Research

Become a Student Research Assistant

Many of our undergraduate and graduate students conduct psychological research as research assistants. Students work under the supervision of Faculty as they design the study, collect the data, and report the findings at conferences across the country. Please review the faculty research labs to learn more about the topics being researched at SFSU. If you are interested in becoming a research assistant, please email the faculty or visit them during their office hours. 

Undergraduate research assistants will earn units for PSY 699 Independent Study, which is a Major Elective course. Undergraduates can also lead their own research project by participating in the Honors Program. Graduate research assistants will earn units for either PSY799 Supervised Selected Research or PSY 899 Independent Study.

Student research findings are often presented to various conferences across the country. Below is a selection of some of the research that our students are conducting.

Psychology Research Laboratories

Honors Program

The Psychology Honors Program offers motivated students the opportunity to deepen their training, develop as researchers, and prepare for graduate study. By completing a faculty-mentored, two-semester research project, students demonstrate distinction in the major and gain valuable experience for their next steps.

Program Structure

• Two-semester sequence – Students enroll in PSY 697: Senior Project Preparation followed by PSY 698: Honors Project in Psychology under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Both courses count as Psychology major electives.
• Prerequisite for PSY 698 – PSY 697 is normally required before enrolling in PSY 698. In rare cases, faculty mentors may waive this prerequisite if a student has equivalent preparation.
• Research that fits your passion – Projects may be experimental, clinical, applied, or creative, depending on student interests and faculty expertise.
• Recognized distinction – Completion of PSY 698 with faculty certification of satisfactory performance earns the transcript designation “Honors Project in Psychology.”

Faculty Mentor Relationship: All Psychology majors are eligible to participate, but students must secure approval of a faculty mentor. At the start of the sequence, the student and mentor complete an agreement form to outline goals, responsibilities, and expectations. Mentors typically meet regularly with students, provide guidance on literature reviews and project design, assist in data analysis, and give feedback on the final report.

How to Prepare

• Complete PSY 371 (Psychological Statistics) and PSY 400 (Introduction to Research in Psychology) with a grade of “B” or better.
• Identify faculty whose interests align with yours and meet during office hours to discuss potential projects.
• Gain experience as a research assistant in a faculty lab to strengthen your skills.
• Explore Psychology courses related to your interests and connect with professors about project ideas.

Important Notes

• Students must commit to the full two-semester sequence. If only PSY 697 is completed, students earn course credit but do not receive the honors designation.
• Honors completion requires faculty certification at the end of PSY 698.
• Both PSY 697 and PSY 698 are offered every semester to ensure continuous access to the honors pathway.