want to be a practitioner--not a researcher. I'd love to have a private practice and that's my career aspiration. I definitely don't want to teach. And I know I want to work with adults. But beyond that, everything sounds interesting to me.

I know it's important to figure this out before applying, but how should I go about doing that? I also don't have the benefit of an advisor since I've been out of college for nearly 10 years.

Thank you!

 

[Ollie123]

Afraid this is one of those intangibles that's hard for anyone to tell you "how" to do it. Its just a matter of finding out what really seems the most interesting to you.

I can tell you how it happened for me. Don't know if it will be helpful.

I took Psy101 and got interested in psychology in general. I took Abnormal Psych and loved it, but I especially loved addictions, personality, and mood disorders.

I worked in an addictions lab and a mood disorders lab. Like both of them, but liked mood disorders more. Took a class in JUST mood disorders and loved it. Hence mood disorders became my primary research interest. Still have no exposure to personality research since my area doesn't have anyone researching it🙂 (I know, hard to believe...). Being the giant nerd I am, I then spent hundreds of hours looking up articles on PsycInfo on mood disorders. Reading those helped me figure out what my interest were within the realm of mood disorders (since just saying you're interested in something as broad as "depression" is still way too broad for a personal statement in my opinion and makes the person look like they aren't too knowledgeable about the field).

Wish I had more to offer, but really, taking classes and working in labs is the way to go. You've eliminated your current labs research - that's a start! I assume you'll be taking abnormal at some point since a fair chunk of programs seem to either require it or highly recommend it. That will help a LOT I'm sure - see if you can get involved in another lab based on what your interests in that class are.

That and read, read, and read some more. If you get bored quickly reading the literature of a specific topic, it isn't for you. I quickly ruled out most childhood disorders, and eating disorders because it felt like a struggle to make it through even a single article on those (sorry child-psych and eating disorders folks, I recognize their importance its just not for me!). Narrowing it down that way might help streamline things a little for you.

 

[PizzaButt]

Thanks for your input. Yes, I will be taking abnormal in the fall.

When you say "lab," what do you mean by that, exactly? I'm an RA but I work directly with the PI on literature reviews and writing papers--not in a lab. Does labwork involve animals? Can someone clear this up for me? Thanks!

Also, when you choose a research interest--that's what you'll be doing your dissertation on, but in what other ways does that impact the course of your studies? Meaning, let's say I get in somewhere with health psychology (an interest) but it's not one of my first choice research areas. How much does your research area affect the course of your career? It just seems odd to me that you have to choose this before you even get accepted to a program. What if you change your mind and decide you don't like your research area after starting the PhD program? If I end up doing my dissertation on health psychology but really want to be a clinician in the realm of anxiety disorders, is this a problem? What do you do--reapply?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

How did you figure out your research interest? Since I wasn't a psych major I don't have that much exposure to different areas of psych.

I had solid interest in undergrad, though since I started my career elsewhere, it gave me time to read/learn about many other topics, both in and outside of psych. After a sampling of various books, magazines, journals, etc.....I realized that I trended toward certain areas of interest. I then went from there and found my niche. It ended up being in the realm of my undergrad research, but a different emphasis.

So.....start reading a plethora of subjects, and see what appeals to you.

-t

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I quickly ruled out most childhood disorders, and eating disorders because it felt like a struggle to make it through even a single article on those (sorry child-psych and eating disorders folks, I recognize their importance its just not for me!).

*shakes fist at Ollie!*

Ok...not really. Kids and EDs....you either love them or hate them, there are rarely people in the middle.

-t

 

[PizzaButt]

One of my many areas of interest is achievement--but as I read the Insider's Guide I don't see that as a faculty research area. Since I'm just starting to take my pre-reqs as a career changer, might this area fall under a larger umbrella area?

Here are some of my interests that I don't see listed in the Insider's Guide, and if anyone could point me in the direction of the larger umbrella topic (such as personality, social, etc.) they would fall under that would be wonderful:


achievement
intelligence
creativity
savants
romantic relationship dynamics

Also, what exactly is behavioral medicine/health psychology?

 

[danzgymn86]

Working in a "lab" is just working with a professor doing research. So you technically are already working in a lab as your RA experience. Although it doesn't do you much good since it is not in your area.

