Research at PLU

Research experience at PLU begins with participation in research studies as a requirement for successful completion of our introductory and social psychology courses. Further explanation of these requirements are outlined below.   Our students regularly present their research at professional meetings, such as the Western Psychological Association and the Washington State Psychological Association.  In addition, students are involved in faculty research projects in both the Ramstad and Harstad laboratories, often times leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Because the psychology department at PLU is committed to providing meaningful and rigorous undergraduate education that balances science and application, we provide a core of courses which cover research methodology and statistics designed to enhance the development of skills in critical thinking and theory building.  Our goal is to prepare students to succeed throughout life.  Throughout the program direct experience and interactive teaching methods are emphasized so that, by graduation, our B.S. majors are required to do their own research.  Students obtaining the B.A. degree also experience the research process because we provide the context and the opportunity for hands-on work and thoughtful consideration of psychology in the liberal arts and the sciences throughout our programs of study. 

Why do I have to complete this requirement?

The goals of the research familiarization requirement are:

• to establish early in the psychology curriculum that psychology is a scientific endeavor, that even those of us who do (or intend to do) applied and/or clinical work need a strong background in the scientific method as it relates to psychology;
• to further science education within psychology by providing students at the introductory level with opportunities to participate in the process as subjects in experiments, and by availing themselves of opportunities to learn about cutting-edge research in psychology through colloquia and journal articles;
• to provide students with more in-depth knowledge about the scientific method or about a particular research topic in psychology than can typically be achieved in an introductory lecture course.

How do I fulfill this requirement?

The requirement is fulfilled when you earn the required number of research familiarization credits during this term.  These credits can be earned in three ways.  You can:

• participate in experiments as a subject,
• attend and summarize research colloquia sponsored by the psychology department; and/or
• read and summarize designated journal articles

Who keeps track of the credits I earn? 

The Research Familiarization Coordinator gathers information from experimenters concerning who has participated in their experiments.  The Research Coordinator also assesses your written summaries of journal articles or research colloquia in order to verify that you have not plagiarized either the article or someone else's summary.  (Note that your instructor does NOT have this information.)

It is required that you keep a record of which experiments you have participated in and how long they lasted, and also keep copies of whatever summaries you write.  You will be provided with a receipt for each experiment you do.  Please note that these are not official records of participation.  However, they can be useful in resolving discrepancies at the end of the term, and you should keep them until your final grade has been recorded.

What if I do not earn enough research familiarization credits prior to the end of the term?

If you have not earned the required number of credits you will receive a letter grade that is one letter grade lower than the grade you earned.  For instance, if you earn a "B" but have less than the required research familiarization credits at the end of the term, then your final grade will be recorded as a "C".  The one exception to this occurs if your final letter grade is a D+ or below.  In that eventuality, your instructor will turn in your final grade regardless of the number of research credits you have earned. 

Other FAQs regarding the Research Requirement

Where do I sign up for experiments?

On the bulletin board near the lab in the basement of Ramstad.  It is clearly labeled

May I mix and match the three activities in order to earn the required number of credits?

Yes

How do I find out when and where the research colloquia are held? 

On flyers throughout Xavier, Ramstad and the basement lab areas in Harstad.  They are also typically announced in class.

May I earn familiarization credit by attending and summarizing a colloquium not sponsored by the Department of Psychology?  

Although we encourage you to attend as many colloquia on campus as you can, only colloquia sponsored by the department will allow you to earn research credits.

Is it okay if I read and summarize articles or other sources not on the list in the library in order to earn credits?

No.

How do I contact the Coordinator? 

By sending an e-mail message to psycres@plu.edu or by leaving a note in the Research Familiarization mailbox in Xavier 241 (to your right as you enter the reception area on the second floor of Xavier.)

What if I sign up for an experiment but then don't attend?

It is your responsibility to keep your appointment.  Be ON TIME.  The experimenter is not required to provide a make-up for you or to allow you to begin the experiment late.

What if I sign up for an experiment but the experimenter does not show up? 

Make sure you are in the correct location at the correct time.  Wait for at least 10 minutes.  If the experimenter does not arrive, notify the Research Coordinator.  If the Coordinator can verify that the experimenter was absent, then you will be given one research credit.

What if I complete a short experiment or survey as part of class activity?

Any reserch activity that is part of regular class work during class time does not earn credits toward the research familiarization requirement.