Research Opportunities for Eastern Students

Participation in research is an important component of Eastern's Psychology Program.  Students will have opportunities to conduct supervised research as part of their capstone requirement (Psy 460, Experimental Psychology), and to conduct independent research while completing an optional honors thesis (Psy 403, Honors Thesis).

Psychology capstone requirement
         As of 1999-2000, the Psychology capstone requirement has been changed. Currently there are two options for the capstone:

1. Psy 460, Experimental Psychology
        Most students will complete their capstone requirement by enrolling in Psy 460,
   Experimental Psychology.  In this course, students will work individually or in pairs to devise and complete a research project and to present the completed project as a poster session at the end of the term.  This course is graded and offered in the fall term only.
   
2. Psy  403, Honors Thesis
        Some students may request to enroll in Psy 403, Honors Thesis, as their capstone, if both of the following conditions are met:
   a) The student has a GPA of at least 3.33 in coursework in Psychology at the beginning of his/her senior year.
   b) The student has approval from an adviser who is a member of the Psychology faculty.
   
   Note: The Honors thesis adviser does not have to be the same person as the student's academic advisor.

    Psychology 403, Honor Thesis, requires a significant individual research accomplishment for the student. PSY 403 is a graded course. Students will complete an individual research project and write a journal-style paper.  In addition, students should submit their results to the EOU Science Journal, and should consider submitting a poster for a national or regional conference, or for the EOU Spring Symposium.  Honors Thesis students must also defend their research thesis in a presentation to the psychology faculty.  

    It is likely that students will need to work on this project for more than one term. The options for this include (a) enrolling in PSY 403 for one term and then carrying a grade of "I" or "X" over until the project is finished, or (b) enrolling in PSY 401 Research for the first term and then enrolling in PSY 403 during the term the project will be completed.

Frequently asked Questions:

1. Can a student sign up for both PSY 460 and PSY 403?
   
       If a student meets the GPA requirement for PSY 403, has the approval of a thesis adviser, and has a project in mind, he/she should probably take PSY 403 instead of PSY 460.  If a student wants to enroll in PSY 460 and count it toward the upper-level requirements for the major, and then enroll in PSY 403, that  student should discuss the situation with their Honors thesis adviser.  The main concern is that the Honors Thesis project cannot be exactly the same research that was done for credit in PSY 460. Adding a follow-up study, increasing the sample size, or looking at new measures are some possible ways to connect the 460 project to the 403 thesis.
   
   
2. Where do I get ideas for a PSY 403 research project?
   
       Finding ideas for a research project can be difficult. We suggest that if you are interested in completing an honors thesis that you begin discussing your ideas and options with a psychology faculty member immediately.  Often faculty have ongoing research projects that students can get involved with. In other cases faculty may have interesting suggestions or the outcome of a discussion may lead to interesting projects.
   
   
3. What if I don't complete my honors thesis before I graduate and leave campus?
   
       The faculty strongly discourage this! Projects that are not completed before a student leaves campus are rarely completed.  Remember it is the student's responsibility to communicate with their faculty research advisor frequently to prevent this.  If the research credits are needed for graduation, they must be completed before commencement. 
   
   
4. What if my research project doesn't turn out as expected?
   
       Not all research projects work out.  If the project was carefully planned, carefully executed, and completed it may still be used for your honors thesis.  In these cases we may not choose to submit it to the Eastern Science Journal.
   
   
5. Can I use human or animal subjects in my research project?
   
       Yes.  However, all research using human subjects must be approved by the Office for Research and Sponsored programs.  Research involving animal subjects must be pre-approved by Dr. Ettinger.  If animals subjects are needed, you need to discuss this with your advisor early to ensure that animal subjects are available for your project.
   
   
6. What is involved in defending my honors thesis?
   
       Your thesis defense is a presentation of your thesis to the psychology faculty.  Faculty will often have questions about methodology,
   data analysis, and the significance of your research.  Be prepared to discuss these issues completely.