I have pretty much been interested in eating disorders (sorry Ollie!) since I was a freshman in high school, even before that, for no particular reason. Until that point, I hadn't known anyone with an ED and my only exposure to the topic was one or two books and movies, but I have always found the topic fascinating. I used to think I wanted to do Clinical because I like to "help" people. BUT I have decided against Clinical because I have decided that, while I like to help people, I could NEVER do it from a professional basis. I'd want to be friends with everyone and I do not think that I could step back and look at it objectively. However, I am more interested in the research end of things anyway and I have decided to examine EDs from a Social perspective.

The topics you listed could be approached from both a Social and Clinical perspective. They all do fall under the Social umbrella as well as Clinical. Relationship dynamics is hugely Social, though and even achievement. However, you will never be able to have a private practice with a Social PhD. You couldn't even see clients. All Social PhDs do is, um, research. And if that's not your cup of tea, then I'd throw Social and Personality out the door. But since you're interested in acquisition of intelligence, etc...maybe Autism? Giftedness? (I am trying to keep it non-Social with my suggestions here...) A Tests and Measurements class could probably be good for you too if you're interested in intelligence and measuring it...

 

[danzgymn86]

Also, you say you want to work with adults...check the status of research for adult intelligence, etc. Because the intelligence topic, in my experience, is largely approached from children in the sense of measuring giftedness, etc. Also, what about creativity are you interested in? Perhaps you might want to look into Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorders and the creativity/art that they produce. (I am blanking on the name of it at the moment.)??

 

[JockNerd]

Eating disorders bore me to tears, but I love a cousin of ED--body dysmorphia in male bodybuilders.

I developed a research focus with the help of classwork in abnormal, dyadic relations, and a sex differences course. I managed to find an advisor straight up my alley for grad school.

You're interested in becoming a practioner? Why the emphasis on research focus? Just for grad school research? Then you'll probably want to figure out what population you're interested in working with and on what issue (art therapy for kids? couples therapy? sex therapy? group work?) and find someone who researches that.

 

[Ollie123]

Have I started a new SDN war? Instead of PsyD vs. PhD will it become ED researchers vs. me? 😉

I'm glad other people can do it. I can't. I don't know why. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I live in my own little bubble and media/cultural influences like you see a lot of in ED just are outside my realm of understanding.

Labs need not involve animals. Most professors have a lab where they conduct their research. Lit searches are good, but that's like a tiny tiny portion of what any psych lab should be doing. Those papers you're finding in lit searches are write-ups of experiments. Running those experiments is what I meant by "lab". Collecting data (paper measures, observations, physio equipment, etc.). Entering/analyzing/theorizing/etc.

As an academic your research area IS your career. I get the impression that those who want to practice have a bit more flexibility. You just get a stronger background in a certain clinical focus so you perhaps can specialize in treating that group.

One of the reasons you are having troubles finding people in your research area is those really aren't typical "clinical" research areas (except maybe intelligence). As others have said, you look like a social psych person! But you want to practice....hrmm. Remember, most clinical folks(though certainly not all) will be focusing on pathology.

I don't know where you could look within the Insider's Guide to find those specific topics. I will say if you are interested in intelligence I'd go the neuropsych route. TONS of research on intelligence in that area, and you could tie in savants. On a related note, I think the best place to find savant research would be autism/asp labs or neuro labs.

Relationship DYNAMICS is definitely not clinical psych realm (though there is of course overlap, as there is in all psych fields). Relationship DISCORD could be. I don't have my guide with me but you might want to look for stress researchers? Relationships, marriage, family, divorce, are all words you'll want to keep an eye peeled for. I'll check my guide if I remember later tonight and see if I can find.

Hope that helps!

 

[psychanon]

This is an important question, and it's one that's difficult to answer. I think it's different for everybody. One of the reasons why I think it is so important to take several years to prepare for applying to grad school in clinical psych is that it takes so long to figure out what really interests you. For me, it was something of a process of elimination. At first, I thought I was interested in any and all forms of psychology. After taking a course in developmental psycholinguistics, I knew that couldn't be further from the truth. After taking an abnormal course, I knew I wanted to do something to do with psychopathology. The work I did on my honors thesis was interesting, but not enough to sustain my interest for a career. I did research on kid stuff for a while, and I immediately knew it wasn't for me. I was interested in anorexia/ bulmia for a long time, and then I realized that the "market" for graduate study in eating disorders is pretty tight, as everyone 22 year old female wants to study it but few faculty actually do (perhaps because, I realized, anorexia and bulimia are problems on college campuses, but not huge problems for most of the world-- obesity is a much larger issue). After a lot of elimination, I settle on my current interests, which managed to keep my interest for the longest. Of course, my interests were quite broad when I applied for grad school-- it was only with time that they became more focused and developed into something of a coherent research plan (although I'm sure I will continue to tinker with them for the rest of my career). It's actually kind of an exciting process, watching your interests develop as you generate ideas.

