Psych research position?

[Omppu27]

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Well, i just got offered a position in a psychology research lab. The main purpose for their research is how to better the outcome of traumatic brain injury patients. Although the research is definitely medical, as an undergrad i wouldn't be doing much more than data entry, setting up appointments, and occasional interviews with the participants. Is this worth the time? I really want to do research in psych but i feel like data entry and setting up appointments won't really look impressive. But perhaps this is really all an undergrad can do for most psych research projects?

Also, as long as i do well i would be able to stay indefinitely which is a plus.

Thanks 👍

 

[Double Trouble]

Well, i just got offered a position in a psychology research lab. The main purpose for their research is how to better the outcome of traumatic brain injury patients. Although the research is definitely medical, as an undergrad i wouldn't be doing much more than data entry, setting up appointments, and occasional interviews with the participants. Is this worth the time? I really want to do research in psych but i feel like data entry and setting up appointments won't really look impressive. But perhaps this is really all an undergrad can do for most psych research projects?

Also, as long as i do well i would be able to stay indefinitely which is a plus.

Thanks 👍

What are your chances for publication?

 

[Omppu27]

What are your chances for publication?

Ehhh i don't really know. I guess that depends on how long i stay. If i like it i would plan on staying until i graduate and maybe i would have a chance at a publication ... I think i might just accept it and if i don't like it i can drop it after the minimum required commitment (2 quarters). Even if it doesn't work out, i'll be able to say i have research experience when i'm applying to other positions.

 

[Osteoth]

Not to steal the thread, but is research without a publication really that much of a waste of time? Wouldn't it be better than just doing nothing?

 

[candav]

Not to steal the thread, but is research without a publication really that much of a waste of time? Wouldn't it be better than just doing nothing?

I've worked in five labs over the past three years, with no publications, posters or presentations to show for it. And you know what? I didn't really care, nor do I believe it has negatively affected my application. I think, as an undergrad, there are more substantial and impressive ways to get involved in research than piggybacking on a publication.

 

[Snikkers]

I've worked in five labs over the past three years, with no publications, posters or presentations to show for it. And you know what? I didn't really care, nor do I believe it has negatively affected my application. I think, as an undergrad, there are more substantial and impressive ways to get involved in research than piggybacking on a publication.

Ditto. I've had my fair share of experience in clinical and biopsych labs and as an undergrad, unless you're doing an honors project or something, you're probably going to just be doing research assistant-type duties. You can, of course, ask your PI for something more important to handle, but from what I've seen, it's pretty tough to get published in a decent psych journal as an undergrad.

I also have no regrets about the work I've done in my labs. I get tons of interaction with patients and I pretty much get to help out with all aspects of the research being done on so many levels. The clinical aspect of the work I was doing was what I really cared about and I learned and grew so much from everything-- especially from having the opportunity of these people sharing their stories with me.

Basically, it's up to you. If you really want to shoot for the traditional research experience with publications and what not, try and go for it but you might have to find another lab that's more open for that. If not, consider all the other things you could learn and gain from working in this lab.

 

[BiopsychStudent]

Honestly, most psych research that doesn't take place in a wet lab is going to be like that. If you have no other experience I'd give it a shot. Maybe you'd get the opportunity to plan a project of your own once you've put in some time?

 

[Omppu27]

Honestly, most psych research that doesn't take place in a wet lab is going to be like that. If you have no other experience I'd give it a shot. Maybe you'd get the opportunity to plan a project of your own once you've put in some time?

Truth. I don't have any other experience in research so i think that this might be a good way to get started. Also, the PI has a paid assistant who worked with him for about 2-3 years and she loved it.

Thanks!

 

[BiopsychStudent]

Truth. I don't have any other experience in research so i think that this might be a good way to get started. Also, the PI has a paid assistant who worked with him for about 2-3 years and she loved it.

Thanks!

Honestly, you can even ask them up front if you'd have the opportunity to contribute intellectually to the research, too.

But if they're just looking for free labor, or if it seems like they're really not interested in anything you think up down the road, its definitely time to move on to a better lab. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of. You shouldn't be volunteering to do grunt work that you're not even learning from (save that for the ER).