Psychology is a science, and as such, research is an important aspect in the career of all psychologists. Whether or not active research participation is part of your career objectives, it is important to become a good consumer of research. Psychologists rely on research for diagnostic work and treatment planning. To that end, one must be a good consumer of research and be able to read it objectively and critically. If you do plan on graduate school, research involvement is paramount. As a student, you should capitalize on the potential for involvement in research efforts in your department. In addition, one of the best ways to stand out from the rest of the pile of graduate school applicants is research, research, and research! Most graduate programs are at large universities where faculty are under pressure to publish. Prospective applicants who have demonstrated they are capable of undertaking research projects and have acquired a number of research skills are very attractive to a program. These are skills faculty members won't have to spend time teaching a new student.

So how do you get involved in research? There are a number of ways. You can begin by looking up your undergraduate professors' names in the literature and seeing what types of things they are interested in, asking other students around the department, or simply going up to your professor and asking. Ask the faculty at your undergraduate institution for help on a research idea you have developed. If you don't have an idea, even a rough one, ask to help your professor with entering data, searching the library for relevant literature, or collecting or analyzing the data on one of their projects. Should the project be presented as a poster at a conference, you may be asked to help design the poster on which it will be displayed. None of these are glory jobs, but they get your foot in the door. Do not be afraid to ask for more responsibility or for opportunities to learn more about the project. Showing interest highlights your motivations as a dedicated student. After you have learned some of the basics of psychological research, maybe you will progress to helping design the next study, or helping with the writing of a publication

Maybe you have contributed enough to a project to submit it to a research conference as a paper or poster. Submitting proposals and attending these professional conferences can be another way of sticking out from the pile. These experiences can be invaluable. You may be intimidated initially by the thought of presenting at a conference and speaking in front of a group of people. However, there are student conferences and Psi Chi sessions at the six regional conferences and at the annual meetings of APA. These opportunities may prove to be less anxiety-provoking while still allowing you to get to meet other students graduate and undergraduate and professors whose research you are interested in or have read about in your classes. A student who has several conference presentations and a publication or two is definitely going to stand out from the pile. A school is going to perceive you as someone with a number of skills that can make a unique contribution. Conferences can also be sources of the newest research in the filed and for information about their programs. You may stand out in the pile because a faculty member recognizes your name and can put a face with it.

Working on a project with one of your professors can be an exciting experience. Yes, you can expect to work hard, but there can be large pay-offs. First, you can cultivate a relationship with your professor. This person may eventually become a mentor to you -- guiding you toward career opportunities and providing you with strong letters of recommendation. Second, you learn the fundamentals of research (e.g., experimental design, and statistical analysis). Third, you may be awarded a place on the authorship line of the poster or article that comes from your efforts. Going to your first conference and looking up your name in the index in the program book is a great thrill. Fourth, should the project be presented at a conference, you will have the opportunity to attend and meet others with interests in the same areas as you. The networking opportunities at conferences are not to be underestimated.

If you are interested in a particular area of psychology that is not being researched at your institution, you may want to explore those opportunities elsewhere. Universities with graduate programs may have faculty or graduate students who would appreciate assistance with their research. If you are interested in a particular graduate school, you may want to hook up with a project at that school. Not only does research involvement provide you with the experiences associated with learning how to conduct it, but it provides you with valuable networking opportunities. In addition, research opportunities may be available through local organizations. For example, you may become involved in research through a program at Easter Seals or United Way.