Research Opportunities
Internship Opportunities

Research Opportunities

The Calvin College Psychology Department strives to involve students in research projects throughout their four years. We have a larger number of faculty than many other four-year liberal arts colleges and can take advantages of small student-faculty ratios. The following opportunities are available:

Psychology 255: All Psychology majors are required to take Statistics and Research Design. In this course, students will conduct a survay on campus, analyze the data themselves, and report the results of the project in APA-style research report. This introduces students to the psychological research process.

Psychology Lab Courses (330-334): All students are required to take a laboratory course. These labs meet two hours weekly and provide students with a strong introduction to psychological science.

Psychology 256: Students get more advanced training in research design and experimentation, conducting several group research projects during the course of the semester.

Psychology 356: Students apply to take this course. During the semester they complete an individual research project from start to finish (idea generation, literature review, data collection, analysis, and report writing). Almost all 356 students present their work at the Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, and several have had their research accepted at Midwestern Psychological Association (Psi Chi sessions). In 1998, Darla Cupery of Randolph, Wisconsin was selected as one of 15 Regional Research Award winners at MPA. Her project began as a 356 project. Student-faculty collaboration: Junior and senior students are also encouraged (especially those interested in graduate school) to work as an assistant for a professor.

Examples of opportunities include work with the following professors:

Professor Tellinghuisen: Research on cognition using computers
Professor Bolt: Psychology of religion; altruism and volunteerism
Professor Gunnoe: Family relations; child-rearing practices
Professor Weaver: Addiction and spiritual motivation in recovery

Internship Opportunities

Each semester approximately ten to twelve students participate in an off-campus internship program. The following are examples of current placements:

Neuropsychology, Mary Freebed Hospital: One internship involves the testing and assessment of brain-damaged patients. The other internship is a research internship, which involves analyzing data from research studies at MFB in preparation for research to prepare for publication.
Youth and Family Treatment Specialist, Wedgewood Christian Services: Work with in-patient adolescents on goals, behavioral treatment plans, and on-going assessment and evaluation of progress.
Attention Deficit Disorder, Pine Rest Christian Hospital: Assist in conducting assessment and evaluation of out-patient children who may suffer from AD(H)D.

Rehabilitation, Behavioral Management, Hope Network: Work with in-patient developmentally disabled adults on treatment plans, behavior management, and life skills.

School Psychology: Assist with practicing school psychologists in assessment and evaluation of student population.
Industrial Psychology, Steelcase, Inc.: Assist an industrial/organizational psychologist and her team.