Prospective Students

Applying the Lab - Graduate Students

Graduate students who are admitted to the M.S. Program in Applied Psychology can request to join the ConnectWell @ Work Lab for their thesis work and other research collaborations. 

Check out the SDSU Department of Psychology website to learn more general information about the MS Program, program requirements, typical admission requirements, and frequently asked questions regarding admissions. The office can also put you in touch with a current graduate student ambassador to talk more about their experiences in the program. 

Successful applicants have a strong academic background in research methods and quantitative-related courses (statistics and tests and measures), as well as content courses related to I-O psychology (or closely related fields). Research experience and lab topic interest is also an important part of the selection process. Effective personal statements emphasize your familiarity with faculty members' published research and identify what specific research questions within the lab topics you would like to pursue during your time in the program.

Lab Training Values & Goals

Graduate students can expect the following training values and goals as part of their two-year commitment to the lab.

• Conducting research with scientific-practitioner-humanist values, which emphasizes social justice and worker dignity alongside rigorous research methodology and practical implications for organizations. Students are trained to consider whether practices are the right and humane thing to do, not just whether it is scientifically sound or cost-effective for the organization. 

• Using theories related to occupational health psychology, organizational psychology, and social psychology applied to the telework and e-work communication context. Students learn and apply theories related to work stress and recovery, motivation, and self-regulation in the workplace context. 

• Developing quantitative research skills in survey methodology, measurement/psychometrics, data management/organization, and advanced statistical analyses. Students often work with archival datasets for their thesis projects to practice sophisticated data analysis and scientific writing skills. They also help with ongoing or new projects to help build research planning and design skills. 

• Practicing applied presentation skills related to translating scientific findings from psychological research to non-expert audiences. Students learn how to provide recommendations to employees and organizations in plain (and engaging) language that is backed by solid research evidence and theories. 

Applying the Lab - Undergraduate Students

There are currently no undergraduate research assistant positions available that entail hands-on data collection and analyses. I encourage interested undergraduate students to apply to our graduate program to work with me on these research activities in my lab. 

If you are an SDSU student, it is recommended that you complete all coursework in the I-O major (PSY 319, PSY 370, PSY 420, PSY 421) to be competitive for graduate admissions.  You can also complete advanced statistics (PSY 470) and advanced research methods (PSY 410) as an excellent substitute for research experiences given those courses will demonstrate additional statistics/research methods training beyond the minimum psychology major requirements.  Any research experience in psychology department or business department labs is also useful for application purposes - it does not need to be in I-O psychology specifically. 

If you are not an SDSU student, it is important to complete at least one course in I-O psychology or related topics (human resource management, organizational behavior, leadership, etc.) to be a competitive applicant for the program. It is also recommended that you complete additional psychometric, statistical and/or research methods courses beyond the minimum requirements for psychology majors if you do not have other research or data-oriented experiences in laboratory or work settings.

Special Study (PSY 499) - Undergraduate Students

SDSU seniors who have completed key 300-level I-O psychology major requirements (PSY 319, PSY 301, PSY 370) may be eligible for special study enrollment (library research), pending availability during a given semester. 

PSY 499 in my lab is an independent study project that is occasionally offered during the spring or fall semester (there are no summer options).  It includes assigned graduate-level readings plus a paper/presentation based on your independent library research (literature review) on a specific topic related to the lab. This project is a good fit for students who seek additional preparation for research-oriented master's or doctoral graduate programs after completing 300-level I-O psychology major requirements with a grade of B+ or higher (PSY 319, PSY 301, PSY 370). It is also best for students who have the self-discipline to work fairly independently on research tasks to complete a major research writing project. Otherwise, PSY 410 (Advanced Research Methods Laboratory) is an excellent alternative that provides similar research training within a formal course structure. The purpose of PSY 499 is to introduce students to graduate-level research expectations related to reading advanced organizational research methods articles, locating additional research articles on a specific lab topic, writing an original scientific report that synthesizes key empirical research findings, and translating research to non-expert audiences with an engaging presentation (i.e., teaching your topic to other lab members). Contact Dr. Barber for information on availability and an application.