Why get involved in research? In most of your Psych courses, you hear about psychology. Getting involved in research provides opportunities for you to do psychology, and to develop an appreciation of the process that produces all of that information you see in your textbooks. Seeing the world through a researcher's eye represents critical thinking skills and analytical abilities. Augsburg graduates report that research skills are valuable and in demand in both the workplace and in graduate school.

Options

There are several ways for students to become involved in doing research as undergraduates.

• Start by taking PSY 215, Research Methods I. This class introduces you to basic concepts of scientific research. As part of the class, you conduct a small research study from start to finish, including the preparation of an APA style manuscript.
• Once PSY 215 is completed, you are eligible to take other required courses in the major that focus on research. For example, in PSY 360 - Psychology Lab - you work closely with a faculty member who is conducting research in his or her area of expertise.
• PSY 315, Research Methods II, follows PSY 215. In PSY 315, you have the opportunity to design and conduct your own original research study in a given area. This projects culminates in the writing of an APA style manuscript which is then communicated to your colleagues in a professional presentation. Many of these projects have also been presented at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference held in the Spring of each year.
• PSY 491, Advanced Research Methods. Offered during spring semester, PSY 491 is an opportunity for juniors and seniors to develop an original research project from start of finish.

Presenting the Results of Your Research

Research is not really complete until the results have been communicated to your colleagues. There are several opportunities for doing this. They include:

• Presentation to your classmates in PSY 315.
• Presentation to students in PSY 215 or in other Psychology courses.
• Presentation at the Augsburg Student Scholarship/Research Fair, held every year in late April or early May.
• Presentation at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, held at a college in Minnesota every year in late April.
• Presentation in the Psi Chi competition at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA), held in early May at the Palmer House in Chicago. Deadline for submission of abstracts: early October.
• Co-presentation with a faculty member at MPA or at another regional or national conference.

Funding

The Psychology Department can provide small amounts of funding for photocopies, office supplies, etc. See your advisor or the Department Chair.

For larger expenditures for materials, instruments, etc. ask your advisor to apply for a Faculty Development Mini-grant.

Faculty-Student Research Collaboration Grants are available through the Center for Faculty Development and are of two types:

• During the academic semester. Funding up to $600 is available for collaborative research projects during the school year. Often, the student receives $400 for time and for materials; the remaining $200 goes to the faculty member for her or his time. For a project that has higher materials costs or that requires more student time, the entire $600 is sometimes awarded to the student.
• During the summer. Funding up to $2000 is available for collaborative research projects during the summer. Often, the student receives $1000 for time and for materials (half is paid at the beginning of the summer, with the rest available when the project is completed); the remainder goes to the faculty member for her or his time. For a project that has higher materials costs or that requires more student time, a higher proportion of the funding is sometimes awarded to the student.

Travel to Professional Conferences

To Present Your Research. Travel funding is available for students whose research or scholarly activity is accepted for presentation at a professional conference (e.g., Midwestern Psychological Association, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, etc.). Applications are available through the Center for Faculty Development. Students will be asked to complete a pre- and post-conference evaluation.

To Attend Regional Conferences. Funding is available for groups of students to accompany faculty to regional professional conferences (up to $750/group). Your faculty member should apply through the Center for Faculty Development. Students will be asked to complete a pre- and post-conference evaluation.