As far as what your research interests will affect....pretty much everything (at least if you're going to a research-oriented program). Specialization starts early. Your research area will be the topic of your master's thesis, your comprehensive exam, your dissertation, and every other paper you write in grad school- not to mention data collection, lab meetings, theoretical discussions with your advisor, etc. You'd better be sure that you like what you're doing, because if you don't, you'll likely be miserable. Research is not fun when the topic is not exciting for you.

Of course, your interests may drift, and that's fine as long as you can tie them into the data available to you in your lab. In extreme situations, you can switch labs, but that's difficult and holds back your progress, and who knows if there'll be anyone studying your new interest at your program?

Btw, do not rely on the faculty interests in the Insider's Guide!! They are hopelessly out of date, and not very descriptive. Instead, go to individual department webpages and look at faculty interests there. It's more labor intensive, but it's necessary.

 

[psychanon]

Relationship DYNAMICS is definitely not clinical psych realm (though there is of course overlap, as there is in all psych fields). Relationship DISCORD could be. I don't have my guide with me but you might want to look for stress researchers? Relationships, marriage, family, divorce, are all words you'll want to keep an eye peeled for. I'll check my guide if I remember later tonight and see if I can find.

I disagree-- plenty of clinical psychologists study aspects of relationships, and not just discord. There's a lot of overlap between clinical psychology and social psychology and other more basic forms of research. Especially with the growing emphasis on translational research in clinical psych these days.

 

[PizzaButt]

Thank you everyone, your responses have been extremely helpful!

What I do know for sure is that I want to work with adults, have a private practice, do no teaching, but I want to get the PhD at a place that ranks itself as a 3-5 on the research scale in the Insider's Guide. Admittedly I'm much more interested in clinical practice than research, but am still interested in research. I love my RA position and find it fascinating. I don't want to go the PsyD route b/c of the expense/lack of funding and stipends.

I know what I'd like to be doing post-PhD: either

1) counseling couples on marital issues/discord in a private practice or
2) working as a health psychologist or
3) working as a neuropsychologist or
4) working as a private practitioner with self-esteem issues or
5) working as a private practitioner on goal-setting, career development and career counseling

Besides health psych and neuropsych, I'm not sure what research area/s/ I'd need to focus on for numbers 1, 4 and 5.

I'm also considering MFT but it seems like you have to get a master's before entering a doctoral program. I'm not in a position to pay that kind of tuition for a master's when I really want the doctorate.

 

[PizzaButt]

Also, what if you find a great research match but it is with a child track and you only want to work with adults? Can you do a child-focused dissertation but then go on to only work with adults afterwards? Or would that just not work?

 

[JockNerd]

One of my many areas of interest is achievement--but as I read the Insider's Guide I don't see that as a faculty research area. Since I'm just starting to take my pre-reqs as a career changer, might this area fall under a larger umbrella area?

Here are some of my interests that I don't see listed in the Insider's Guide, and if anyone could point me in the direction of the larger umbrella topic (such as personality, social, etc.) they would fall under that would be wonderful:


achievement
intelligence
creativity
savants
romantic relationship dynamics

Also, what exactly is behavioral medicine/health psychology?

Actually, taking another look at those interests, have you looked into Positive Psychology? So hot right now!

 

[irish80122]

Positive Psych is a hot field, and an interesting one at that. I know of Seligman at Penn but he is the only player I know in the field, but I hope to do more research on it as time goes on.

Also Ollie, I understand where you are coming from. I do find eating disorders interesting because I view them as being somewhat similar to my suicide research but children are really not my thing. That is probably good since I am doing more geropsych work! I do sometimes have problems listening to psych research that I don't care about...I am working on that but it is a struggle. Anyone else have that? For instance, when I was doing my thesis, it was so hard not to tune everyone else out and just think about my project when we were practicing. I hate it because I don't want to do that, and they are interesting projects, but ugh...you know?

