“It is very interesting to experience the process of a psychology study firsthand!” : Experimental Work in Cognitive Psychology
(Photo provided by Hanna MacFarlane)
“In all my psychology classes, I have always heard of psychology studies and learned about what makes a good experiment, but it is so much more engaging to actually be the person helping with the study.” ~ Hanna MacFarlane
Ψ
*In the following article, TS refers to The Synapse and HM refers to Hanna MacFarlane
TS: Could you briefly introduce yourself (name and degree), your research position, and the faculty you work with?
HM: Hi! My name is Hanna MacFarlane and I'm a third-year science student majoring in Psychology. I work with Dr. Voyer in the faculty of Psychology as a research assistant for one of his cognitive psychology studies.
TS: What is your day in the life working this position? What is the overarching goal of the research project you are contributing to?
HM: My day in the life in this position involves a few different tasks. I greet participants and make sure that they feel comfortable and welcome. I also answer their questions related to the study and occasionally have to explain the experiment to participants when they are confused.
The experiment that I am working with involves counting out loud, so one of my biggest tasks is making sure that participants continue to count throughout the entire experiment, which means that I have to stay observant.
The goal of this research project is to gain insight on the areas of the brain involved in non-verbal processing and whether the two hemispheres of the brain have differing roles in non-verbal and verbal processing.
TS: What do you find most interesting about working this position?
HM: It is very interesting to experience the process of a psychology study firsthand! In all my psychology classes, I have always heard of psychology studies and learned about what makes a good experiment, but it is so much more engaging to actually be the person helping with the study.
TS: Is there anything you learned about yourself while working this position?
HM: One thing that I have learned so far is that cognitive psychology is probably not my first choice of psychological field. As much as I love my research assistant position and the experiment I am helping with, I can pretty confidently say that there are other fields of psychology that interest me more, such as neuroscience. I'm so glad this position helped me reach this conclusion; I firmly believe that you have to try something to know how you feel about it.
TS: How did you obtain this position?
HM: Dr. Voyer sent out an email to psychology students about a few research assistants positions available in his lab for this year. I sent in a resume, got an interview, and fortunately got the position!
TS: What would you recommend to students who are interested in working research positions but are unsure how to get involved?
HM: Although Dr. Voyer sent out an email about this position, I think that my close relationship with him is what really helped me obtain this job. It is important to build a trusting relationship with your professors, especially those that have experience in the field of your interest. I would say that if you're unsure how to get involved in research, start by simply talking to professors whose work you find interesting. Talk to them after class, email them, go to their office hours. Ask about any projects they are working on and let them know you're interested in working with them. They will definitely remember you if you make an effort!
TS: Is there anything else you wish to share about your experience?
HM: If you are planning a career in psychology but aren't sure what area you'd like to go into - clinical, research, etc - then I think a research assistant position is one of the absolute best ways to gain experience and inform your graduate school applications. Research isn't meant for everybody, and that's okay, but you'll never know if it's for you unless you try it! Ψ
Created for The Synapse by Incé Husain.
