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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
Innovator of the Year: Education
Lauren Calandruccio Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences A winner of Case Western Reserve’s Wittke and Jackson awards for exceptional teaching and mentoring—the first to earn both in the same year—Lauren Calandruccio is no stranger to top university awards. This year, she’s being honored with the Innovator of the Year: Education award for...
$1.25 million grant to expand communication sciences program aimed at diversifying field
Serena Wheeler’s first encounter with the communication sciences field was through her brother, who has autism and works with a speech-language pathologist. But despite this early, personal connection to the field, Wheeler didn’t initially consider it as a career. Instead, she came to Case Western Reserve University planning to...
Looking for parents of healthy children ages 7-17 for an online survey study
A research team at University Hospitals is currently looking for parents of healthy children ages 7-17 for an online survey study: Factors Associated with Behaviors and Emotion in Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate during COVID-19. You may or may not qualify for the study, even if your child...
Retired professor commits $1.5 million to advance research in child psychology
Growing up as an only child, Sandra Walker Russ made the most of her solitary hours. Through role playing, singing, reading and expressing herself artistically, the unstructured playtime she enjoyed in her early developmental years would later serve as the foundation for a career studying the connection between creative...
Family-based intervention lowers long-term suicide risk in youth
BETHESDA, Md. — Over the last 20 years, suicide rates have increased in the U.S. by 24%, with the largest increases occurring in females ages 10-14 and African American children aged 5-11. These statistics highlight the critical need for better ways to understand and prevent suicide in youth and...
Analysis of ‘growth mindset’ research suggests little to no positive effect on student performance
New research suggests the “growth mindset” strategy favored by some educators to improve student performance hasn’t lived up to its promise—resulting in time and effort dedicated to growth mindsets in the classroom without meaningful gains in grades or test scores. More than 30 years ago, noted psychologist Carol Dweck proposed...