Anyway, I would just read what is out there and see what you can't get enough of. I know that right now you have many interests but something will emerge with time.

 

[danzgymn86]

Thank you everyone, your responses have been extremely helpful!

What I do know for sure is that I want to work with adults, have a private practice, do no teaching, but I want to get the PhD at a place that ranks itself as a 3-5 on the research scale in the Insider's Guide. Admittedly I'm much more interested in clinical practice than research, but am still interested in research. I love my RA position and find it fascinating. I don't want to go the PsyD route b/c of the expense/lack of funding and stipends.

I know what I'd like to be doing post-PhD: either

1) counseling couples on marital issues/discord in a private practice or
2) working as a health psychologist or
3) working as a neuropsychologist or
4) working as a private practitioner with self-esteem issues or
5) working as a private practitioner on goal-setting, career development and career counseling

Besides health psych and neuropsych, I'm not sure what research area/s/ I'd need to focus on for numbers 1, 4 and 5.

I'm also considering MFT but it seems like you have to get a master's before entering a doctoral program. I'm not in a position to pay that kind of tuition for a master's when I really want the doctorate.

Few things...I am no expert on Clinical programs, but why your insistance on going to a program that is heavily weighted in research if you don't want to do research?? I feel like (someone correct me if I am wrong) that, if you go to a really heavily ranked research school, you may not be given the extra Clinical training that you would at a school that is more practice based. I know at my school, (more heavily practice based clinical PhD program) starting in their first year, the students start getting Clinical/therapy experience (obviously supervised.)

Also, the 5 things you have listed...
1. Counseling couples...this could be done by a Social worker...
2. Health Psychology...eh...I feel like this doesn't mesh with what you have expressed interest in.
3. Can you elaborate on your neuro interests? Is this along with the "intelligence" aspect of your interests?
4. This could be done with a MSW or something.
5. Um, with a class or two, you could probably do this already. I know people with BAs who work as career counselors and such.
I don't know, I just feel like Clinical psychologists focus on actual pathology...ie, where a Clinical professor would focus on something like "eating disorder" a Social professor would focus more on the "self-esteem."

If you don't want to be a researcher/professor, I would try to keep your interests more away from the Social area and more onto the Clinical aspects of your interests. For example, yes I am interested in eating disorders but I am not interested in Clinical. I am going to approach it from a Social perspective instead and focus on stigma and self-esteem issues surrounding EDs.

Sorry if I am rambling...but if I were you, I would focus a little more on defining your research interests. Do you have a University around you? I would go use their libraries and look up lots of journal articles that surround your interests so you can start to make them a little more narrow. Good luck!!

 

[Ollie123]

I disagree-- plenty of clinical psychologists study aspects of relationships, and not just discord. There's a lot of overlap between clinical psychology and social psychology and other more basic forms of research. Especially with the growing emphasis on translational research in clinical psych these days.

Fair enough. I didn't mean to deny that clinical psychologists don't study relationship aspects at all, just that it is usually done with a slightly different bend to it.

Nearly all the "relationship" focused researchers I have seen in the clinical world have still had some sort of pathology in mind. i.e. "How partners interact when one is a substance abuser", "The stress of being married to a schizophrenic", "How to help a partner cope with depression", things of that nature. I didn't mean to imply that he can't find someone with a focus on relationships, just that there are likely many MORE options in the clinical world if one keeps pathology in mind. While research is becoming more translational, its still unusual to see clinical folks who don't have some pathology bend to their work. My goal was just to convey that if you're looking at professors interests, you're more likely to find that information contained within a bunch of other categories than as its own topic🙂

Whoever mentioned Positive psych though is dead on, I can't believe that didn't occur to me since I was considering applying to a few Positive psych folks. In addition to Seligman I'd check out Christopher Peterson (think he's at U Mich? Can't remember). Hot area, and lots of interesting stuff that might be up your alley.

Another thing to keep in mind is some professors might let you be joint mentored or do some research in the social department as a clinical student. Just be careful in how you approach this, since you don't want to come across as applying to clinical programs despite not actually being interested in the more traditionally clinical aspects.

