How to Become a Research Psychologist

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Become a Research PsychologistWhat Do Research Psychologists Do?How to Become a Research PsychologistWhere Do Research Psychologists Work?Research Psychology Careers

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why Become a Research Psychologist

What Do Research Psychologists Do?

How to Become a Research Psychologist

Where Do Research Psychologists Work?

Research Psychology Careers

What do you do if you love psychology but have no interest in working in mental health? Fortunately, psychology is a very diverse field, and there are plenty of opportunities. One that you might consider is becoming a research psychologist.

Consider the following question from a reader:

“I love psychology, which is why I’m currently working on my bachelor’s degree in psychology. I don’t want to work in mental health, so my ultimate plan is to become a researcher. While I know that this means I will probably need to go to graduate school, I’m not quite sure exactly where to begin. What type of psychology degree do I need if I want to work in research?”

At a GlanceWhat do you do if you love psychology but don’t want to become a therapist or work in mental health? You might consider becoming a research psychologist. These professionals conduct research and may work in various settings, including universities, research labs, the military, government agencies, and private businesses.

At a Glance

What do you do if you love psychology but don’t want to become a therapist or work in mental health? You might consider becoming a research psychologist. These professionals conduct research and may work in various settings, including universities, research labs, the military, government agencies, and private businesses.

10 Reasons to Major in Psychology

As apsychology student, you’ve probably already gotten a taste of just how diverse the field can be. This can be a great thing because it allows for so many different career paths and options, but it can also be confusing for students as they struggle to select an educational path.

Just like manyother areas of psychology, becoming a research psychologist is not a “one size fits all” career. There are actually many different degrees that you could potentially pursue.

In order to decide if this field is right for you, it is important to first understand exactly what these professionals do:

If you enjoy research and still want to work in mental health, there are also mental health professionals who perform research and conduct studies in clinical settings.

Educational backgrounds and requirements for experimental psychologists can vary depending upon where you want to work.

Bachelor’s Degree

Many students interested in becoming research psychologists begin with abachelor’s in psychology. However, some come from a background in a related area such associal workor even from an entirely unrelated degree area altogether.

Remember, it is possible toswitch to psychology for graduate school, even if your undergraduate degree is in an unrelated subject.

Master’s Degree

In some cases, students might then choose to pursue amaster’s degreein experimental psychology. However, it is important to note that job opportunities are generally more limited with a master’s degree, which is why many opt to instead go on to earn adoctorate degree in psychology.

Doctorate Degree

While you might think you are limited to earning a PhD in experimental psychology, there are actually many different options that you might opt to pursue.

For example, if you are interested in studying the human brain, you might earn a degree focused on neuropsychology. Have an active interest in social behavior? Then, you might want to consider a doctorate insocial psychology.

How to Get Started

Sign up for research opportunities through your school’s psychology department and consider signing up as a research assistant. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience while earning college credits.

As you can see, research is something that plays a significant role in virtually everyfield of psychology. Your goal now is to determine which particular specialty area interests you the most and exactly where you might want to work someday.

Research psychologists are employed in a wide range of sectors, including private research firms, universities, corporations, the military, and government agencies.

So what kind of jobs will you be able to get as a research psychologist? While there are many different options, a few that you might consider include:

College Professor

Many research psychologists work at colleges and universities, teaching undergraduate and graduate students and conducting research.

Research Analyst

A research analyst evaluates data that has been collected. This career involves performing statistical analyses and managing data to ensure it is collected, recorded, and analyzed properly.

Research Scientist

A research scientist conducted grant-funded research. They are often the lead investigators of a study and are responsible for hiring assistants, managing projects, designing experiments, writing journal articles, and sharing the results of their experiments.

If you enjoy research and aren’t interested in working in the field of mental health, a career as a research psychologist might be a great choice for you. To enter this field, you should focus on earning an undergraduate degree in psychology before going to graduate school to get your doctorate. Taking coursework in statistics and research methodology can help, but you should also take advantage of any opportunity to participate in research.

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bishop DV.The psychology of experimental psychologists: Overcoming cognitive constraints to improve research: The 47th Sir Frederic Bartlett Lecture.Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2020;73(1):1-19. doi:10.1177/1747021819886519Smith KV, Thew GR.Conducting research in clinical psychology practice: Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations.Br J Clin Psychol. 2017;56(3):347-356. doi:10.1111/bjc.12142Scholtz SE, de Klerk W, de Beer LT.The use of research methods in psychological research: A systematised review.Front Res Metr Anal. 2020;5:1. doi:10.3389/frma.2020.00001Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology. Updated March 2014.The Princeton Review.Experimental Psychology.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bishop DV.The psychology of experimental psychologists: Overcoming cognitive constraints to improve research: The 47th Sir Frederic Bartlett Lecture.Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2020;73(1):1-19. doi:10.1177/1747021819886519Smith KV, Thew GR.Conducting research in clinical psychology practice: Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations.Br J Clin Psychol. 2017;56(3):347-356. doi:10.1111/bjc.12142Scholtz SE, de Klerk W, de Beer LT.The use of research methods in psychological research: A systematised review.Front Res Metr Anal. 2020;5:1. doi:10.3389/frma.2020.00001Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology. Updated March 2014.The Princeton Review.Experimental Psychology.

Bishop DV.The psychology of experimental psychologists: Overcoming cognitive constraints to improve research: The 47th Sir Frederic Bartlett Lecture.Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2020;73(1):1-19. doi:10.1177/1747021819886519Smith KV, Thew GR.Conducting research in clinical psychology practice: Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations.Br J Clin Psychol. 2017;56(3):347-356. doi:10.1111/bjc.12142Scholtz SE, de Klerk W, de Beer LT.The use of research methods in psychological research: A systematised review.Front Res Metr Anal. 2020;5:1. doi:10.3389/frma.2020.00001

Smith KV, Thew GR.Conducting research in clinical psychology practice: Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations.Br J Clin Psychol. 2017;56(3):347-356. doi:10.1111/bjc.12142

Scholtz SE, de Klerk W, de Beer LT.The use of research methods in psychological research: A systematised review.Front Res Metr Anal. 2020;5:1. doi:10.3389/frma.2020.00001

American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology. Updated March 2014.The Princeton Review.Experimental Psychology.

American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology. Updated March 2014.

The Princeton Review.Experimental Psychology.

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At a Glance#

Bachelor’s Degree#

Master’s Degree#

Doctorate Degree#

How to Get Started#

College Professor#

Research Analyst#

Research Scientist#