What you'll do as an undergraduate reasearch assistant depends on the lab to which you apply. You might be asked to help create stimuli, recruit or interview subjects, watch videos and record data, analyze data.... Read about faculty research topics and labs online until you find one that interests you and then talk to one or more faculty members to find out the specific types of tasks that undergraduates do in their lab.

Students who work in a laboratory, participate in research seminars, and engage in psychology-related co-curricular activities are likely to receive the most useful letters of recommendation from faculty members for graduate school or for employment after graduation.

Common Myths & Facts:

• Myth: Only juniors and seniors participate in research. Fact: You are welcome to apply to a research lab if you are a senior, a junior, a sophomore, or a freshman. Some faculty members prefer to recruit freshmen and sophomores because these students will have the option to develop advanced research skills in that lab over several years. What faculty members prefer the most: Bright students who are eager to learn!
• Myth: You should participate in a research lab only if you are planning a career as a psychological scientist or neuroscientist. Fact: All psychology and neuroscience majors can benefit from working in a research lab. You'll be interacting with other bright students and can share information about classes, student groups, internships, careers, and more. Even if research is not your current career goal, many careers will require you to read and understand the results of scientific studies. Once you've participated in a research lab you will have a much better understanding of such studies. Read what students say...

Consider: Maximizing Undergraduate Opportunities: The Value of Research and Other Experiences.