Danzy - he's actually looking at practice-oriented PhD programs. Insider's guide goes from 1 to 7, but you won't really find any 1s or 2s among PhD programs (Most are PsyDs...I actually can't remember if I saw any PhD program ranked below a 3). 3 to 5 sounds like a decent range and there are plenty of 5-range schools that are still TOTALLY open to people becoming practitioners. By 6 though, you may begin to meet resistance and these schools likely won't be a happy place for you anyways.

Irish - glad to hear I'm not the only one here🙂 Its hit or miss for me. I went to a great grand rounds a few months at the hospital I work at about HPV. Sooooo not my area, but listened to every word. I enjoyed another one about heart surgery as well though I had to write down 1 in 5 words to wikipedia later. (Side note: This is the great thing about being employed at a hospital. Anytime you need a break there's usually a great lecture going on SOMEWHERE and its always possible to find some excuse for why its related and you should go🙂 ) I think its pretty common in the academic world for everyone to LOVE their area and drift off about certain other things. Its like a chemist who hates organic chem but loves inorganic (and then there's me who probably couldn't tell the difference!). I keep telling myself "As long as I can keep a basic understanding of the TREATMENT literature so I don't make a fool out of myself in practicums, everything will be okay". I'd guess for things outside of your research area, that's probably the most important thing to know. I can live with looking like an idiot in class, I'd hate for my lack of interest in ED to cause a problem if I end up an ED client sometime down the road. And chances are I will (I'll make myself if the school doesn't) just so I get the training in all clinical aspects.

As for kids, I'm just not patient enough. I've had to work with them in labs before and I quickly feel like I'm babysitting as much as I'm researching. I'm sure that's why some people love it because for the right personality type it must make research a LOT more enjoyable (that and I have to admit, environmental factors and parentings affect on children IS interesting literature). Personally though, even as a kid I was boring and more content to read by myself then play games, so you can imagine what grown up me is like🙂 "Hurry up and finish that cognitive task designed as a computer game so I can go play my computer game. Its called SPSS".

 

[danzgymn86]

Danzy - he's actually looking at practice-oriented PhD programs. Insider's guide goes from 1 to 7, but you won't really find any 1s or 2s among PhD programs (Most are PsyDs...I actually can't remember if I saw any PhD program ranked below a 3). 3 to 5 sounds like a decent range and there are plenty of 5-range schools that are still TOTALLY open to people becoming practitioners. By 6 though, you may begin to meet resistance and these schools likely won't be a happy place for you anyways.

Oops, sorry, I retract my statement. I was thinking it was a 1-5, oops!

 

[Salsybabe]

When I first came to my master's program, I thought I was interested in career development, social class and dual-earner couples, and family and marriage issues. I was very much interested in it from a counseling psychology perspective. However, doing papers and reading tons of articles helped me to see that I wasn't that interested in it. I surprisingly found myself very interested in eating disorders and body images and how the media plays a role in these issues and perception. In undergrad I had zero interest in these things. I also became interested in prevention programs, particularly in school-based settings, and teenage pregnancy, as well as peer relationships. I'm primarily interested in studying these things in African-American populations. I applied to both counseling & school psych programs as a result. I ruled out career stuff and substance related disorders (which bored me). My interest is definitely in children and adolescents. I surprised myself by really loving these populations, particularly the younger children. It really helped me to get a master's degree prior to the PhD (haven't started the PhD program yet, but will this fall). I was able to do a practicum and internship doing counseling work with a variety of populations, which helped me see what populations I wanted to work with and which to rule out. It also helped me see that I wanted practice to be less of a focus for me career-wise and that I'm more interested in assessment and research. I feel very prepared and focused coming in with a master's degree. So that's pretty much how I found my research interests. I think you should love reading articles on the subject and not mind doing papers and the like on the subject. I also think you should be enthused with new ways to study the issue.

 

[PizzaButt]

Thanks for all your responses, they are giving me much to think about.

I've never heard of positive psych but will look into it.

I am very interested in everything about health psychology--it would be a good fit for me since I am passionate about health and very interested in such things as the mind-body connection, etc.

I was thinking PhD programs on the 3-5 range would be a good fit for me. Anyone know of any PhD programs that lean more heavily on the clinical side that are located in the midwest, west coast or NE, perhaps something I've overlooked?

By the way, why do you guys think I'm a man? I'm a woman. 😀 Is it something in the tone of my posts?

 

[irish80122]

I actually knew you were a woman somehow (though I am horrible at that, just ask Sorg) but I think it is your name that makes people think you are a man.

