Research Requirements and Opportunities

A student who is interested in an independent scholarship project in psychology has unusual opportunities at Colorado College. We have a faculty committed to undergraduate education and research. A research project is a valuable educational experience. For students interested in experimental psychology, it will provide a first taste of the field. Students wishing to focus on clinical or counseling psychology or social work will find all good graduate programs require a solid background in experimental work. A research project can be a positive element on your curriculum vitae and a topic about which you can be confident in interviews for diverse occupations. Students have the opportunity to participate at various levels of responsibility and for academic credit and on a voluntary basis.

A. For academic credit:

1. PY 451 Final Project, required of all Psychology majors (under the new major), can take one of three forms, the first of which is characterized as experimental work.
(a) Empirical Research. This is supervised empirical research leading to a publishable paper. Students, in collaboration with a faculty supervisor, design a project, collect and analyze data, and write up a paper in a manner appropriate for a peer-reviewed journal (following APA format). Examples of such research articles can be found in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology, and Cerebral Cortex. Additionally, empirical projects that involve human subjects may require approval of the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board.

The remaining Final Project choices, though scholarly, are not experimental.
(b) Literature review: This is a critical review of the literature that addresses a particular issue. Students carefully outline the topic they will address, and use (primarily) journal articles to support their thesis. Such a review is not a mere summary of the literature; instead, it critically analyzes existing literature to a particular end. Examples of such reviews can be found in Psychological Bulletin, and Nature Reviews Neuroscience (online).
(c) Directed field study: This is a project completed in the field under the direct supervision of a Colorado College (CC) faculty member. In addition to the service component, the project results in a final paper (e.g., grant/program application, critical summary) that is negotiated between the supervising CC faculty, the student, and the agency director. See Directed Field Study for additional information.

Considerable preparation is required of all students prior to conducting their final project (see Final Project Preparation and Application below).

2. PY 251 Independent Study is for students to work in an apprentice position with a faculty member on an experimental project designed by the professor or those wishing to write a comprehensive literature review. The requirements for independent study are set by faculty members after discussion with the student. Usually, independent research results in a thesis paper. You do not need to submit a proposal in order to do an independent study; however, you should arrange with a faculty member to do a project as early as possible. Independent Study projects are assigned on a space available basis.

Research not for academic credit:

1. Volunteer positions are available on an ad hoc basis to assist in experiments sponsored by faculty. Consult individual faculty members or the paraprofessional about this.

2. Volunteers are needed in local agencies such as mental health facilities, hotlines, and brother and sister groups. Information is available through the campus Center for Community Service, announcements made in class, and on the bulletin board.

Although such volunteer work does not carry remuneration, it provides valuable experience to help you decide on career objectives, and may be attractive to prospective employers.