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Case Western Psychological Sciences faculty conduct cutting edge interdisciplinary research on the brain, memory, behaviors, speech, swallowing, clinical disorders, learning, expertise, play, perception, and many other topics. We encourage students to become involved in research, especially those who plan to go on to graduate school in psychology. Research experience provides students with the opportunity to learn more about the scientific process and to get to know faculty members and graduate students in the department better. Additionally, research assistant experience provides opportunities for faculty to know you and write letters of recommendation on your behalf. Some research experiences can even sometimes result in student authorship on papers and conference presentations, both of which are helpful if one wants to pursue graduate school.
To learn more about faculty members’ research topics, please see their profiles.
Research Methods Class
We recommend that all psychology and communication sciences majors take Research Methods, PSCL375 during their time at CWRU. This course teaches you foundational information about conducting a literature search, evaluating the scientific merit of existing research, creating hypotheses, and designing studies. The course is offered in a small seminar and involves a large number of exercises and experiential learning. Research Methods is also a pre-requisite for many of the department’s Capstone courses.
Research Assistant Experience
If you are interested in becoming more involved in research, please look at the faculty profiles and contact professors whose research interests you via email. Please send professors your unofficial transcript and CV/resume if you have one. Due to the large number of students who want to serve as a research assistant, it sometimes takes several semesters to find a lab with available research assistant slots. Don’t give up! We highly encourage you to take this opportunity to learn more about research
Looking to be a participant in research?
Please see the SONA system for students in PSCL101 and PSCL375.
Research News
Meet new faculty at the College of Arts and Sciences – Stacy Ryan-Pettes
Associate Professor Department of Psychological Sciences Though Stacy Ryan-Pettes always knew she wanted to work to improve the lives and condition of youth navigating the juvenile justice system, it was during her research training that she discovered a passion for implementation science and health equity. A licensed clinical psychologist with a...
Meet new faculty at the College of Arts and Sciences – R. Elizabeth Capps
Assistant Professor Department of Psychological Sciences R. Elizabeth Capps received her bachelor’s in psychology from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, before receiving her masters in psychology from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Capps then received her PhD in clinical psychology, and completed a fellowship at Children’s National Hospital in...
Meet new faculty at the College of Arts and Sciences – Wilson Brown
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Department of Psychological Sciences One of the first to examine the implementation of prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD in veterans, Wilson J. Brown completed his PhD in clinical psychology and formal trauma specialization at The University of Missouri-St. Louis. He completed his fellowship in clinical psychology...
Meet new faculty at the College of Arts and Sciences – Kristina Bowdrie
Assistant Professor Department of Psychological Sciences, Program in Communication Sciences After receiving her bachelor’s degree from CWRU in communication sciences and psychology, Kristina Bowdrie has returned to the Department of Psychological Studies. Bowdrie received her PhD in Speech and Hearing Science from The Ohio State University, where she also served as...
Why Building Emotional Intelligence in Classrooms Might Be the Key to Better Grades
Parents: R. Elizabeth Capps, assistant professor at the Department of Psychological Sciences, explained how social-emotional learning programs can set the tone for the entire school building and communicate that it’s important to acknowledge every student’s well-being as crucial to learning. "This can build a positive school climate that’s useful...