 

[danzgymn86]

I was thinking PhD programs on the 3-5 range would be a good fit for me. Anyone know of any PhD programs that lean more heavily on the clinical side that are located in the midwest, west coast or NE, perhaps something I've overlooked?

What programs have you looked at? We'd need to know that so that we can tell you if you have overlooked something!

 

[Ollie123]

What programs have you looked at? We'd need to know that so that we can tell you if you have overlooked something!

Agreed.

You've probably already looked at it before since I've recommended it to others (or possibly you in a previous post) but I really liked University of Vermont when I was there. Wasn't right for me, but only because it was TOO clinical and I wanted more research. Might be great for you.

Not sure if Montana counts as midwest or northwest, but U of M is VERY clinically oriented, and everyone I spoke with there seemed like a great person, though I didn't get out there for the interview.

PS - If I called you a "he" at some point PizzaButt, sorry. I honestly wasn't sure either way so I tried to stay gender-neutral but I might have slipped up somewhere.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I do find eating disorders interesting because I view them as being somewhat similar to my suicide research but children are really not my thing. That is probably good since I am doing more geropsych work!

Geros are part of one of the quicker growing segments for EDs; I think the 55+ is the 3rd fastest growing segment.

-t

 

[irish80122]

I know, and there aren't nearly enough geropsychologists. Talk about being at the right place at the right time!

 

[bluebluesky]

One of my many areas of interest is achievement--but as I read the Insider's Guide I don't see that as a faculty research area. Since I'm just starting to take my pre-reqs as a career changer, might this area fall under a larger umbrella area?

Here are some of my interests that I don't see listed in the Insider's Guide, and if anyone could point me in the direction of the larger umbrella topic (such as personality, social, etc.) they would fall under that would be wonderful:


achievement
intelligence
creativity
savants
romantic relationship dynamics

Also, what exactly is behavioral medicine/health psychology?

What's Insider's Guide?

 

[myelin]

What's Insider's Guide?

Google is your friend...

http://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Graduate-Programs-Counseling-Psychology/dp/1593852584

edit: there is a newer 08/09 version

http://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Grad...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214776987&sr=1-1

 

[erg923]

I have found my interest to be continually evolving, or expanding rather, while in grad school. I initially came in very focused on the neuropsychology of aging, particularly memory disorders/dementias, etc. and factors that influence cognition as one ages. However, through research and practicums I have become more involved in studies of psychotic major depression and schizoaffective Disorder from a neuropsych perspective. As well as the role of the HPA3 Axis dysregulation in psychiatric disturbance, particularly as applied to recurrent major depression and psychotic major depression. I got into this through my adviser who maintains interest in aging and neuro, but is also the coordinator on this grant at the med school. She runs the neuropsych section of the screenings. She said that needed research assistants/psychometrists for the studies over there, so I got involved. My formal practicum next year will be at the med school's memory disorders clinic, so I am still focused on that area as well. I still intend to do my internship and a post doc in neuropsychology.

 

[myelin]

Ok, I'll bite. I was early to a Psi Chi meeting about graduate school and got into a conversation with a current grad student in the clinical program. She mentioned that she was about to start a project in the neuropsych lab and needed help. I had no research experience at the time but knew I needed it to get into graduate school so I volunteered. From there, I also joined a research team in the counseling dept. but found the research to be dull. So, I decided to focus my time to the neuropsych lab. We were looking at the relationship between neuromotor and neurocognitive functioning and personality. Specifically, we were interested in schizotypy and how it relates to performance on the finger tapping test, and CPT-IP.

Fast forward to today, I'm still doing neuropsych research focusing on the cerebral moderation of cardiovascular functioning, or how the brain controls heart rate and blood pressure. I also dabble in research on creativity and the brain.

 

[erg923]

Ok, I'll bite. I was early to a Psi Chi meeting about graduate school and got into a conversation with a current grad student in the clinical program. She mentioned that she was about to start a project in the neuropsych lab and needed help. I had no research experience at the time but knew I needed it to get into graduate school so I volunteered. From there, I also joined a research team in the counseling dept. but found the research to be dull. So, I decided to focus my time to the neuropsych lab. We were looking at the relationship between neuromotor and neurocognitive functioning and personality. Specifically, we were interested in schizotypy and how it relates to performance on the finger tapping test, and CPT-IP.

Fast forward to today, I'm still doing neuropsych research focusing on the cerebral moderation of cardiovascular functioning, or how the brain controls heart rate and blood pressure. I also dabble in research on creativity and the brain.

I am well aware of schizotypal pathology and attentional deficits, but Schizotypy and fingertapping? I am curious about the relationship there too? If there is one, what does it really mean or indicate though? Is it slowed bilatteraly, unilatterly, or is just more clumsy?

 

[bludreamz]

I'm a non-trad applicant (30, married) who was not a psych major. Not only am I having problems deciding on clinical vs. counseling, but I am also having problems figuring out my research interest. I have the Insider's Guide book and have been studying it extensively--the problem is that so many areas in psych interest me. I can't seem to choose one.

I am currently an RA, however the research area I'm an RA in doesn't interest me at all (but it was all I could find not being a psych major and being an older student). I am currently taking my pre-reqs to apply, like stats, etc.

How did you figure out your research interest? Since I wasn't a psych major I don't have that much exposure to different areas of psych. I am doing informational interviews with practitioners, but that can only give you so much info. I do know that I want to be a practitioner--not a researcher. I'd love to have a private practice and that's my career aspiration. I definitely don't want to teach. And I know I want to work with adults. But beyond that, everything sounds interesting to me.

I know it's important to figure this out before applying, but how should I go about doing that? I also don't have the benefit of an advisor since I've been out of college for nearly 10 years.

Thank you!

Hello Pizzabutt. I have the same problem (so many interests!) I suggest looking up syllabus' or asking professors to recommend texts. Then, picking up basic textbooks and reading. YOu can buy used online, or maybe your friends can lend you texts. They might also have a few copies in your library. Then you can narrow down your interests.



edit: I have to read all the posts before I post. I always seem to reiterate what people have already said!

apa.org also has a graduate program directory (for a fee) that tells you all the stats and what programs they have. it also has average GRE, GPA (etc) and some financial aid information as well. I think you can look up programs at gradschool.com as well (though it gives you less information).

 

[myelin]

I am well aware of schizotypal pathology and attentional deficits, but Schizotypy and fingertapping? I am curious about the relationship there too? If there is one, what does it really mean or indicate though? Is it slowed bilatteraly, unilatterly, or is just more clumsy?

I'll have to get back to you on that one. It's been about 3 years since I've worked on that project. I believe this was our thinking: On the FTT, normal RH individuals record more taps with their dominant RH versus LH. If individuals with increased schizotypy show inconsistencies in lateral preference, this lateralization effect may disappear. That is, as schizotypy increases, performance on the FTT will become more similar for both left and right hands.

For instance, take a neurologically normal right-handed individual. Right arm movement is mediated largely by the precentral gyrus of the left hemisphere. Now take an individual who is neurologically abnormal such as one with schizophrenia. It may be that they prefer to use their right hand, but their motor movements may not be lateralized to the left hemisphere as strongly as the neurologically normal individual. Therefore, it may be that neurologically abnormal individuals will show inconsistent tapping performance that does not favor their dominant or preferred hand.

Anyway, here is the abstract from our poster presentation at anneual meeting of the SRP in 2005:

Latent Structure of the Revised Social Anhedonia and Magical Ideation Scale: Associations with Attention, Motor Functioning, and Lateral Preferences

Research has demonstrated that individuals with schizotypal personality traits show deficits on measures of attention and motor functioning, compared to healthy controls and individuals with other personality disturbances. Studies have also found that individuals with schizotypal traits show inconsistency on measures of lateral preference such as handedness, arm-folding (AF) and hand-clasping (HC), which may stem from disturbances in neurodevelopment. Thus, assessments of attention, motor functioning, and lateral preferences may be important biobehavioral markers for identification of individuals at risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. At the same time, continued research is needed to identify the underlying structure of common measures of schizotypal traits. Based on an eventual enrollment of at least 250 undergraduates, the present structural equation modeling study is being conducted to examine the factor structure of the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale (Eckblad, Chapman, Chapman & Mishlove, 1982), the Magical Ideation Scale (Eckblad & Chapman, 1983), and selected items from the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (Raine, 1991), and will also gauge how reliable measures of attention (CPT-IP), motor functioning (finger tapping speed), and lateral preference (AF, HC) are associated with the underlying schizotypal trait dimensions.